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Saving More Lives With Photoelectric Smoke Detectors. NEOFPA.ORG. Mr. Earl Lee Warning. Do you know what TYPE of smoke detector you have?. Does it Matter?. Based on industry information, what have you been told for 30 years?.
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Saving More Lives With Photoelectric Smoke Detectors NEOFPA.ORG Mr. Earl Lee Warning
Do you know what TYPE of smoke detector you have? Does it Matter?
Based on industry information, what have you been told for 30 years?
Based on industry information, what have you been told for 30 years? • In spite of their differences, either one of the two types of detectors is acceptable for home use.
Based on industry information, what have you been told for 30 years? • In spite of their differences, either one of the two types of detectors is acceptable for home use. • Find the least expensive detector that is UL Listed.
Smoke Detector History • 1970 - 1st battery detector • 1977 - NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology) conducted smoke detector testing • 1980’s - 75% of homes had smoke detectors • 2004 - 96% of homes had smoke detectors • 2008 – 96% of homes had smoke detectors, 25% of homes do not have a working smoke detector
There are two TYPES of sensors in smoke detectors:Photoelectric & Ionization
IONIZATION: Contains a small amount of radioactivity that conducts electricity. Ionization alarms are more sensitive to the tiny particles of combustion that can’t be seen or smelled, those emitted by FLAMING FIRES. Ionization alarms are MORE PRONE TO FALSE ALARMS from cooking and steam from bathrooms. PHOTOELECTRIC: Contains a beam of light and a photocell within the chamber. Photoelectric alarms are more sensitive to the large particles of combustion emitted by SMOLDERING FIRES.
Photoelectric smoke detectors are the detector of choice!But why? Here are two tragic examples:
Andrea Dennis, Kyle Raulin, Al Schlessman, Erin DeMarco, and Christine Wilson These five students died at Ohio State University on April 13, 2003 (Palm Sunday)
Julie Turnbull, Kate Welling & Steve Smith died in this house on April 10th, 2005 (Palm Sunday) at Miami University
There were more than 20 WORKING ionization smoke detectors in these two fires...And 8 students died!
There have been several large studies conducted over the years that have shown that photoelectric technology is superior.
The Studies • IAFC study-1980 • Texas A & M-2 1/2 year study: 1990’s • NIST sponsored private industry study-2001 • NIST study-2008
The Results • They were consistent… • Ionization alarms sounded tens of seconds faster than photoelectric alarms in flaming fires. • Photoelectric alarms sounded tens of MINUTES faster in smoldering fires. • Ionization smoke detectors failed to sound at all 20% of the time in smoldering fires!
Some Fire Service Leader Quotes • “If everybody in the country would install these (photoelectric smoke alarms) we would probably save about a thousand lives a year.” AFM Gordon SimpkinsonPalo Alto Fire DepartmentPalo Alto, California, USAOctober, 2010 • “How many lives have been lost because the public has not been told the truth?” Chief Jay Fleming Boston Fire Department Boston, MA October, 2006
PR CampaignChief Marc McGinnAlbany Fire DepartmentAlbany, California, USA July, 2010
NEOFPA & Earl Lee Warning’s Recommendations • At a minimum, install a Photoelectric smoke detector on each level of your home, one outside each sleeping area and one inside each bedroom. • Consider interconnected photoelectric detectors, either wired or wireless. When one smoke detector activates, all detectors in your home will sound!
What about a combination detector that has both photoelectric & ionization sensors?
These are not recommended due to the ionization sensor that will still produce nuisance false alarms. This causes users to remove the batteries rendering the detector useless!
What if you have ionization detectors? We recommend that you install a photoelectric detector in each recommended location in your home. Maintain your existing ionization smoke detectors until you replace them. You may choose to install ionization detectors in addition to photoelectric detectors in each recommended location in your home.
A sobering statistic: Currently, 90% of homes in the US are equipped with Ionization smoke detectors only… Is yours?
By the way…What types of alarms are being used to protect the most vulnerable citizens?
Photoelectric smoke detectors are the only type being utilized in all commercial buildings including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, day cares & apartments!
To Review: Photoelectric Smoke Detectors:Alert tens of minutes faster (Resulting in more escape time, less deaths, injuries & property damage)Less nuisance false alarms(Resulting in less disabled detectors from disconnecting the batteries)
For more information on installing & maintaining photoelectric smoke detectors: NEOFPA.org PhotoelectricSaves.com