Which type of smoke detector reacts more quickly to visible products of combustion?

A photoelectric smoke detector is designed to respond more rapidly to visible products of combustion, which are typically associated with smoldering fires. This type of detector uses a light source and a sensor to detect smoke particles; when visible smoke enters the detection chamber, it scatters the light, triggering the alarm.

While ionization detectors are effective for detecting fast-flaming fires, they may not respond as quickly to the larger smoke particles generated from smoldering fires. Combination smoke detectors integrate both ionization and photoelectric sensing technologies, providing a broader range of fire detection but do not exclusively specialize in responding to visible smoke. Thermal detectors, on the other hand, sense temperature changes and are generally not reactive to smoke, making them less effective in situations where visible products of combustion are present.

Thus, the photoelectric smoke detector's design makes it particularly proficient at detecting smoke from smoldering fires, leading to a quicker response to those visible products of combustion.