A smoke detector is an essential safety device for any modern home, workplace or public building, giving an early warning about potential fire dangers before the situation escalates into a major emergency. The smoke and fire alarms section here at Ace contains both battery-powered and hard-wired smoke detector models suitable for both residential and commercial use, providing reliable protection and increased peace of mind.
Choosing a Hard Wired or Battery Smoke Detector
A great advantage to a battery-powered smoke detector is how easy it is to install. So long as the battery is regularly replaced, it can detect smoke or fire even when your power is out.
By contrast, a hard-wired smoke detector needs no battery changes but can't detect smoke in a power outage. For the highest level of protection, consider installing at least one of each type to back each other up.
Smoke Detection Methods
Smoke detectors come with two main types of detection technology: ionization and photoelectric designs.
- Ionization smoke detectors: The most common kind is an ionization alarm that detects smoke produced by relatively fast-burning fires.
- Photoelectric smoke detectors: Less common photoelectric designs are better for detecting slow-burning, smoldering fires with low flame levels.
For a greater range of protection, consider installing at least one of each design.
How Many Smoke Detectors Do You Need?
A smoke alarm should be installed in every bedroom in a home, and there should be at least one on every floor of a building, including any basement and attic. However, take care when installing smoke detectors near cooking areas or other places with "safe" smoke levels, as false alarms will reduce the impact of any genuine warnings.
To complete the safety picture, consider installing carbon monoxide detectors to detect both fire and unsafe levels of carbon monoxide, as well as fire extinguishers to deal with any fires your smoke alarms detect.
Advanced Features to Look for in a Smoke Alarm
Even the most straightforward smoke alarms can make a huge difference to your safety in an emergency. However, several important smoke alarm features can raise your protection levels even further, including:
- Smoke alarms with built-in Wi-Fi can send alerts to your smart device, warning you of danger even if you're not within hearing distance of the alarm.
- With some models, multiple smoke detectors can be interlinked so that when one unit detects a fire, all the alarms will sound together. This is useful for larger buildings with several floors.
- Smoke alarms with integrated carbon monoxide detectors offer an extra level of protection, potentially detecting smaller fires that produce little smoke, as well as warning about faulty furnaces or kitchen equipment.
Shop the Smoke Detector Range at Ace Hardware
At Ace, we make it easy to practice fire safety to protect your home, business premises or public spaces with a reliable smoke detector from brands like First Alert. Choose a battery-powered unit or hard-wired model or opt for a simple passive detector or an advanced design with all the latest smart features. Browse our range above to find the detectors you need for your building, then order online to give you and your family peace of mind that you're protected against fire danger.
