Alarm dealers choose fire alarm detectors for a variety of reasons including price, reliability, trainability and technological advancements. Initiating devices that trigger an alarm, such as smoke and heat detectors and pull stations, are available with a variety of options and configurations.
Ionization and photoelectric are two types of detectors. Ionization detectors use a small amount of radioactive material to trigger a fire alarm. These types of detectors are used most commonly in homes because they are relatively inexpensive. Although both types of detectors have strengths, many manufacturers and dealers encourage the use of photoelectric smoke detectors.