Fire Gear Articles

Smoke Detectors vs Carbon Monoxide Detectors- A lot of people are still just using smoke detectors when carbon monoxide posses a great threat also. Best Fire Gear has written this tutorial on smoke detectors vs carbon monoxide detectors to educate you.

It is very important to understand that there is a huge difference when comparing smoke detectors to carbon monoxide detectors. By not knowing the differences and threats each type of danger can cause, it can cost you your life and your loved ones their lives. Best Fire Gear is going to explain to you when to use smoke detectors and when to use carbon monoxide detectors.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are used in buildings to detect the odor of smoke. When the smoke detector senses the odor of smoke, there are several types of warning alerts that are they activated. Those warning alerts consist of audible alarms, visual alarms, and tactile stimulation.

• Audible alarms- Audible alarms can be in the form a loud, annoying, tone. The audible tone is typically around the 3000 Hz level. This audible tone is the main reason that people unhook or take out the batteries of smoke detectors. While it is annoying and very loud, it is designed to do that so that you can be alerted of danger.
• Visual alarms- The visual alarm is typically a strobe light that gets activated. These are used commonly in businesses and schools where the strobe is easily seen. The strobe light is usually around the 110 candela level.
• Tactile stimulation- Perhaps the least recommended type of smoke detector by Best Fire Gear, tactile stimulation alarms use the shaking or vibrating of certain objects to get your attention. These objects could be your pillow or bed. Again, this is not the best type of smoke detector and should be used only in conjunction with another type of smoke detector.

Smoke detectors can be hard wired and battery operated. There are some city code requirements that require each new constructed or remolded house to have hard wired smoke detectors installed. This is when the smoke detector is wired up to a "live" circuit. In this type of smoke detector there is a battery for back up in case the power goes out your smoke detector will still work. Battery operated smoke detectors can be more versatile and portable but it is important that you remember to change your batteries often.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors are used inside buildings to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous because it is odorless and can’t be seen. It has been dubbed the "silent killer" because of it’s or lack of presence. Some of the most common places that cause carbon monoxide are open flames, space heaters, water heaters, blocked chimneys or running cars inside garages. There are a few different types of carbon monoxide detectors and they vary in the type of detector installed in them. Those different detectors are opto-chemical, biomimetic, electrochemical, and semi-conductor. Just like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors use an audible alerting system. In addition, some carbon monoxide detectors display the level of carbon monoxide in a digital format. States are now beginning to pass legislature that requires the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in new construction building.

Smoke Detectors vs Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You should now have a basic understanding of the difference between smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. They each serve a different goal and are very important to saving lives. Don’t think that you are safe because you only have one type and not the other. There are some models that will serve both as a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. This is the only time that Best Fire Gear recommends you only have one detector. These are dual purpose detectors with the technology to handle both types of danger. No matter what, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are very inexpensive and can save your life.