Can Vaping Set Off Smoke Alarms?

Does Vaping set off smoke alarms?

Many vapers live in fear of accidentally setting off a smoke alarm in a public place. Here we explain the dos and don'ts of vaping around smoke alarms, helping you vape with confidence. 

Types of smoke alarms

Not all smoke alarms are created entirely equal. For example, alarms in planes, trains and hotels are typically far more sensitive than any alarm you'd find at home or in an office. There are 3 main types of smoke alarm:

• Ionisation alarms. These alarms pick up small smoke particles using two electrically charged radioactive plates. Any smoke entering the plates disrupts the electrical charge between them, causing the alarm to sound. This is the most common type of alarm in domestic settings such as the home and offices.
• Optical alarms. An optical alarm is typically one of the most sensitive types, as it can “see” any smoke or vapour. This works by beaming infrared light, when smoke-like particles enter the alarm this scatters the light, triggering the smoke alarm. These alarms are more common in hotels and on planes.
• Heat alarms. This type of alarm is typically used in kitchens, responding to heat rather than smoke. Due to this a heat alarm cannot be set off by vapour.
  While vaping is less likely to set off a smoke alarm than smoking is, it is important to still be mindful regardless of the type of alarm you are dealing with. Do not vape if you are somewhere that strictly prohibits vaping.

Why do vapes sometimes set off smoke alarms?

It is thought that the PG (propylene glycol) used in e-liquids creates larger particles than found in normal steam. This makes it far more easily detected by smoke alarms. Some very sensitive alarms can even be set off by the steam produced after showering, especially if bathroom doors are left open.

Can I vape on a plane?

You should never consider vaping on a plane or any other form of public transport for that matter. To keep passengers safe, plane smoke alarms are extremely sensitive, if you set this off your plane will have to make an emergency landing, which can result in you being fined, put on no-fly lists, or even jailed. 

Can you vape in a hotel room?

For the most part hotels do not allow you to vape in your room. However, some hotels may not have a vaping policy in place. Even though you may be allowed to vape in some rooms it is good to exercise caution when doing so, as nobody wants the embarrassment of setting the fire alarm off at 4am causing the entire hotel to be evacuated! Additionally, you may face fines for setting the alarm off accidentally. 

How to vape without setting off a fire alarm

If you are in a space where you are allowed to vape but still need to exercise caution around alarms, there are several strategies you can use:

• Blow your vapour away from the smoke alarm. Ensure you locate the alarm and always make sure you are always vaping in the opposite direction. This gives the vapour more time to dissipate, reducing the risk of setting the smoke alarm off.
• Vape outside the window. Blow your vapour directly out of an open window to stop it circulating around the room at all. This greatly reduces the chance of setting a smoke alarm off.
• Use a small, discreet device. It may be wise to save your sub-ohm for home use, as more advanced devices produce bigger, thicker clouds of vapour.

• Choose a high PG e-liquid. As larger VG particles tend to set alarms off more frequently. Also higher PG e-liquids work better with small, discreet devices.
• Always follow law and policies. If you are somewhere where vaping is prohibited it is always best to adhere to that, even if you think you may be able to get away with using the above methods to vape undetected. Even if you combine all of the above methods there is a chance you may still set an alarm off, which if vaping is not allowed could land you in some trouble. Remember, even if you are allowed to vape indoors, the space will always have some kind of smoke alarm for safety purposes.

To Conclude

It is important to be mindful when vaping, only vape where it is permitted, and when inside make sure you are aware of smoke alarms, especially in public areas such as offices and hotels. It is also important to ensure you are aware of the type of smoke alarm in a space, as this can inform you on how careful you need to be.