Frequently asked questions about smoke alarms
Smoke alarmsare mandatory in all homes. Smoke alarms can be either conventional battery-powered units or mains-powered units. Smoke alarms may also have various additional features.
The responsibility for smoke alarms will change from 1 January 2026, when the responsibility for the purchase and maintenance of smoke alarms will transfer from the possessor of the home, that is, the occupant, to the owner of the building. The amendment to the Rescue Act is aimed at better fulfilment of the obligations concerning smoke alarms and clarification of the current regulation.
In accommodation and care facilities, the operator will remain responsible for the purchase and maintenance of smoke alarms. Accommodation and care facilities often use fire detectors instead of smoke alarms.
The obligation to purchase and maintain smoke alarms for homes will transfer from the possessor of the home, that is, the occupant, to the owner of the building. The building owner must ensure that all flats have a sufficient number of functioning smoke alarms. The occupant is obliged to immediately notify the building owner, for example the housing association, of any smoke alarm issues, such as an expired smoke alarm battery or the failure of a smoke alarm.
The responsibility for smoke alarms will change on 1 January 2026. It is advisable to take advantage of the two-year transitional period by planning and implementing practical measures that require changes, such as mapping existing smoke alarms and possibly installing new ones. The building owner’s right to enter flats for the purpose of fulfilling the obligation to acquire and maintain smoke alarms provided for in the Rescue Act applies to all forms of housing and corresponds, for example, to the right already provided for in the Limited Liability Housing Companies Act.
‘Building owner’ may refer to, for example, a housing company, a right-of-occupancy association or a rental property company. An individual shareholder in a housing company is not the building owner.
The building owner ensures that each flat in the building has a sufficient number of functioning smoke alarms to detect a fire starting as early as possible and alert those inside.
In order for the smoke alarm to react to smoke at an early stage and for the alarm siren of the smoke alarm to be audible everywhere, there must be a sufficient number of correctly placed and functioning smoke alarms in the home. Because smoke rises, it is advisable to install smoke alarms on the ceiling of the room. There must be at least one smoke alarm for every 60 square meters or part thereof on each floor of a home. In addition to the surface area, it is good to take into account the functions related to housing in the placement of smoke alarms, so that the smoke alarm will sound as early as possible, while still avoiding false alarms, for example from the steam generated by cooking or the shower.
‘Smoke alarm’ refers to a device that reacts to smoke and warns of smoke with an alarm sound. The building owner’s obligation to purchase smoke alarms covers a basic smoke alarm, either a battery-powered unit or a mains-powered unit in accordance with building regulations. The Rescue Act does not require smoke alarms to be mains powered, networked within the home or remote test capable, or installed in, for example, the common areas of a block of flats.
When choosing smoke alarms and smoke alarm batteries, the building owner should take into account the technical service life of the products, as the products selected affect the maintenance of the smoke alarms, such as the frequency of battery replacement and, consequently, the need to visit flats.
If the smoke alarms in a residential building are networked, they must be grouped by fire compartment, in other words, by dwelling. Any smoke alarms located in common areas form their own group.
If, due to their functional capacity, occupants need the smoke alarms to signal its alarm with, for example, light or vibration instead of sound, they must acquire a device that meets their needs themselves. Strobe-light smoke alarms for hard-of-hearing persons are usually assistive devices provided by society, so person with disabilities can acquire them at no cost. Applications for these can be submitted to the disability services units of social welfare. The receiver connected to the smoke alarm and its means of alarm are selected individually depending on the customer and the hearing impairment.
The building owner is responsible for the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms. The occupant is obliged to immediately notify the building owner, for example the housing association, of any smoke alarm issues, such as an expired smoke alarm battery or the failure of a smoke alarm.
Keeping the smoke alarm in working order basically means replacing the battery and replacing the smoke alarm at the end of its service life or in case of failure. Smoke alarms must always be kept in working order so, if the battery expires or the smoke alarm fails, corrective action must be taken without delay. Mains-powered smoke alarms also have battery back-up to ensure operability. In practice, it is expedient to replace batteries on a regular basis and to replace smoke alarms according to a plan; anticipation can prevent, for example, night-time maintenance alarms caused by battery expiration. The service life of a smoke alarm is usually no more than 10 years.
Although occupants are not required by law to regularly test the functioning of smoke alarms, it is a good idea for occupants to perform regular tests, for example once a month by pressing the smoke alarm test button. Testing is one way to detect the failure of smoke alarms and for occupants to ensure that smoke alarms in their home are functional.
It is good for occupants to know how to notify the building owner in case of any faults. Since the arrangements can be different in different buildings, the building owner, such as a housing company or a rental property company, will give instructions to the occupants on the arrangements for each building.
The building owner must ensure that the measures taken are documented, for example in the building’s operating and maintenance instructions or a similar system.
The building owner is responsible for the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms. The occupant is obliged to immediately notify the building owner, for example the housing association, of any smoke alarm issues, such as an expired smoke alarm battery or the failure of a smoke alarm.
Occupants should regularly test the smoke alarms, for example once a month, by pressing the test button. Testing is one way to detect the failure of smoke alarms and for occupants to ensure that smoke alarms in their home are functional. Occupants must not damage the building’s smoke alarms by their own actions, for example by painting them or by removing the smoke alarm's battery or the entire smoke alarm.
It is good for occupants to know how to notify the building owner in case of any faults. Since the arrangements can be different in different buildings, the building owner, such as a housing company or a rental property company, will give instructions to the occupants on the arrangements for each building.
The amendment to the Rescue Act is aimed at better fulfilment of the obligations concerning smoke alarms and clarification of the current regulation on smoke alarms.
In terms of the fire safety of housing, it is essential that all homes have functioning smoke alarms. The lack of a functioning smoke alarm also poses a risk to the fire safety of neighbouring homes, especially in blocks of flats and terraced houses, where a fire in one flat can also spread to the common areas of the building and other flats. In the future, the building owner will be responsible for smoke alarms in all forms of housing.
The building owner’s obligation to purchase smoke alarms covers a basic smoke alarm, either a battery-powered unit or a mains-powered unit in accordance with building regulations. New homes connected to the electrical grid have been required to have mains-powered smoke alarms from the construction phase since 1 February 2009. If the building permit was initiated before 1 February 2009, the Rescue Act applies to the obligation to purchase smoke alarms. The Rescue Act does not require all smoke alarms in homes to be networked, mains powered or remote test capable.
Mains-powered smoke alarms are required for new builds and when expanding or otherwise increasing the floor area of the building, for example when converting attic space for residential use. With regard to the repair and alteration work of a building, battery-powered smoke alarms may be required to be replaced with mains-powered ones if the building or part thereof becomes more dangerous in terms of fire safety, for example with the conversion of office space into housing. If no changes are made to the way the home is used during the home alterations or repairs, for example in connection with plumbing renovations, it is not required to replace battery-powered smoke alarms with mains-powered ones. The electrical renovation of a home does not create an obligation to install mains-powered smoke alarms.