Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
The most common alarm is a beeping noise that is piercing and persistent enough to alert homeowners to danger. Another type of alarm is the voice detector, which has verbal commands pre-recorded in addition to an alarm. Examples of the pre-recorded commands are ”Fire, get out!” or “Smoke alert!” or Low-battery alert.”
Another type of voice detector has a parent’s voice pre-recorded in lieu of an alarm. Studies show that children often sleep through a normal smoke detector’s alarm or respond so slowly they cannot escape the house within the critical two-minute time window. These same studies indicate that children are more likely to respond quickly to a parent’s voice.
Strobe detectors are smoke alarms that are designed to meet the needs of the hearing-impaired. These smoke alarms use strobe lights that flash or vibrate to alert those who are unable to hear standard smoke alarms.
There are also detectors that respond with tactile stimulation such as bed shaking.
