Fire, gas, and water protection components

A full home-protection system consists of alarm, detection, and remediation components. The bottom-line security feature is a fire extinguisher. Canister-style models have a nozzle and trigger to disperse fire-extinguishing contents. Contents are categorized by class of fire. Extinguishing Class A fires from wood or paper and Class C fires from electrical equipment require dry chemicals, including sodium bicarbonate or monoammonium phosphate. Extinguishing Class B fires from flammable liquids like oil, gas, kerosene, or propane requires the same dry chemicals or carbon dioxide or halotron. Extinguishing Class K fires from cooking fat, grease, or oil require wet chemicals like potassium. All home alarm and detection systems should include class ABC fire extinguishers, ranging anywhere from 2 to 15 pounds, and ejecting at a rate of 100, 125, or 195 psi.

Alarm and detection systems for the home

Smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and detectors are boxlike devices that combine extremely sensitive ionization, photoelectric, or electrochemical fire, smoke, or CO-detecting sensors with high-decibel alarms. They mount to ceilings or walls and are hard-wired into existing electrical systems, plug into electrical outlets, or are battery-powered, many with lithium-ion technology. Most hard-wired and plug-in alarm and detection systems have 9V battery backup in case of power failure. Some units consist of both smoke and CO sensors and include LED spotlights to illuminate escape routes. Others have voice alarms that indicate the location of gas leaks, also for planning escape routes. Many carbon monoxide detectors have built-in memory and bright LED screens to record and display CO levels over time, so households can monitor possible CO sources.

Trusted names in fire, gas, and water protection systems

Fire extinguishers, fire and smoke alarms, and CO detectors come from major protection-system manufacturers with well-known household names:

• Kidde
• First Alert®
• Home Safeguard

Each is a well-respected maker of components that comprise a safe, reliable warning and remediation system.

Water and gas-leak components of protection systems

Wall-mounted units for detecting water leaks are also available to sound alarms if fixtures, pipes, or fittings start leaking. Hand-held thermal leak detectors are available as well, using infrared technology to indicate hidden energy leaks in walls, fireplace surrounds, or recessed lighting. Detectors for propane and natural-gas line leaks come as soapy solutions that households can brush on fittings to see whether bubbles indicate the escape of gas.