Which type of fire alarm uses visual technology?

Photoelectric smoke detectors utilize visual technology by incorporating a light source and a light-sensitive sensor. These detectors work by detecting smoke through the scattering of light. When smoke particles enter the sensing chamber, they disrupt the light beam, causing a measurable decrease in the light intensity that reaches the sensor. This change in light level triggers the alarm.

In contrast, ionization smoke detectors work primarily through ionization of air particles and are more effective at detecting fast-flaming fires, while heat detectors focus on changes in temperature rather than visual indicators. Flame detectors, on the other hand, monitor specific wavelengths of light emitted by flames but do not utilize the same kind of visual technology as photoelectric smoke detectors. Thus, photoelectric smoke detectors are uniquely characterized by their use of visual technology to detect smoke presence.