Little word of warning!

[Mrhill3232]

Although vaping is not banned in public places etc in the uk, just a word of warning.

At my place of work someone decided to vape underneath a fire detector and set it off

I am not sure if we have special ones that detect any sort of chemical etc or normal fire detectors would go off (someone could maybe chip in and answer this question)

But anyways, we had to do a full fire drill lol

An email was sent out and the employee handbook was immediately changed to include 'no vaping at the workplace' haha

Be warned

 

[mac63]

Some detectors detect any particles in the air. I've had steam from the shower flow into the hall and set them off.

 

[Jimi D.]

We set off our home smoke detectors, when my boys and I have cloud competitions.

 

[Incc]

I was under the impression that it was was water vapor, why would that set off a smoke alarm?

 

[cdkas]

About a week ago I stopped by my buddy's house. He asked how my vapor was working, I blew a big cloud for him to see. About 2 seconds later his smoke detector went off ahahah

 

[vexxis]

Some smoke detectors use a photocell and a light in a dark chamber. The photocell can't "see" the light inside the chamber unless it reflects off anything like smoke. These photoelectric sensors would "see" vapor as smoke. Photoelectric smoke detectors are quite common.

 

[Mrhill3232]

Thanks Vexxis! that would explain it!

haha bet there are some funny stories in regards to vaping and smoke alarms

 

[Dampmaskin]

I was under the impression that it was was water vapor, why would that set off a smoke alarm?

It is not water vapor. It is propylene glycol vapor and/or vegetable glycerine vapor.

All three types of vapor can set off certain types of smoke detectors.

 

[jumphour]

I have a small bedroom, where I spend most of my time, and I have a smoke detector in there, and I haven't set mine off yet. I have to remember to research, so I can get the same kind when this detector dies!

 

[Warpigs]

Welcome to ECF! I have a smoke detecor in my computer room and I have door shut most of the time. It has never gone off from me vaping. And when I'm in here I pretty much chain vape.

 

[this is my name]

I've been a little worried about vaping at my job because I have no idea if vapors will set this system off. It's an apartment building so I would assume with people cooking and such they wouldn't make them super sensitive to avoid a false alarm resulting in the sprinklers going off... Is there a way to tell what type of sensor they use by looking?

 

[djsvapour]

I vape under/by the smoke alarm at work.

Maybe I need to tell the health and safety people the fire alarms are rubbish.

or perhaps not.....

 

[FallenRawToast]

It really depends on the type of detection system in use.

Many of the "cheap" at home stand alone type, just use a light and sensor, if the light beam gets blocked by smoke, steam, vapor, heavy dust... it will set the alarm off.

 

[Mrhill3232]

lol if you set the sprinklers off....ouch, that'll would be bad! the amount of damage that could cause!

 

[rodeo302]

If you set the sprinklers off that could be a very expensive problem since you most likely well have to replace the heads which I know are expensive.

 

[shortdraw]

Sprinkler systems aren't usually connected to smoke detectors, but rather have heat activated switches built in.

 

[rodeo302]

That's true little glass bulbs that look like thermometers when they break water comes flying out like crazy saw it happen when I was at work it was awesome lol.