Once, years ago, when I was a less law-abiding citizen, I attempted a cheeky vape puff in a nightclub. I did not see the smoke detector above me, and I barely managed to convince the very angry security guard that it wasn’t me (it was me).
Up until then, I’d not asked the question “Do vapes set off smoke alarms?” But the truth is that many fire alarms and fire detection systems can be set off by nearby vape use. So, without wishing to help anyone skirt reasonable venue rules regarding indoor vape use, let’s talk about which alarms vapes set off, and why they happen.
Does Vaping Set Off Smoke Alarms?
OFTEN! Whether you’re in a private venture, a hotel room, rented accommodation, a train, or a plane, your vape can AND OFTEN WILL set off the fire alarm. Frankly, I hope you’re sensible enough not to try vaping in a plane toilet. They have special detectors for that, you know.
But it does depend somewhat on the alarm/detector in question (more on this later!). The type of vape you use can also be a deciding factor, as can ventilation, proximity to the detector, and other factors worth considering. So let’s break down why vapes set off smoke alarms.
Why Do Vapes Set Off Smoke Alarms?
Smoke alarms don’t see smoke. Instead, they are generally designed to detect certain changes in air quality, though sometimes in different ways. While vapour and smoke are very different kinds of gas, they both ‘muddy up’ clean air in a way that numerous smoke detectors will flag as a possible sudden smoke influx.
What Types of Fire Alarms Are Most Sensitive to Vapour?
Now, there are, of course, a few different kinds of fire alarms and detectors. So let’s go over some and highlight which are more sensitive to vapour from an electronic cigarette.
Optical Detectors
- These operate by generating a light beam, often infrared, inside a covered chamber with air inlets.
- When particles in the air break or block the beam, suggesting enough smog to be of concern, the alarm is triggered.
- These common detectors are most likely to be set off by vapour because the aerosol disrupts the light path in the same way as smoke.
- For a sense of what I’m saying, get ahold of a laser pointer and breathe vapour out through the beam. The beam suddenly becomes visible because the vapour interrupts its path.
Ionisation Detectors
- These operate by detecting changes in a small electrical current running through the detector.
- Ionisation detectors are generally designed to detect smoke emitted by fast-burning fires.
- These detectors are less likely to be set off by vapour than the much more sensitive optical detectors. However, sub-ohm vaping in proximity to one can still reliably set it off.
Heat Detectors
- Unlike the two alarms above, heat detectors do not trigger due to air impurity.
- Heat detectors, as the name suggests, only activate and alert when a rapid temperature rise is detected.
- Heat detectors are highly unlikely to be set off by vapour use, as vaping causes no rise in a room’s temperature.
How to Vape Without Setting off the Smoke Alarm
We in no way encourage readers to disobey anti-vaping or anti-smoking rules within shared venues. However, as someone who lives somewhere with a smoke alarm but no rules against vaping indoors, here are some tips.
WARNING: Please note that these tips aren’t guaranteed to work in every circumstance, and in many situations, you shouldn’t vape until you’re able to go outside.
Open the window
Ensuring the indoor space you’re vaping in is well-ventilated will go a long way toward preventing alarms from being triggered, particularly if you vape near or in the direction of the window. For extra certainty, you can follow my personal bedroom setup: window open, sat near the window, fan on in the window’s direction.
Switch to MTL PG vape juices
Sub-ohm DTL vaping sets fire alarms off more often than MTL. When you consider that most detectors are set off by air impurity, it’s no surprise that the vaping style that fogs out a room in 3 minutes is the main culprit. Sticking with low-power vape kits using 50/50 or high-PG vape juices reduces the likelihood of a false alarm.
Lower the Wattage
Even with MTL juices and devices, a high wattage setting can still produce enough vapour to trigger an optical alarm, particularly if you aren’t taking any other steps to prevent it. If you’re vaping at around 18-20W, try lowering things down to 10-12W for a bit. Yes, maybe it’s ever so slightly less satisfying, but your neighbours will thank you.
What NOT To Do: DO NOT COVER/DISASSEMBLE A FIRE ALARM
Tampering with a fire alarm/detector drastically decreases your safety in the event of a fire. I know the alarm is annoying, but being caught in an airless, blazing inferno is a lot worse. Don’t *EVER* tamper with a fire alarm, vaping isn’t worth that kind of risk. If the choices are set to ‘alarm off’ or ‘don’t vape,’ then don’t vape there and go outside!
Final Thoughys
Ultimately, the best course of action is to respect the presence of a smoke detector and find somewhere else to vape. We aren’t going to help you vape inside a bar or hotel suite because, frankly, it’s antisocial and gives us vapers a bad name!
But hey, habits are tough, and if you’re looking at a long meeting or flight ahead and you’re worried about getting through it, consider vape alternatives like nicotine pouches or nicotine gums.