Fire alarms and smoke detectors have a long and rich history that most people don’t know about. In fact, smoke detectors date back to the 1930s, and fire alarms date all the way back to the 1850s. Smoke detectors and fire alarm systems have both improved a lot since their initial creation. In fact, these days it’s possible to monitor your smoke detector and fire alarm systems via a mobile app. Read on to learn more about the history of smoke detectors and fire alarms.
The history of smoke detectors
Smoke detectors are those loud alarms that go off in the presence of heavy smoke. While these devices can be annoying when you make a mistake while cooking, they are essential to the safety of every household and place of business. Smoke detectors first showed up in the 1930s. A Swiss physicist named Walter Jaeger accidentally created the first smoke detector while trying to create a poison gas identifier.
The first smoke detector for households was invented in 1965 by Stanley Bennett Peterson and Duane D. Pearsall. Smoke detectors wouldn’t make their way into most households until the 1970s. In the 1980s, the device was deemed so essential that the United States required their installation in every home.
The history of fire alarms
Like smoke detectors, fire alarm systems alert everyone in the area about a fire. However, fire alarm systems differ in that they are usually connected to other devices, like sprinkler systems. Fire alarms have been around for a long time, with one of the first appearing in the 1850s. This device was first developed in Australia and used a wooden rattle to alert people of a fire.
In 1852, Moses Farmer and William F. Channing invented fire alarms that utilized a telegraphic key. This telegraphic key would allow someone to alert the closest fire department if they noticed a fire. Francis Robbins Upton revealed the first modern fire alarm system in the 1890s. It took a while for Upton’s invention to catch on, but fire alarm installation was soon deemed essential in certain environments.
Smoke detectors and fire alarms today
Smoke detectors and fire alarm systems have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Today, there are smoke detectors that allow you to monitor your home from your mobile devices. Some don’t even require wiring to install, and can last over 10 years without a battery replacement. Current fire alarm systems, meanwhile, can alert a nearby fire department to a fire within a matter of seconds. These devices and systems have saved a multitude of lives over the years and continue to improve with time.
Now that you know more about the history of fire alarms and smoke detectors, give your devices a quick check. It’s important to make sure your fire alarms and smoke detectors are always working properly.
If you’re having issues with one of your devices or would like to purchase a new system, speak with the experts at Carpet Capital Multi-System, Inc. We provide fire alarm installation services at fair prices. We also offer 24-hour monitoring and management service.