Smoke Alarms

Each year most people are in disbelief and doubt that something as critical as a fire could happen to them, this skepticism has led to more deaths and property damage than should have occurred. In the current generation smoke alarms are mandatory and advancements to the technology have been occurring rapidly. With the use of smoke detectors, firefighters have been more successful in the saving of lives and the protection of property. Even with smoke detectors getting more technologically advanced, researchers have still been looking into many more changes regarding smoke detectors audio alarm. The National Fire Protection Association also reports that homes with smoke detectors display significant differences than …show more content…

Usually the lasers are directed away from the cell as a constant beam. When smoke crosses the laser’s path and causes the lasers to be redirected, the cell will be hit and the alarm will sound. Another common detector is a photoelectric light obscuration smoke detector. In this device, constant beams are sent directly and continuously to a sensor and when the signal is obstructed or slowed, an alarm is activated. Other less common types of smoke detectors include: air-sampling or air-aspirated smoke detectors, linear beam smoke detectors, air-duct smoke detectors, and analog smoke detectors. Due to the technological advances and the rising concern for public safety, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been mandating how smoke detectors should be used in residential households. Since 1970, the NFPA code 72 has been enforcing the proper use of smoke detectors. Currently we are required by NFPA 72 to have a smoke detector in each bedroom. This portion was enacted in the 1993 version, prior to which no major residential code of smoke detectors was mandatory. The NFPA 72 of 2007 released additional minimum requirements for new construction homes pertaining to smoke alarms. The same rule from 1993 was carried over from the NFPA 72 requiring that each bedroom in a residential household must have at least one smoke alarm. NFPA 72 now requires the following: each level of