Smoke alarms

A functional smoke alarm is a cheap life insurance. The smoke alarm detects smoke gases even at low concentrations and alerts with a loud sound. Ensure the acquisition of smoke alarms and other fire safety devices, and make especially sure, that they operate if necessary.

Working smoke alarm can save you!

When a fire breaks out, fast action is vital. When a fire breaks out in a flat, temperatures as high as 300 to 400 degrees Celsius develop within four minutes and combustion gases fill the rooms, which means that your chances of survival are poor. A smoke alarm detects the combustion gases at low concentrations and makes a loud sound.

Give yourself a chance of survival. A working smoke alarm can save you.

According to rescue service accident statistics, in almost every other residential building fire, it has been observed that there was no functional smoke alarm in the apartment. Based on other studies, it can be estimated that about 20 percent of homes completely lack a smoke alarm. In family houses, the obligations for acquiring and maintaining smoke alarms are better fulfilled compared to flats and apartments.

Smoke alarms are compulsory in all homes, buildings in which people sleep and care institutions

You must also have a smoke alarms in all holiday houses as well as outbuildings and similar where people sleep. You should also have smoke alarms in boats with cabins, caravans and campervans. Note that in these conditions, the service life of the detectors and their batteries, in particular, is shorter than normal. Smoke alarms in flats built after 2009 are connected to the mains and have batteries for backup. This also applies to holiday houses which have electricity. Having carbon monoxide alarms and gas detectors is recommended if there is a fireplace or gas appliances in the building.

Test your smoke alarms once a month

Testing is an important step to ensure that your detector works properly and is ready to operate.

smoke detectors installer

Change the batteries and replace old smoke alarms

Change the batteries at least once a year. Do this on a date that you can easily remember, such as the national smoke alarm day (1 December), Christmas or the first day you spend in your holiday house. Always change the battery immediately if the smoke alarm repeatedly gives a quiet beep. Always keep spare batteries handy.

Replace your smoke alarms every 5 to 10 years. The detectors do not last forever, and it is essential that you replace them regularly. Nowadays smoke alarm manufacturers mark the recommended time for replacing the alarm on its label as a ‘best before’ date. Always replace the smoke alarm immediately if you have changed its battery and it still does not work.

Where should I place the smoke alarm?

Smoke alarms should be placed

In all bedrooms and other rooms used for sleeping.
On escape routes, including the hall.
In staircases and other areas with high ceilings.

where to install smoke detector in a flat or house

Smoke and heat rise up, which is why the smoke alarm should be placed as high as possible on the ceiling, at least half a metre away from any walls and other obstacles. Always follow the installation instructions of the smoke alarms.

If your flat or house is large, it is recommended that you have interconnected smoke alarms. It means that if one smoke alarm is triggered, this will cause a general alarm across all the interconnected detectors. Do not install the alarm on a wall, in the kitchen, in the vicinity of air vents or in a bathroom. This may cause the alarm not to work, work incorrectly or become damaged.

One smoke alarm can cover at maximum 60 m2 on a single floor

One (1) alarm is needed in a flat or house with a floor area of less than 60 square metres.
Two (2) alarms in a flat or house with a floor area of less than 120 square metres.
Three (3) alarms in a flat or house with a floor area of less than 180 square metres, etc.

In addition, each floor of the flat or house (including basements and attics) should have at least one working smoke alarms.

Smoke is even more dangerous than fire.
Two out of three fire-related deaths are caused by combustion gases.

When the smoke alarm goes off, act fast

The smoke alarms detects smoke and alerts you before you can sense or notice anything. Even a small fire fills the flat with smoke very quickly. A working smoke alarm which is in the right place will alert you and wake you up. You only have two to three minutes to escape, try to put out the fire and call 112 for help. When the alarm goes off, act fast!

If the smoke alarm goes off unnecessarily

Do not silence the smoke alarm by taking it down or taking the battery out. Air the area/room in which the alarm is located. If you repeatedly get unnecessary alerts, move the alarm to a better location. Smoke alarms with a pause button are also available.

where to install smoke detector in ceiling

Purchasing, installing, maintaining, testing and responsibility for smoke alarms

The obligation for the building owner regarding the acquisition and maintenance of smoke alarms comes into effect on January 1, 2026. Fire Rescue Act Section 17Link to an external website, Opens in a new tab, in Finnish.

Traditional smoke alarms

Battery-operated smoke alarms are traditional alarms. Their acquisition, replacement, installation, testing, and maintenance are the responsibility of the resident/occupant until January 1, 2026. Consider in your procurement decision where you place the smoke alarms and how they can be maintained and tested.

Test the smoke alarms every month by pressing its test button.

Some smoke detector types are easy to test and maintain as they have a battery case attached to the wall. Purchasing a detector of this type is worth considering, especially for the homes of older people. In addition, some battery cases have a pause button for ‘false’ alarms: the smoke alarm can be switched off for about 10 minutes if necessary. After the pause, the smoke alarm automatically starts operating normally.

Mains-powered detectors

The real estate or housing company is usually responsible for maintaining smoke detectors connected to the mains. These alarms are installed in the construction phase and connected to the building's electrical wiring. The places of the alarms are decided in the building's wiring design, and the alarms are installed by a professional electrician. A mains-powered smoke detector has a backup battery in case of a power outage.

The resident or occupant is responsible for testing a mains-powered smoke alarms regularly. In a limited liability housing company, the housing company has the primary duty to change the backup battery of a mains-powered smoke alarm, rather than the resident. As there are many different models of mains-powered smoke detectors and their technical solutions vary, changing their batteries and the party responsible for this task should be discussed at the housing company’s meeting. If nothing else, the residents should be given instructions for changing the batteries.

A good practice in property maintenance would be that the housing company looks after regularly changing the batteries in mains-powered smoke detectors. For example, this would help to avoid cases where the smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night to indicate that the battery has run out. Depending on the smoke alarms model, the representative of the maintenance company may not have the skills or rights to replace the battery, either, and this task should be carried out by a professional electrician.

To prevent false alarms, you should check if the alarm has a so-called pause button. Some manufacturers' models can be silenced, for example while cooking. Similarly, it may be possible to silence the low battery warning for the night.

It is particularly important to give the residents clear instructions on what to do with a mains-powered smoke alarms in different situations. Find out about these and other safety practices as soon as you move into your flat.