Smoke detector sensitivity

Is my smoke detector too sensitive? Which smoke detector is the best? How often should I test my smoke detector? What do smoke detectors actually detect?

Older smoke alarms that have accumulated a lot of dust and dirt in and around the sensor will usually become less sensitive. But sometimes they will become more sensitive. While this is rare, you might be able to fix the problem by purchasing new smoke alarms.

Also, you might consider a photoelectric smoke detector. A smoke detector has the singular purpose of reacting to smoke and relaying this information to the homeowner either through a built-in alarm or the alarm of a security system it is connected to. There are several ways to test your smoke detector sensitivity : Buy some calibrated smoke detector test spray. If your alarm came with a testing instrument issued by the manufacturer,.

Enlist the help of a professional technician to perform a test with the help. Smoke Detector Sensitivity Testing Requirements 1. Sensitivity testing is required unless it is monitored continuously by the fire panel and you are alerted when sensitivity is out of range. The frequency will depend on the date and of the last test. Not all detectors are as sensitive as businesses need. Over time, smoke detector sensitivity can drift.

They may grow more sensitive or less sensitive , but either way, this fluctuation in sensitivity can cause the alarm to be ineffectual. Using detector testers to check the sensitivity of fire alarms is not only. A high sensitivity detector responds to a lower concentration of smoke while a low sensitivity detector responds to a high concentration of smoke under identical fire test conditions.

At the end of the time perio the detector returns to full sensitivity. You may want to look into replacing your smoke detector with one of these. We generally reserve this one for the garage where we would have a lot of false alarms from exhaust and workshop fumes with the other two. When the smoke detector is out of the range of sensitivity requirements, it will cause a trouble signal on the fire alarm control panel.

NFPA requirement for sensitivity and wireless. What are the methods used to test duct smoke. Dust particles, dirt and other airborne contaminants are often the reason for a smoke detector to be too sensitive or not sensitive enough and both of these conditions can be trouble.

In the event of an emergency, if your smoke detector is not 1, you have most likely lost a key component in your first line of fire and life safety defense. Smoke detector sensitivity must be checked within one year after installation, then checked every alternate year thereafter. After the second test, if test indicate that the device remains within its listed and marked sensitivity range, the length of time between tests is permitted to be extended to a maximum of years.

Trutest is designed to measure smoke detector sensitivity quickly, easily, accurately and professionally. Trutest works by introducing a smoke aerosol through the vents of the detector , and operates on a precision, closed loop system. This then measures obscuration and feeds back information to the user.

All of the fire alarm test report Forms available in our library include a column for recording smoke detector sensitivity. Now would be a good time to review the test reports you’ve been using to make sure they comply with the MINIMUM critieria suggested by the Canadian Fire Alarm Testing Standard. Photoelectric smoke detector with on-board. TrueAlarm sensitivity drift compensation: Functional chamber enclosure:  Louvered design enhances smoke capture by directing.

Entrance areas are minimally visible when ceiling. Operation is for ceiling or wall mounting. You can modify it if you want.

Obscuration is a unit of measurement that has become the standard way of specifying smoke detector sensitivity. The Society is a 501(c)not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts.