SHAKER HEIGHTS : Three cities (Lyndhurst, Chagrin Falls and Shaker Heights) will soon require their residents to swap out their classic smoke detectors for photoelectric smoke detectors.
That’s because photoelectric smoke detectors react faster and could save lives.
• They use a beam of light to detect smoke. When the smoke breaks the light, the alarm sounds.
• Many home fires smoulder instead of spreading quickly, which produces toxic black smoke. They may take longer to develop into flames.
• Traditional smoke detectors wouldn’t detect the fire until flames were present.
• Photoelectric smoke detectors would sense the fire as soon as the smoke breaks the light.
• Photoelectric smoke detectors cost anywhere from four to eight dollars more than a regular smoke detector
Shaker Heights Fire Chief Kevin Jacobs said if residents can’t afford to switch, the fire department will provide a new one for them.
- WKYC-TV
