What feature of photoelectric smoke detectors makes them less prone to false alarms compared to ionization detectors?

Photoelectric smoke detectors utilize a light beam and a photocell to detect smoke. In this type of detector, smoke particles scatter the light beam, leading to activation of the alarm. This design allows photoelectric detectors to be more discerning in identifying smoke from smoldering fires, which tend to produce larger, visible particles. As a result, they are less likely to be triggered by common issues that might cause false alarms, such as cooking smoke or steam.

The use of a light beam makes photoelectric detectors particularly effective for detecting visible smoke, which contributes significantly to their reliability in residential environments. In contrast, ionization smoke detectors, which rely on ionized air, are more sensitive to invisible smoke particles associated with flaming fires but can also be more prone to false alarms from non-fire sources.

The other options don't adequately contribute to reducing false alarms in the same way. Quicker response time doesn't inherently reduce false alarms, while sensitivity to invisible smoke particles does not provide a benefit in preventing false activations from other sources. Moreover, the ability to self-reset does not impact the distinctive operational mechanism that minimizes false alarms in photoelectric detectors.