Which type of fire does an ionization smoke detector respond to more quickly?

An ionization smoke detector responds more quickly to fast-flame fires. This type of smoke detector contains a small amount of radioactive material that ionizes the air in the detection chamber, making it sensitive to small particles produced by flames. Fast-flame fires, which involve open flames and rapidly produce combustion particles, generate the type of smoke that these detectors are designed to detect quickly.

In contrast, smoldering fires produce larger particles and a lot of smoke initially, but they do not create the same quantity of ionized particles that an ionization detector is sensitive to. Gas and electrical fires can vary widely in smoke characteristics, but generally, ionization detectors are not specifically optimized for their response. Therefore, the rapid response of ionization smoke detectors is particularly suited to fast-flame fires, which can be life-threatening and require early detection to ensure safety.