Which smoke detector type is generally better at detecting smoldering fires?

The photoelectric smoke detector is particularly effective at detecting smoldering fires due to its operation mechanism, which relies on light scattering. In the case of smoldering fires, which often produce larger smoke particles, the photoelectric sensor can more readily detect the presence of these particles. This type of detector utilizes a light source and a photodetector positioned at an angle. When smoke enters the sensing chamber, it scatters the light, triggering the alarm.

In contrast, ionization smoke detectors are more responsive to fast-flaming fires with smaller, less visible smoke particles. Linear smoke detectors focus on detecting smoke across a linear path, but they may not be as sensitive to the varied particle sizes found in smoldering fires. Thermal detectors depend on temperature changes rather than smoke particles, so their ability to identify early-stage smoldering fires is limited compared to photoelectric detectors. Therefore, relying on photoelectric technology offers a superior response to the specific characteristics of smoldering fire emissions.