In which type of fire detection scenario are photoelectric smoke detectors especially effective?

Photoelectric smoke detectors are particularly effective in scenarios involving smoldering fires or low-temperature pyrolysis, such as those that can occur with materials like PVC. The reason for this effectiveness lies in the operational principle of photoelectric detectors, which utilize light beams and the scattering of light to detect smoke particles. Smoldering fires often produce larger particles of smoke as they burn at lower temperatures, making them more detectable by the light-scattering capabilities of these detectors. In contrast, other types of fires, such as high-temperature or flashover fires, may generate less smoke in the initial stages, and they involve rapid combustion that can lead to different forms of smoke and heat that are not as easy for photoelectric detectors to sense effectively. Consequently, this makes photoelectric smoke detectors not only an appropriate choice but often the preferred option for early detection in situations involving smoldering fires.