Does Vaping Set Off Smoke Alarms?

Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking cigarettes in the UK, with millions of people preferring it as a less harmful way to consume nicotine while enjoying a range of flavours. A common concern among vapers is whether vaping sets off smoke alarms, particularly in public areas, shared spaces, or while travelling.

Learn about vaping and smoke alarms, from smoke detector mechanics and myths to which types are the most vapour-sensitive and how you can lower the risk of setting them off.

How Smoke Alarms Work

If you enjoy vaping in public places, you might be concerned about setting off a smoke alarm unintentionally. Your concerns are justified because smoke alarms are extremely sensitive fire safety devices. They’re designed to detect particles of smoke in the air, triggering an alarm if this happens. There are two common types of smoke alarms:

• Ionisation alarms: These devices are particularly sensitive to the small particles usually produced by fast-burning fires such as paper or wood. A device’s two electrodes ionise the air between them, creating a small electrical current. Smoke particles disrupt the current when they enter the chamber, which triggers the alarm.
• Photoelectric alarms: Also known as optical alarms, photoelectric alarms are better at detecting the larger smoke particles produced by slow-burning or smouldering fires. They have a beam of light that activates the alarm when scattered by smoke particles in the air.

Do Smoke Detectors Detect Vape?

One of the most important things to remember when vaping in public spaces that have smoke alarms is that both types of these devices can potentially be triggered by other substances such as vapour, steam, and dust.

Vaping and Smoke Alarms Explained

Unlike smoke from burning materials, vapour from vaping devices is produced by the condensation of particles of liquid suspended in the air. These particles are produced when e-liquid soaked into a wick is vapourised by heat from a coil in a pod system, mod kit, big puff disposable, or other vape kit. While vapour dissipates faster than smoke, its dense, visible clouds can trigger both types of smoke alarms. Let’s take a closer look at vaping and smoke alarm types:

• Ionisation alarms: This type of alarm is less likely to be triggered by vapour from your vaping device, as they’re more responsive to fast-burning fires’ tiny smoke particles. However, if you blow vapour directly at one of these alarms, there is a risk that you could activate it.
• Photoelectric alarms: These alarms are more likely to be activated by vapour from your vaping device, as the dense clouds can potentially scatter the beam of light in the same way smoke particles from slow-burning fires would.

Vaping and Smoke Alarms: Common Scenarios

Unless you’re outdoors, vaping in public places often comes with the risk of setting off smoke alarms. Here are some common scenarios of vaping and smoke alarms:

Shared spaces: Dormitories and flats have smoke alarms in hallways and communal areas. Vaping near these alarms could trigger them.

Hotels: Most, if not all, hotels in the UK have sensitive smoke alarms in rooms, suites, and other areas. Vaping indoors in hotels may result in alarms going off and you receiving a fine.

Public transport: Train stations, Underground stations, airports, and other public transport facilities are fitted with sophisticated smoke alarms. Vaping in toilets or other confined spaces in these buildings could activate an alarm, cause disruptions, and leave you facing penalties.

Workplaces: Offices and other shared workspaces often have stringent fire safety measures, making vaping indoors risky.

Common Vaping and Smoke Detector Myths

If you speak to enough vapers about vaping and smoke alarms, you’re bound to hear some of the common myths from a few of them. Let’s bust these myths with the facts.

• Myth: Vapour from a vape kit can’t trigger a smoke alarm because it’s not smoke.
• Fact: The e-liquid particles comprising the vapour from your device can scatter light beams or disrupt sensors’ currents in the same way smoke does. This is particularly true of photoelectric alarms.

• Myth: Disabling a smoke alarm temporarily is a safe solution to vaping in public places.
• Fact: Tampering with smoke alarms is illegal and dangerous, as this compromises safety for everyone in the building.

• Myth: Puffing smaller clouds or using an MTL device with more discreet vapour guarantees smoke alarms won’t be activated.
• Fact: While more discreet vapour clouds reduce the risk of triggering smoke alarms, even small amounts of vapour can activate sensitive alarms.

Tips to Avoid Triggering Smoke Alarms

Use these tips for responsible vaping in public places to reduce the risk of triggering smoke alarms:

Understand your surroundings: Check if the area permits vaping indoors, and take note of where the smoke detectors are before taking a puff on your device.

Choose your vaping device and settings wisely: Use lower-wattage vape kits or disposable vapes that produce smaller vapour clouds to minimise the chance of triggering smoke alarms.

Avoid puffing or blowing vapour toward smoke alarms: Blow or puff vapour away from smoke alarms to reduce the risk of interfering with them.

Ventilate the area: Open windows or doors or use fans to disperse vapour faster and prevent it from lingering near smoke detectors.

Be mindful in public places: Always follow the policies or regulations on vaping when in public places, especially hotels, workplaces, or transport hubs.

Educate yourself: Find out about the type of smoke alarm systems in the places you frequent. For example, you may find that a hotel you visit regularly has advanced photoelectric systems that are more sensitive.

Vape Responsibly in Public

While vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it does have its challenges, such as the risk of triggering smoke detectors. It’s essential that you understand vaping and smoke alarms. Knowing how these devices work, being able to recognise common myths, and familiarising yourself with tips for responsible vaping in public places can help you reduce the risk of setting an alarm and potentially receiving harsh penalties.