What describes a photoelectric light scattering smoke detector?

A photoelectric light scattering smoke detector operates by utilizing light to detect smoke particles in the air. In this type of detector, a light source shines a beam into a sensing chamber. When smoke enters the chamber, the particles scatter the light, redirecting it onto a sensor. This scattering effect triggers the alarm, alerting occupants to the presence of smoke.

This method allows photoelectric detectors to be particularly effective at sensing smoldering fires that produce large smoke particles, demonstrating their sensitivity to smoke conditions. The other options do not accurately describe how photoelectric detectors function, as they do not exclusively sense heat, are typically designed with multiple sensors for reliability, and are generally considered reliable for specific types of fires compared to ionization detectors.