Since 8 March 2015, it has been compulsory for all homes to have an autonomous smoke alarm detector, also known as a smoke alarm. These must be capable of detecting the first smoke from a fire and alerting anyone sleeping in the home with a fairly powerful audible signal.
This measure should reduce the number of deaths from domestic fires by 60%.
The reasons for this obligation
In France, domestic fires kill between 600 and 800 people every year and cause around 10,000 injuries, 3,000 of them serious. Before 2015, around 10% of homes had smoke detectors. To reduce the number of these tragedies, which in 70% of cases occur at night, the public authorities have made these devices compulsory so that occupants can be warned, or even woken up, in the event of a fire. According to the Fédération française des métiers de l'incendie, the installation of these alarms has led to a 60% drop in the number of deaths in countries that have already taken similar measures.
Who should pay for the installation of a detector, the landlord or the tenant?
The purchase and installation of an autonomous smoke alarm remains the responsibility of the homeowner, whether or not they occupy the property. The occupant of the property is responsible for keeping the detector in good working order and maintaining it, in particular by changing the battery. In addition to maintenance, the occupant must also be responsible for notifying the insurer of the installation. It should be noted that the insurer cannot refuse to pay compensation following a fire in a home that is not fitted with a detector.
What's more, the law does not currently provide for any penalties for failing to install such equipment.
Positioning a smoke detector correctly
The device must be installed so that all occupants can easily hear the alarm in the event of a fire. It's best to position it centrally and high up, avoiding the kitchen and bathroom to prevent the detector clogging up or going off unexpectedly.
One detector should be installed per floor.
Which detector should I choose?
Consumers can choose from around twenty different products, not all of which are equally reliable. What's more, some detectors do not comply with current standards, triggering the alarm late or unnecessarily. According to a UFC Que Choisir study of 18 devices tested, 5 were found to be non-compliant and a sixth to be borderline compliant. The detectors in question were the Elro RM144C, the Arcotect DF0001/KD 108, the Blyss NB739B-1, the ArevTechnic Kd-134A, the General purpose SS-168 and the Clock thumbs up smoke detector.
What's more, 182,000 DAAFs imported into France were seized in 2014 because they were faulty.
So it's vital that the smoke alarm box is CE and NF EN 14604 certified. Other criteria can then be taken into account, such as battery life, the ability to connect the detector to your smartphone, design and, of course, price. When it comes to price, you should look for devices in the €10 to €30 range. Beyond that, the price won't be justified. Similarly, there's no need to take out an annual maintenance or installation contract. Installation is extremely simple, and maintenance is limited to changing the battery.
Note that the detector will emit a signal when the battery needs changing.
