Vital! Smoke alarms - that's why they sometimes don't work

They can save lives and are now mandatory in most homes. What few people know: The sensors of the small devices on the room and corridor ceiling are sometimes disturbed. That's why.

Overview

"Even the best smoke detectors will not work correctly in an emergency if they are heavily soiled or the battery is dead," explains the "Smoke detectors save lives" (RLL) campaign. Only regular maintenance ensures that smoke detectors function reliably over their entire service life. In some cases, the detectors are even deliberately manipulated by the residents: loudspeakers or sensors are taped up if the warning tone is annoying.

How often do smoke detectors need maintenance?

On its website, the RLL recommends maintenance intervals according to the manufacturer's specifications. The recommended intervals for regular inspection can be found in the operating instructions for the respective device. At least once a year you must check all fire alarms in the house.

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If the tenant does not comply with his maintenance obligations, he can be held liable for the damage caused in the event of a fire become. We have summarized more detailed information on the obligations and rights of tenants and landlords with regard to smoke detectors here.

Maintain smoke detectors correctly: This is what you need to do

This includes removing dust from all openings on the device. Smoke can only penetrate unhindered and trigger an alarm if the openings are clean. You must also press the test button on the smoke detector. If there is no sound after a few seconds, the function is disrupted – then the battery must be replaced.

A battery change may also be necessary between two maintenance intervals. If the battery is too weak, the devices signal this with a recurring beep. When replacing it, it is important to use the batteries recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise this can affect the function of the device. If the battery is permanently installed, the entire smoke detector must be replaced.

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You should also check during the annual inspection whether all devices are still in the right place. There must be no walls, room dividers, furniture or other obstacles within a half meter radius that could impede the penetration of smoke.

How do you properly clean the smoke detector?

The fire smoke prevention forum advises cleaning the small devices on the room and hallway ceilings regularly, but neither vacuuming out the dust nor blowing through the devices.

Small device with a big impact: A smoke detector can help save lives in the event of a fire in your home. (Source: Christin Klose/dpa/tmn)

Because the vacuum cleaner blows through the smoke detector with such a strong stream of air that small parts of the electrical system could come loose, experts warn. Although the air suction is lower when a person blows into the device, this could also make the situation worse: dirt in the device could then be driven further inside and occupy the sensors.

Our tipIt is therefore better to remove the dirt with a slightly damp cloth or a feather duster.

How many smoke detectors are needed?

Smoke detectors belong in every room where you sleep. If a study is converted into a bedroom or guest room, a smoke detector must be retrofitted. Smoke detectors can also be useful in the stairwell. However, they are not always mandatory here, even if it is an escape route. However, the open staircase in a detached house must be equipped with a detector, just like the basement: Here it should be installed at the highest point of the staircase. The hobby room or workroom in the basement should also be equipped with the device.

InfoOn the other hand, the installation of a smoke detector is not mandatory in the stairwell of an apartment building. This is because the staircase is an escape route. If a smoke detector sounds the alarm here, the residents would panic and leave their apartments instead of waiting for the fire brigade on their premises, according to RLL.

Who can install a smoke detector?

Smoke alarm devices do not necessarily have to be installed by a specialist company. According to a judgment by the Munich district court, this may be uneconomical (Az.: 432 C 6439/18). Landlords can therefore also take on this task themselves, according to the Oldenburg Bar Association. Tenants do not necessarily have to grant the landlord access to the apartment.

When should old smoke detectors be replaced?

The devices should be replaced after eight to ten years. Because dust from the ambient air settles in the devices over the years and reduces their performance. The landlord / owner is responsible for the replacement.

Do tenants take care of the maintenance of the smoke detectors?

Smoke detectors are already mandatory in all federal states. The house owner is responsible for the installation of the devices. In many places, however, the residents must ensure that they are ready for operation. Regular maintenance according to regulations is often the responsibility of the tenant.

The immediate owners of the houses and apartments are often responsible for the maintenance of the fire alarms. However, some state building regulations (LBO) allow landlords to take over the maintenance themselves. You can find out what the exact regulation is from the LBO in your federal state.

Source: RLL (Source: t-online)

However, the maintenance work can be transferred to the tenant in accordance with DIN 14676. However, the lessor's secondary liability remains. He must check whether the maintenance has been carried out properly.

Reduction in rent if there is no smoke detector

If the landlord has not had the relevant detectors installed in the apartment in good time when the smoke detector obligation applies, the tenant should point out the absence. According to the Hessian state association of the German Tenants' Association (DMB), you can set a deadline of three weeks for the rectification. If this expires, tenants can set a further, shorter deadline - for example two weeks - for the rectification.

Smoke detectors must be serviced at least once a year and replaced after ten years at the latest. (Source: Sven Simon/imago images)

If no smoke detector is installed within this period, tenants can install the necessary smoke detectors themselves or hire a specialist company to do so. According to the DMB, the resulting costs can be charged to the landlord - alternatively, the amount can also be deducted from the rent. It is important to inform the landlord about this in advance. In this way, rent disputes can be avoided.

What to do in the event of a false alarm?

Since smoke detectors have been mandatory, the fire brigades have had to turn out more frequently, reports the German Fire Brigade Association in Berlin. However, there are no reliable figures. Nevertheless, the experts emphasize that smoke detectors can save lives.

And it's better to be warned once too often than too little: If you hear an alarm and call the fire brigade on 112, even though there is no smoke or fire, you have nothing to fear. The fire brigade responds in such cases - and then does not send an invoice. It is also important to behave correctly in the event of an alarm or a fire. That means:

1. Keep calm,
2. Report the fire,
3. Alert housemates and neighbors, and
4. Exit the danger area

If possible, also switch off your heating and ventilation system.