Fire alarms designed to detect rising temperatures will not sound an alarm if someone is vaping nearby. Optical and ionization alarms may sound if there is a large enough cloud of vapor. However, there has to be a lot of vapor, and the vapor must be very near the device.
Full Answer
Can You vape around fire alarms?
Since e-cigarette vapour isn’t hot, you can vape without concern if you’re around a heat-based fire alarm. An ionic fire alarm works by monitoring the ambient air for particulate matter, which would indicate the presence of smoke. Inside the fire alarm are two ionically charged plates, and an electrical current flows between the plates.
Will an e-cig set off a fire alarm?
According to Alan Morgan from St Davids Fire, even a bit of cigarette smoke shouldn’t set off modern fire alarms, which have been designed to avoid false alarms. Nevertheless, if you do use your e-cig indoors, or even worse on an airplane (please don’t – the consequences can be serious,...
How does a smoke alarm work with vapor?
This usually requires open flame or thick, heavy smoke, which won't usually be a problem for vapor. This style of alarm uses a beam of light (usually infrared) that serves as the trigger for the alarm to go off. When particles are thick enough to interrupt the light beam, the alarm will go off.
Do smoke detectors work when you vape?
You should be cautious with any smoke or fire alarm when vaping. However, optical or photoelectric alarms are the most vulnerable to vapor, since your puffs can easily break the beams of infrared light. Ionized detectors can also be triggered by vapor, but that’s far less likely.
Heat-Based Fire Alarm
Heat-based fire alarms aren’t particularly common, but you may find one in a kitchen. A heat-based fire alarm uses a temperature detection mechanism that triggers when the ambient temperature in the room exceeds a certain threshold. Since e-cigarette vapour isn’t hot, you can vape without concern if you’re around a heat-based fire alarm.
Ionic Fire Alarm
An ionic fire alarm works by monitoring the ambient air for particulate matter, which would indicate the presence of smoke. Inside the fire alarm are two ionically charged plates, and an electrical current flows between the plates.
Photoelectric Fire Alarm
A photoelectric fire alarm monitors air quality using an invisible beam of light. Cigarette smoke breaks the beam of light, triggering the alarm. If you’ve ever observed the differences between cigarette smoke and e-cigarette vapour, you know that smoke is much thicker and is more likely to block visible light.
Vape Responsibly Around Smoke Detectors
Remember that any two smoke detectors – even two detectors of the same type – may vary in their sensitivity levels. Therefore, there is no single rule for how to vape without setting off a fire alarm.
What is an ionisation fire alarm?
Ionisation alarms: Sensitive to small particles of smoke. They utilise two electrically charged radioactive plates. When smoke particles enter the fire alarm they disrupt the electricity between the plates, setting off the alarm. This was the type used in our experiment!
How does an optical alarm work?
Optical alarms: Optical alarms work by beaming infrared light. When smoke particles enter the smoke alarm, the particles cause the infrared light to be scattered onto a light detector which triggers the alarm.
How many fires are there in the UK every year?
There are 37,000 house fires a year in the UK alone, and it’s just not worth putting your life or others at risk. 1. Blow away from the smoke alarm. First, note where the smoke alarm is, and ensure you blow vapour away from it. If you work in an office, try to locate your desk away from the alarm.
Can an optical smoke alarm detect vapour?
Heat alarms: Used in kitchens, these are unlikely to detect vapour as they are responsive to heat rather than to smoke. When we spoke to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, they told us that optical alarms are the type most likely to be set off by electronic cigarette vapour.
Can you vape with a fire alarm?
It can also give a bad name to vapers! However, there are places where you are allowed to vape which do have a fire alarm. Our office and warehouse is one example. And yes, someone did set the fire alarm off once, causing the whole building to be evacuated.
Can you blow vapour into a smoke alarm?
And whatever you do, don’t blow vapour into the smoke alarm!
Do electronic cigarettes set off fire alarms?
Fortunately, reports of electronic cigarettes setting off fire alarms are rare. Smoke alarms are designed to detect smoke, and electronic cigarettes produce vapour. Fortunately, vapour dissipates a lot faster than smoke. However, the use of PG and flavourings in e-liquids is thought to create larger particles than the average steam from a kettle.
