Smoke Alarm Overview
We provide a wide range of smoke alarms, offering comprehensive protection whatever the application. The table below should help you to choose the most suited smoke alarm for the most common type of rooms.
Types of Smoke Alarms
When cohoosing smoke alarms it can be hard to find the right type of smoke alarm for a particular room in your house, tenanted property or workplace.Manufacturers have over the years developed a range of different smoke alarm sensors - and for very good reasons! Fitting the right type of alarm in the right room will not only reduce false alarms but also identify real fire hazards quicker.Below you will find a list of rooms together with the type of alarm you should fit and a brief explanation as to why. If this is not clear, or the type of room you are trying to protect is not listed, then call our friendly customer service team on freephone 0800 612 4829.
Lounges / Dining Rooms / Bedrooms - Optical smoke alarms are the most suitable for these rooms as they are the most effective at identifying smouldering fire. Smouldering fires are associated with soft furnishings such as sofas, bedding, bean bags, cushions etc and also electrical and electrical cable fires.
Entrances and Hallways - Fitting optical alarms in hallways and entrances helps to ensure that smoke is detected before it filters through to other areas of the home. They are also less prone to false alarm from cooking fumes, usually connected to such locations.
Kitchens and Garages - There is only one type of alarm suitable for fitting in kitchens and garages that will not false alarm and will detect genuine fire risks: heat alarms. Heat alarms detect 'unusual' temperature rises in an environment and / or exceptionally high temperatures. Heat alarms ignore fumes and steambut provide efficient fire detection for kitchens and garages. Please note that heat alarms only cover relatively small areas!
Stairwells and Landings - Detecting fumes in stairwells and landings isimportant as an early warning of fire. Fitting ionisation smoke alarms in in these areas will give you advanced warning of a fire hazard before the escape route is unusable.
Smoke alarms are available with different types of sensors, each one detecting smoke or fire using a different sensor technology. Please find a short description of the main techniques available below. For a more in depth description of the three main detection technologies, their advantages and disadvantages, we have created a smoke alarm sensor guide.
Ionisation Smoke Alarms
Ionisation smoke alarms detect the change in the behaviour of air between two electrodes in case of a fire. Ionisation alarms are suited for fast flaming fires such as burning paper or wood. Ionisation smoke alarms contain a small amount of radio-active americium for their operation. We recommend ionisation alarms for landings and offices.
Optical Smoke alarms (also called photo-electric smoke alarm)
A broad-range, general smoke alarm particularly suitable for slow smouldering fires, e.g. soft furnishing. Unlike ionisation smoke alarms they do not contain any radio-activity. Optical alarms can be used in hallways, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms but also landings and offices. Please note that optical alarms are not suitable for draughty areas like balconies etc.
Heat Alarms
Heat alarms detect the increase of temperature in a fire and avoid false alarms eg in kitchens. Good for smokey and dusty areas such as kitchens and garages. They only cover relatively small areas, so are not suited for hallways and landings.
Multi Sensor Alarms
Multi-Sensors combine the best features of optical smoke alarms and heat alarms to create rapid fire detection whilst reducing the risk of false alarms. Suitable for living rooms and bed rooms, hallways and landings. They should not be used in kitchens.
Smoke Alarms for the Deaf
Provides 3 warnings (audio, visual and vibrating) for the hard of hearing.
Radio Inter-linked Smoke and Heat Alarms
Link multiple smoke alarms through radio waves - if one alarm detects fire, all alarms sound.
To help you determine the correct smoke alarm system, we have compiled a compressed version of BS5839-pt6:2004 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. This Code of practice describes smoke/heat alarm system requirements for residential properties.
The correct smoke alarm for each location
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