Smoke detectors act as an early warning system in case of fire. They are intended to warn people of toxic smoke at an early stage so that they can react appropriately to the hazardous event. This means that people can leave the building safely and, if necessary, fight an incipient fire (important: observe self-protection). This is how smoke detectors save lives!
Rauchmelder sind Pflicht
In Germany, there is a smoke detector obligation for private living space in all federal states. They must always be installed in bedrooms and children's rooms as well as in hallways that serve as escape routes.
Important: The state building codes (LBO) regulate the regulations for the installation & maintenance of smoke detectors. Here you can get an overview for each federal state!
There is no general smoke detector obligation in commercial buildings (exception: Baden-Württemberg). Nevertheless, smoke detectors are recommended to ensure the safety of employees.
How does a smoke detector work?
Most common smoke detectors use the scattered light principle to detect smoke particles. For this purpose, there is a light source (light-emitting diode; usually an LED) and a light sensor (photodiode) inside the smoke detector. The emitted light is not detected by the photodiode in the normal state.
In case of fire, smoke particles enter the smoke chamber of the detector. They cause the light to scatter and be detected by the photodiode. As a result, the alarm is triggered.
