Short answer
Since 1 July 2022 every home must have a smoke alarm on every floor, existing homes included. An alarm belongs on the ceiling, in the middle of the room or in the escape route, and at least thirty centimetres from the wall. Interlinked alarms that all go off as soon as one detects something are considerably safer than standalone alarms.
Who this article is for Every homeowner and tenant. You can put up a battery alarm yourself; connecting mains-powered alarms and interlinking them is installation work.
The rule since July 2022
Every home in the Netherlands must have a smoke alarm on every floor, including homes that were already there. That applies to owned and rented homes. For rentals, the landlord is responsible for fitting them, the tenant for keeping them working.
A floor without living space, a crawl-space loft for example, does not count, but a loft where someone sleeps certainly does.
Where they should go
- on the ceiling, because smoke rises
- at least 30 cm from the wall and from a corner
- not in the kitchen or bathroom, where steam gives false alarms
- in the escape route: the landing and the hall are the most important places
- not right next to a ventilation grille or an extract point, because then the smoke is drawn around it
In a bedroom an alarm is not compulsory but it is sensible, especially if people sleep with the door closed.
Battery or mains power
| Battery alarm | Mains-powered alarm | |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting | yourself, done in no time | installer, cable needed |
| Maintenance | change the battery | battery as back-up |
| Interlinking | wireless, per brand | wired or wireless |
| Lifespan | replace the alarm after ten years | same |
An alarm lasts about ten years, even if it has never gone off. The sensor ages. Every alarm has a production date on it; if it is older than ten years, replace it.
Interlinking is the real difference
A standalone alarm only warns whoever is nearby. Interlinked alarms all go off at once as soon as one of them detects smoke. With a fire downstairs you hear it upstairs, while you are asleep, and that is exactly the scenario that matters.
This is the difference that counts when everyone is asleep.
Interlinking can be wired, which is the most reliable, or wireless between alarms of the same brand. Mixing brands almost never works.
Maintenance you do yourself
- test every month with the test button
- vacuum the alarm carefully a few times a year
- replace it after ten years, whatever it looks like
If it chirps once a minute at night, that is almost always a flat battery. It happens at night for a reason, because the voltage is then at its lowest due to the temperature.
For businesses it is different
There, requirements apply from the Bouwbesluit (Dutch Building Decree) and often from the insurer, with an evacuation alarm system instead of separate alarms. What is needed in your situation depends on what the building is used for. See business.
From my own work
At a home in Beek there were three alarms, all three standalone and on batteries. When a pan burnt in the kitchen, only that one went off; upstairs nobody heard a thing. I replaced them with interlinked mains-powered alarms with battery back-up, wired together. Now the whole house goes off, and that is exactly the point.
When to call an electrician
- You want mains-powered alarms instead of battery ones
- Alarms need interlinking in an existing home
- It is a rented home, an office or a building with a requirement from the insurer
I usually combine putting alarms on mains power with other work in the house. Request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are smoke alarms also compulsory in an existing home?
Yes, since 1 July 2022 on every floor, also in homes that were already there. For rentals the landlord fits them and the tenant keeps them working.
How long does a smoke alarm last?
About ten years, even if it has never gone off; the sensor ages. The alarm has a production date on it.
Why does my alarm chirp at night?
Almost always a flat battery. It happens at night because the voltage is then at its lowest due to the temperature.
Further reading
Is my meter cupboard still safe? 10 things you can see yourself
Ten things you can see yourself without unscrewing anything. If you recognise three or more, it is time for a chat.
How old is my installation really: these are the signs
Cloth-covered wiring, no RCD, screw-in fuses and unearthed two-pin sockets: each feature tells you something about the year it was built and the risk.
Type A, type B or type F RCD: which do you need
Type A is the standard. Type B only where DC leakage can occur, and that is less often than sellers say. Saves hundreds of euros.
Questions and comments
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