Three main types of smoke detectors:
– Ionization: Installed in an estimated 90 percent of American homes, they use the radioactive element americum-241 to set up an electrical current between two metal plates. When smoke interrupts the current, the alarm sounds. Ionization detectors work best in open, flaming fires.
– Photoelectric smoke detectors have an internal beam of light that is deflected by smoke particals, triggering the alarm. They work better – meaning sooner – in smoldering, smokey fires.
– Combination detectors have both types of sensor, ionization and photoelectric.
AP-ES-02-09-08 1251EST
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