History of the Smoke Detector

Francis Robbins Upton invented the first automatic electric fire alarm in 1890. However, home smoke detectors were not introduced until the 1960s, when they revolutionized home safety.

History

Duane D. Pearsall and Stanley Bennett Peterson are credited with inventing the home smoke detector in 1965.

Function

The function of a smoke detector is to warn occupants of a fire in time for them to leave the building and seek safety away from the burning structure.

Warning

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission believes that millions of homes have smoke alarms that do not work because regular maintenance checks are not performed.

Misconceptions

Many people believe they will wake up automatically if they smell smoke. Unfortunately, many home fires smolder for hours, producing toxic gases like carbon monoxide that harm you as you sleep.

Benefits

The benefit to having a working smoke detector in your home is knowing that you will receive warning in the event of a fire, giving you an invaluable sense of security.

Types

There are two types of home smoke alarms available for consumers to purchase: the ion smoke detector and the photoelectric smoke detector.

Time Frame

In a typical home fire, people have a time frame of approximately 2 minutes to leave the building safely.

Resources

• Information about the function of smoke detectors.
• Importance of checking smoke detectors regularly.