What is an ionization smoke alarm and how does it differ from other types of smoke alarms?

An ionization smoke alarm is a type of smoke detector that uses a small amount of radioactive material to ionize the air inside the alarm chamber. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the ionization process, triggering the alarm.

This type of smoke alarm is more sensitive to fast-burning, flaming fires, but less sensitive to slow, smoldering fires. In comparison, photoelectric smoke alarms use a light beam to detect smoke particles, making them more effective at detecting smoldering fires. Dual-sensor smoke alarms combine both ionization and photoelectric technologies for comprehensive fire detection.