There are three things that homeowners can easily install in their home that will help to protect them in the case of a fire. The fire extinguisher and the fire blanket are two of these things, but the most common and, arguably, the most important is the home is a fire alarm. These devices alert people in a home when a fire may be present by detecting smoke in different ways, depending on the type of fire alarm that is installed.
History of
The first fire alarm was invented in 1890 by two men, Francis Robbins Upton and Fernando J. Dibble. They were not available for wide use however, and the technology was a bit shaky. Fire alarms were modified as time went on, and eventually they were ready for the home during the 1960s. This was due to a major price drop, because before this time only high-end businesses were able to have them installed. In 1967, home fire alarms became equipped with a battery power that was much simpler to replace and install. This brought the price of these devices down to an affordable level and made it easy for people to install them in their homes.
Significance
The home fire alarm marked an important movement in home safety because it allowed those who lived in a home to have enough time to react to a fire anywhere in the house. It was able to give people peace of mind and know that, even when everyone is asleep, they will still be alerted to the presence of a fire. These alarms have saved countless lives and homes.
Function
Home fire alarms alert family members and homeowners of the threat of a fire. It does this by detecting smoke and sounding a loud alarm intended to wake people in the home or alert them from opposite ends of the home. They are usually run on batteries so they will even operate when the power in a home is out. Different home fire alarms detect smoke in different fashions, but they all have the same result.
Type
There are two main types of home fire alarms, and they are distinguished by how they detect smoke. The first type has an optical detector that involves a laser light that is shone over a photoreceptor. When smoke enters the alarm, it displaces the light, causing it to hit the receptor and sound the alarm. The second type involves ionization. A small piece of radioactive material ionizes the air between two glass plates, creating an electrical charge. When smoke enters the alarm it attaches itself to the ionized particles and the electrical charge dissipates. This sounds the alarm.
Risk Factors
There are generally no risks involved with home fire alarms, but there is one small one that should be addressed. It involves handling the insides of an ionization fire alarm. These fire alarms operate because of a small amount of radioactive material. While the amount is too small to affect anyone just by standing near a fire alarm, it is important to never handle this substance at any time. It could cause damage to exposed skin.
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