Answer :
Final answer:
The proper methods to test smoke detectors for calibration include Smoke Test, Functional Test, and Aerosol Test, but not the Heat Test, since smoke detectors operate by detecting smoke particles disrupting an electrical current, not changes in temperature. Therefore option b) Heat Test
Explanation:
To assure proper calibration, smoke detectors shall be tested using any of the following methods, except: a) Smoke Test b) Heat Test c) Functional Test d) Aerosol Test. Among these options, the correct answer is b) Heat Test. Smoke detectors are primarily designed to detect smoke particles in the air, not changes in temperature. The principle of their operation is based on the ionization of air by Americium-241, a radioactive element. This ionization creates a small electrical current between two metal plates inside the detector. When smoke enters the detector, it interrupts this current, triggering the alarm. Therefore, the only tests relevant to its core functionality are those involving smoke or aerosols that simulate smoke, not heat. Understanding this principle reveals why a Heat Test is not appropriate for calibrating smoke detectors. Smoke detectors do not measure temperature changes but rather the presence of smoke particles that disrupt an electrical current. Hence, calibrations and tests must be content loaded to this aspect, such as with a Smoke Test, Functional Test, or Aerosol Test, which all involve checking the detector's ability to sense smoke or simulate smoke presence.
