CAI-NJ Mar. 2019 (w)

TRENDS IN RESIDENTIAL FIRE PROTECTION: New Smart Home Devices Could Prevent Fires and Save Lives By Ray Venturino City Fire Equipment Company, Inc.

S moke, fire, and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors might not be the sexiest smart technology out there, but the newest crop of detection, prevention, and loss-mitiga- tion products could save a life or two. Smoke, Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Combo Detectors A good smoke or Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector is an absolute necessity in any dwell- ing. It’s your first defense against fire-related hazards, food left burning on the stove, or a fuel-burning appliance malfunctions. Luckily, most smoke detectors are affordable and easy to install, although some newer models come with extra security features and smart technology.

fast-burning fires. They also come hardwired with a ten-year sealed battery backup in case of power outages. They also have an 85-deci- bel alarm that’s guaranteed to wake you up. Plus, if you have a big house, you can even sync this detector with other units in the house so that if one alarm sounds, the rest will too. Wi-Fi Detectors A high-end smoke detector not only protects your home, it also gives you many additional convenient features. Alarms equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity will receive notifications on smartphones about a triggered alarm or mal- function, even when you are out of the house. This unit uses both photoelectric and ionization technology; you can choose to buy either a hard-wired or battery-operated version. Other interesting features are a motion-activated LED nightlight and voice alerts (that you can silence) before an 85-decibel alarm sounds. These products can also double as carbon monoxide detectors, so you only need to get one device to cover both needs. CONT I NUE S ON PAGE 33

Dual-Sensor Smoke Detector Technology

Dual-sensor detectors have many advan- tages. They have both photoelectric and ion- ization sensors. Photoelectric sensors detect smoldering fires. Ionization sensors detect

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