Although it is an issue that is often relegated when we think about home security, the truth is that it is almost more important than fighting balaclavas. Yes, we are talking about nothing more and nothing less than the fires .
It is not a question of sensations. The data of UNESPA indicate that insurers spend about 500 million euros a year to fix the damage caused by the flames and compensate the tenants.
Surprisingly, the most common scene for flames is none other than the fire itself. private home ; even above industrial environments in which greater danger is assumed due to machinery and management of flammable materials. The thing is like this:
- Housing : 71%
- Owner communities : 13%
- Shops : 10%
- Industries and other spaces : 5%
Does the place of residence have an influence? Yes. Statistics indicate Jaén, Córdoba, Badajoz, Pontevedra and Seville as the places most likely to suffer fires. This is because demographic dispersion is a positive factor for this type of accidents.
Therefore, the larger the population the municipality has, the less likely it is that flames will be generated. If we look at the ranking by severity of damage, then the correlation does not hold as much with Burgos, Girona, Zamora, Balearic Islands and Soria as the most affected places.
The average cost of a fire is around 7300 - 10,000 euros .
And what about the average? UNESPA says that the tenant of a home usually receives an average of 1200 euros by insurance to cover damages. In the case of businesses, the figure rises to 2400 euros and in industries up to 9500 euros . Next to nothing.
Therefore, when talking about prevention, it is inevitable to mention safety devices. We refer to the approved smoke detectors ; some devices that can save your life in exchange for a ridiculous investment. Do you want to know more about them? Keep reading.
Are smoke detectors mandatory?
It is perfectly normal for you to ask yourself this question. Although its effectiveness is undeniable in preventing fires, the reality is that today smoke detectors for homes are not mandatory .
It is true that the Technical Building Code (CTE) Since 2006, it has included the need for buildings built after that year to comply with a minimum of fire protection.
This includes both the choice of fireproof materials and the distribution of common elements for emergency situations. Does your portal have fire extinguishers on the walls? It is, either for this reason, or because reforms have been carried out. The point is that there is no trace of the private home .
There it is you yourself who must have the initiative to install a smoke detector . Of course, always making sure that it is approved according to the different regulations. In the private case, it is enough for you to be guided by your intention.
That is, distrust the devices extremely cheap marketed inmarketplaceslike Amazon or AliExpress, and avoid those models that do without optical and acoustic warning devices, control elements, automatic extinguishing and other similar security technologies.
Smoke detectors: types for homes
No, all smoke detectors are not the same . We start from the same base, of course: a device capable of transmitting a warning signal when the composition of the air exceeds a preset threshold of certain particles. The normal thing is that it is CO2 or ash .
Over the years, these devices have evolved towards more refined responses, including data related to temperature and other variables related to fires. They are the so-called smart smoke detectors .
Such systems distinguish "fire, non-fire, dirt, dust, self-check, etc. The decision transferred from the detector to the central , unlike conventional systems in which the alarm decision was made by the detector", they explain from the INSST.
Photoelectric smoke detector
It is a type of smoke detector capable of identifying the presence of flames by means of projection of a beam of light rays . Within this group, those with a projected beam of rays and those with reflected rays are distinguished.
In the former, smoke reduces the amount of light received by the photocell installed remotely (up to a recommended maximum of 100 meters). They cover a space of 14 meters and allow you to protect up to 1400 square meters of the flames.
That is why they are recommended in very large rooms with raised ceilings, storage areas, ventilation ducts, factories, art galleries and the like. They offer quick response to fires and are cheap to assemble. Although they are incompatible with premises provided with ventilation or air conditioned (they take away the smoke).
On the other hand we have photoelectric smoke detectors. reflected beam of rays . There is no receiving unit here. It is the detector itself that emits light at a right angle and waits for it back with a camera obscura. If there is smoke, This will receive fewer photons and will set off the alarm. .
They are devices equipped with a suction pump . Issues? That it does not differentiate smoke from dust particles, and that if the smoke is too black it ignores it ( Tyndall effect ). Advantages? They require less smoke to set off the alarm and are self-regulating.
They are recommended for the prevention of slow burning fires caused by wood, paper, cotton or PVC insulated electrical cables. Basically for rooms with electrical equipment (for example computers).
Ionic smoke detector
These work by detecting the reduction of ionized electric current (O2 + N2) which is generated due to a radioactive source between two electrodes when they come into contact with the combustion of flames. It sounds complicated but they are incredibly effective.
"They detect visible and invisible particles generated by combustion and their greatest effectiveness is found for sizes of particles between 1 and 0.01 microns ", they point out from INSST. That is, those that emit specific materials when they reach what is known as "thermal particulate point".
So do they emit radiation? Are they dangerous? Studies indicate that you would need to spend 8 hours a day 25 centimeters from each other of these smoke detectors so that you reached one hundredth of the allowed limit.
Within the classification we have, on the one hand, the alpha particle ion detectors . So called because they identify the ionization of the O2 and N2 molecules by helium atom nuclei from a radioactive source ( Americium 241 ).
These detectors capture a large amount of smoke and offer stability against variations in pressure, temperature and air currents. Or what is the same: They are the most versatile on the market . On the downside, they give false alarms with aerosols, dust, tobacco smoke and high humidity.
On the other hand are the ionic beta particle detectors. They work the same as the previous ones but relating to the Nickel 63 emitted by the combustion of alcohols. They are not sold in Spain .
Resistance bridge smoke detector
Devices that are activated by the presence of smoke and humidity particles on a grid with an electric bridge. These fall on the component and increase their conductivity , setting off the alarm.
This type of smoke detector It is activated by any type of gas and smoke . The pity is that they are quite rare to see and are not even considered by the UNE Standards. Perhaps it is because they generate many false alarms with steam escapes or suspended particles.
Yes they can be found on the market, but as carbon monoxide detectors ; a less common option to consider for homes and more typical for offices and businesses.
Smoke detectors by sample analysis
They are also known as fog chamber smoke detectors. They are made up of a pipe that runs through the area to be protected and captures the air from the room using an extractor pump.
You don't have to worry about them because They are quite out of date regarding the technology that we can find today on the market. They are quite expensive and lack spare parts on the market.
Taguchi type flue gas detector
They are detectors that work using a n-type semiconductor crystal (negative) . This has two built-in heating elements that keep the surface at a few 250 degrees , allowing the release of electrons and preventing the condensation of water vapor.
In parallel there is an external box of tin dioxide with a very porous surface through which oxygen molecules pass. How does it work? When there is a lot of oxidizable gas in the environment, Captured O2 releases electrons onto the conducting surface .
This reduces the resistance of the component and triggers the alarm. It sounds very modern but it is not effective in accurately discriminating each type of emergency. That's why They are not the most recommended smoke detectors .
What approved smoke detector should I buy for my home?
The answer is none other than a device that comes backed by a trustworthy service and sufficient security guarantees. There are many smoke detectors, but few are as focused on generating peace of mind as the approved smoke detectors that you will find in most Alarms .
You don't have to worry about purchasing your alarm connected to the central office on the one hand and your detector on the other, but you can face the security challenge as a single entity; acquiring the kit that best suits your needs .
It doesn't matter if you want to protect your apartment, if you live in a single-family home or if you are looking for safe investments with your business; in our best Alarms reviews, We have selected the top smoke detector you're chasing.
