There are two broad types of fire alarm systems;

 heat detectors and

 smoke alarms.

Heat Detectors
Heat Detectors:
Heat detectors are the oldest type of automatic fire detection device. Heat detectors feature a detecting
element inside the unit that activates when it reaches a predetermined fixed temperature or when a
specific increase in temperature has occurred. Heat detectors are best suited for:
 applications where detection speed is not a prime consideration or where ambient conditions would not allow
the use of a smoke detector

 fire detection in small, confined spaces where rapidly burning, high heat fires are anticipated

Heat detectors have a lower false alarm rate, but they are also slower than smoke
detectors in detecting fires.
Studies have shown that heat detectors are not as effective as smoke detectors in detecting fires in
residential homes.
All heat detectors have this thermal lag.

 
, heat detectors are not early warning devices..

The heat detector is used to help in the reduction of damaged property. It is triggered when
temperature increases. 

 
A heat detector is a fire alarm device designed to respond when the convected thermal energy of a
fire increases the temperature of a heat sensitive element. Heat detectors are the oldest type
of automatic fire detection device.
Heat detectors feature a detecting element inside the unit that activates when it
reaches a predetermined fixed temperature or when a specific increase in
temperature has occurred.

Heat detectors are best suited for applications where detection speed is not a
prime consideration or where ambient conditions would not allow the use of a
smoke detector, for fire detection in small, confined spaces where rapidly
burning, high heat fires are anticipated

Heat detectors have a lower false alarm rate, but they are also slower than smoke
detectors in detecting fires.

Heat detectors have two main classifications of operation, "rate-of-rise" and "fixed temperature". The
heat detector is used to help in the reduction of damaged property. It is triggered when temperature
increases.

Heat detectors should be considered when providing detection in

environments that may be dirty, dusty, damp or wet, external, exposed to fog
or mist. They may also be considered for those times when the installation of
smoke detectors has caused unwanted alarms. One item of note is that heat
detectors are not listed as life-safety devices, as they only detect a
rise in heat, not the products of combustion.

Fixed temperature heat detectors

This is the most common type of heat detector.

Fixed temperature heat detectors operate when the ambient temperature increases sufficiently
to predetermined level where the heat detector will operate; o

These are the most common form of heat detectors. They are activated when their heat
sensitive eutectic allow reaches its melting point, which in turn changes the alloy’s state from a
solid into a liquid. This occurs after the surrounding air exceeds that temperature.

Rate-of-rise heat detectors

A rate-of-rise heat detector operates when the ambient temperature increases over time equal to
or greater than the rate of change the detector was manufactured to operate.

A rate-of-rise heat detector operates when the ambient temperature increases over time equal to 
or greater than the rate of change the detector was manufactured to operate. A temperature increase 
at the sensor of 15°F (9°C) or more per minute, activates the rate‐of‐rise feature. This closes the 
contacts in the sensor to transmit the alarm condition to the fire alarm control panel. 

Smoke Alarms 
Smoke alarms are designed to detect fires quickly. Like flame detectors, this fire detection equipment is divided into
three subcategories.
Smoke Alarms:
Smoke alarms will detect most fires more rapidly than heat detectors. There are currently three types of
smoke alarms on the market: ionization, photoelectric and combination ionization/photoelectric.

Smoke detectors provide early detection of an incipient fire and are listed as
life-safety devices,
but they cannot be installed in all locations or environments. This is especially
true for dusty or dirty environments or those exposed to weather or moisture.

Photoelectric alarms: These operate with the use of a light source, photoelectric sensor, and beam collimating
system. When smoke begins to enter the optical chamber, it crosses the light beam path. This results in light being
scattered by the particles in the smoke. The scattered light is then directed to the sensor, after which the alarm is
activated and sounded.
Photoelectric smoke alarms operate using a light source, a light beam collimating system and a
photoelectric sensor. When smoke enters the optical chamber and crosses the path of the light beam,
some light is scattered by the smoke particles, directing it at the sensor and thus activating the alarm.
This type of alarm responds best to slow smoldering fires.

Photoelectric smoke alarms operate using a light source, a light beam

collimating system and a photoelectric sensor. When smoke enters the optical
chamber and crosses the path of the light beam, some light is scattered by the
smoke particles, directing it at the sensor and thus activating the alarm.

Ionization alarms: A small amount of radioactive material, which passes through the ionization chamber, is contained
inside of these alarms. There are two electrodes inside the chamber, with empty space in between. The radiation
permits a small current between the two electrodes. If smoke enters the chamber, it absorbs the alpha particles,
which results in an interrupted current and ionization reduction. When this occurs, the alarm is set off.

An ionization smoke alarm contains a small amount of radioactive material. The radiation passes
through an ionization chamber which is an air-filled space between two electrodes and permits a small,
constant current between the electrodes. Any smoke that enters the chamber absorbs the alpha particles,
which reduces the ionization and interrupts this current, setting off the alarm. This type of alarm responds
best to fast raging fires.
An ionization smoke alarm contains a small amount of radioactive material.
The radiation passes through an ionization chamber which is an air‐filled space
between two electrodes and permits a small, constant current between the
electrodes. Any smoke that enters the chamber absorbs the alpha particles,
which reduces the ionization and interrupts this current, setting off the alarm.

Combination alarms: These have the features of both ionization and photoelectric alarm technologies. The
photoelectric function responds to low energy smoldering fires, and the ionization function responds to rapid,
high-energy fires.
Combination smoke alarms feature both ionization and photoelectric technologies. Ionization smoke
alarms respond faster to high energy fires, whereas photoelectric detectors respond better to low energy
smoldering fires. The NFPA recommends using both smoke alarms in the home for the best protection.

• Ionization fire detector responds to smoke particles because those detectors ionize the air and
make it conductive. Smoke particle decrease this conductivity and initiate subsequent action,
alarm/sprinklers.

Which Method is Better? 

Both ionization and photoelectric detectors are effective smoke sensors. Ionization detectors respond 
more quickly to flaming fires with smaller combustion particles; photoelectric detectors respond more 
quickly to smoldering fires. In either type of detector, steam or high humidity can lead to condensation 
on the circuit board and sensor, causing the alarm to sound.   

Ionization detectors are less expensive than photoelectric detectors, but some users purposely disable 
them because they are more likely to sound an alarm from normal cooking due to their sensitivity to 
minute smoke particles. However, ionization detectors have a degree of built‐in security not inherent to 
photoelectric detectors. When the battery starts to fail in an ionization detector, the ion current 
falls and the alarm sounds, warning that it is time to change the battery before the detector 
becomes ineffective. Back‐up batteries may be used for photoelectric detectors.