What are the disadvantages of photoelectric detectors?

While effective at detecting smoldering fires, photoelectric detectors do have some disadvantages. They can be more expensive than ionization detectors, are susceptible to false alarms from dust, steam, or cooking fumes, and may be slower to react to fast-burning fires. Additionally, their performance can be affected by environmental factors such as humidity and temperature.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown from Anka Security:

Cost:
Photoelectric detectors are generally more expensive than ionization detectors because their components are more complex.

False alarms:
They can be triggered by everyday events such as cooking fumes, steam, or dust, resulting in nuisance alarms.

Sensitivity to fire types:
While they excel at detecting smoldering fires, they may be slower to react to fast-burning fires.

Environmental sensitivity:
Dust, humidity, and temperature fluctuations can affect their performance and reliability.

Maintenance:
They may require more frequent cleaning to prevent false alarms caused by dust accumulation on the sensor.