This self-paced online course covers the operating principles of fire alarm system smoke detectors and smoke alarms, including the two types of smoke detectors, their advantages and disadvantages, their operating principles, and their sensitivity to smoke.

Upon completion you should be able to:

• Explain the differences between line and spot type smoke detectors
• Explain the differences between system connected smoke detectors and smoke alarms
• Describe the operating principles of ionization, photoelectric, and air sampling types of smoke detectors
• Explain the allowable methods to determine the sensitivity of a smoke detector
• Explain how smoke detector sensitivity is measured and expressed
• Describe the operation of a linear beam smoke detector
• Explain the advantages of smoke detectors
• Explain the disadvantages of smoke detectors

Who Will Benefit

Anyone whose job involves designing, reviewing, evaluating or installing fire protection systems, including: designers, installers, engineers, electrical contractors, technicians, project managers, fire marshals, and architects

Course Summary

• Smoke is a mixture of heated air, gases, and fine solids.
• Smoke detectors may be linear beam or spot-type.
• Advantages of smoke detectors include:
  • detection of low energy fires
  • detection that is faster than heat detectors for most fires
  • are preferred in life safety applications
• Disadvantages of smoke detectors include:
  • being more expensive than heat detectors
  • having a higher life cycle cost than heat detectors
  • limitations for use based on environmental conditions