AMERICAN CANYON – Smoke detectors may be easy to overlook, but doing so can be a fatal mistake. In fact, two-thirds of fire-related deaths in the home are attributable to smoke detectors being inoperative (usually due to dead or missing batteries) or absent altogether. To improve upon this dark statistic, California safety codes now require an improved model of smoke detector to be installed in homes and businesses statewide.
The main feature that differentiates the new smoke detectors from their predecessors is they don’t rely on regular alkaline batteries to function. Instead, each unit is equipped with a built-in, tamper-proof battery that has a 10-year lifespan. This change is aimed at removing human error from the equation, which is expected to reduce the amount of fire-related deaths caused by simple negligence. Once the unit’s 10-year lifespan is up, it can simply be replaced with a new one.
It’s also important to note that there are two kinds of smoke detectors, differentiated by sensor type: ionization and photoelectric. While having either is better than having none at all, photoelectric units are known to have a faster response time, which means they can detect house fires in their early stages. Photoelectric detectors are more expensive than ionization detectors, but considering the stakes, it’s worth investing in this superior option.