Problems With Smoke Alarms That Are Too Sensitive

Noise

• Overly sensitive smoke detectors will cause frequent false alarms, and the continuous noise of the alarm can cause problems for neighbors if you live in an apartment or share an office building. Smoke and fire alarms are meant to be loud and shrill so there is no mistake the alarm is going off, but false alarms will annoy occupants instead of warning them about an impending safety risk. Frequent false alarms can also lead to noise complaints that could lead to fines and other reprimands.

"Cry Wolf" Effect

• "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is a classic story about a young shepherd who was supposed to watch a flock of sheep to prevent wolves from eating them. He would get bored and cry "Wolf!" to amuse himself and watch the reaction of the villagers. One day, a real wolf appeared, and when the boy cried out, no one came to help him. Just as the villagers were desensitized to the threat of a real wolf, a sensitive smoke alarm can desensitize people in a building to the risks of an actual fire and result in a slow response to a very real threat.

Emergency Services

• Some alarm systems are programmed to contact the fire department immediately upon activation, and a number of false alarms due to sensitive detectors causes multiple issues. Not only can multiple false alarms result in a slower reaction from the fire department, but the owner of the building also can be fined extensively for wasting the fire department's time. Firefighters could also respond to the false alarm and show up late to an actual fire as a result, so adjust or replace the sensitive detector as soon as possible.