Vaping FAQs

does vaping indoors set off smoke alarms

by Eryn Kris Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Yes, vapes can set off smoke alarms! Different types of fire alarms work on high-tech principles like the scattered infra-red light owing to vapors can set off an optical fire alarm.

E-cigarette users exhale an aerosol of particulates and chemicals35, which can trigger both ionization and photoelectric-based smoke detectors.Jul 1, 2020

Full Answer

Do vapes set off smoke alarms?

Vaping shouldn’t generally trigger a smoke or fire alarm, but it does happen sometimes. Most smoke alarms may well be completely fine with you vaping around them, but if you happen across one which detects the particle change or broken light beam means you are going to hear that ringing bell.

Can vaping set off a smoke detector?

Yes, vaping can set off a smoke detector. The detectors of today are far more sensitive than they were back in the days of indoor cigarette smoking, and they can detect particles in the air more easily.

Why do my smoke alarms keep going off for no reason?

There are many reasons why your smoke detector may be going off for no obvious reason. The most common is when you burn food. However, they can also go off from too much steam or high humidity, chemicals leaking nearby, too much dust on your smoke detector, or the batteries may need to be changed.

Why is my smoke alarm randomly going off?

Why do my Smoke Alarms Keep Going Off for no Reason?

  1. Battery. If the smoke alarm is just chirping rather than sounding the full alarm then it most likely needs new batteries.
  2. Dust on the Sensors. If the smoke detector has the letter “I” in its model number, or if it mentions radioactive material on the back of the smoke detector, ...
  3. High Humidity. ...
  4. Steam. ...
  5. Chemical Odors. ...
  6. Insects and Spiders. ...

More items...

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How likely is your electronic cigarette to set off a fire alarm?

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.

How to dissipate a vapour?

The air will help dissipate the vapour. For maximum safety, blow the vapour outside through the window.

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.

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.

Do hotels have fire alarms?

Hotels often have more sensitive fire alarms than your standard office or house alarm. And when Tom was vaping in a Premier Inn, he noticed that the smoke alarm had started to flash red.

Can you blow vapour into a smoke alarm?

And whatever you do, don’t blow vapour into the smoke alarm!

How does a vaping alarm work?

These work by ionising the air in the space between two plates which are electrically charged. The air particles in this space are monitored, and should smoke, (or any substance perceived as being denser than usual), disrupt the electric current then the alarm will be triggered. These are less likely to react to someone vaping than photoelectric smoke detectors.

Do e-cigarettes ring?

Obviously, these are all designed to detect smoke, and as e-cigs produce vapour and not smoke logic would tell you they shouldn’t cause any kind of smoke alarm to ring, but even in a real fire situation its not the actual smoke which triggers it as mentioned, it’s the change to light beams or particle density which will do that.

Is vapour a smoke alarm trigger?

Despite vapour not being an official trigger for smoke alarms there are times when this may happen anyhow.

How does a smoke detector work?

A conventional smoke detector works through a series of small, airborne particles travelling from a source to a detector. When this stream is interrupted significantly, the fire alarm is tripped. There is some variation on this based on the design of the detector; some work to detect a beam of light that can be blocked, others measure ionized particles travelling between electric plates that will trip an alarm if they are interrupted. Either way the principle is the same: particulates in the air that get into the detector will set off the alarm.

What is a carbon monoxide detector?

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: A carbon monoxide detector is one device that you won’t have to watch out for. These devices detect the presence of high concentrations of carbon monoxide, a compound produced by incomplete combustion and improperly burning fires. Although there are a variety of carbon monoxide detectors that use different systems to detect a buildup of this compound, none of these would be triggered by E-liquid vapour. Carbon monoxide is a completely different (and much more dangerous) compound to anything that would be found in a vape cloud.

Does vaping set off fire alarms?

So, does vaping set off fire alarms? Well even the most sensitive photoelectric detectors aren’t too likely to be set off by vapes, simply because of the nature of cloud vapour. For the most part, cases where fire alarms have been tripped by vaping were caused by either large numbers of vapes being used in an enclosed space, or vapour being blown directly into the detector. At Orange County we always encourage you to follow local laws and common courtesy regarding vaping indoors or in public spaces.

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