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There are mainly two types: photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric detectors are most effective for smoldering fires, which produce large smoke particles, while ionization systems provide a quicker response to high-energy flaming fires, which produce large quantities of small smoke particles. Combination ionization–photoelectric detectors, known as "photo–ion smoke detectors," can be installed where protection from both types of fire is desired. Photoelectric detectors have become more popular in recent years not only because they offer substantial faster response in detecting low-energy (smoldering) fires, but also because they may equal or surpass ionization detector response to flaming fires when a fire is not close.
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