Does Vaping Set off Smoke Alarms? The Definitive Answer

When South West Airlines Flight 3654 took off from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, no one expected any problems.

But one passenger was suffering from nicotine withdrawal.

So part way through the flight he sneaked off to the toilets to stealth vape.

But shortly after he, along with the rest of the passengers, had a massive shock when the plane’s fire alarms went off.

The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing, with all departure lounges cleared.

There’s no record of what happened to the passenger, but it is likely he received a hefty fine.

Contents

• Can vaping set off smoke alarms?
• Which types of fire alarm are vulnerable to vapour?
• How likely is your vape to set off a fire alarm?
• Can you vape in a hotel room?
• Will your vape set off a smoke detector in a plane?
• How to vape without setting off a fire alarm
• Wrapping up
• TLDR
• FAQs
  

Can vaping set off smoke alarms?

You might hear some tell you that vapour can’t set off smoke alarms.

We wanted to find out if they were right, so we decided to blow vapour directly into a fire alarm. Here’s what happened:

Now, that’s a bit extreme. In the example above, Tom blew directly into a smoke alarm. Both Tom and I vape in the office all the time, and I’ve never set off an alarm until I blew straight into one, even when using a high wattage, sub-ohm mod and having a cloud chasing competition with our mixologist.

According to Alan Morgan from St Davids Fire, even a small amount of cigarette smoke shouldn’t set off modern fire alarms, which have been designed to avoid false alarms.

Nevertheless, if you do use your vape indoors, or even worse on an aeroplane, you could set off an alarm. That’s especially the case if you blow large clouds!

The penalties can be serious - with some vaping passengers on Qatar Airlines ending up spending a night or two in jail!

If you often find yourself reaching for your vape automatically, consider taking it apart and/or putting it out of reach when travelling. If you find it hard to go without nicotine, consider using nicotine pouches or gum as a temporary alternative.

Which types of fire alarm are vulnerable to vapour?

There are different kinds of fire alarms. Vapour is more likely to set off some of these alarms than others.

Ionisation alarms: Sensitive to small particles of smoke. They utilise two electrically charged radioactive plates. When smoke particles enter the fire alarm they disrupt the electricity between the plates, setting off the alarm. This was the type used in our experiment!

Optical alarms: Optical alarms work by beaming infrared light. When smoke particles enter the smoke alarm, the particles cause the infrared light to be scattered onto a light detector which triggers the alarm.

Heat alarms: Used in kitchens, these are unlikely to detect vapour as they are responsive to heat rather than to smoke.

When we spoke to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, they told us that optical alarms are the type most likely to be set off by electronic cigarette vapour. However, our experiment showed that vapour can set off ionisation alarms too.

How likely is your vape to set off a fire alarm?

Reports of vapes setting off fire alarms are rare. Smoke alarms are designed to detect smoke, electronic cigarettes produce vapour - and vapour dissipates a lot faster than smoke.

However, the use of PG and flavourings in e-liquids is thought to create larger particles than the average steam from a kettle. According to Ohio University, fog machines, which contain propylene glycol too, can also set off fire alarms.

So, setting off the average fire alarm is unlikely – but still possible.

Can you vape in a hotel room?

Hotels vary in vape policy – some expressly forbid vaping, while others do not have a vape policy.

Even if the hotel does not have a policy on vaping, if you set off the smoke alarm they might assume you have been smoking and fine you.

Hotel fire alarms are often more sensitive than your standard office or house alarm. And when Tom was vaping in a Premier Inn, he noticed that the smoke alarm had started to flash red.

Meanwhile, one poor Reddit commenter set off his hotel alarm at 7am in the morning, woke up the whole hotel and was asked to pay a $200 fine.

Will your vape set off a smoke detector in a plane?

Fire alarms in planes are extremely sensitive. Most, if not all airlines, do not allow you to use standard e-cigs in planes (although some airlines do sell vapourless versions).

As we saw earlier, some people have spent a night in jail for using a vape on Qatar Airways. That was an extreme example, but you could easily have your e-cig confiscated, have to pay a hefty fine or even be added to a no-fly list.

In the UK you are not allowed to vape on most trains (or train station platforms) or buses either.

How to vape without setting off a fire alarm

Obviously, you shouldn’t vape when there is a policy against it.

However, there are places where you are allowed to vape which do have a fire alarm.

Our office and warehouse is one example. And yes, someone did set the fire alarm off once, causing the whole building to be evacuated :(

This is a great example of a time when it’s fine to vape, but you still need to think about being discreet.

Here are some sensible ideas to reduce the risk of setting off a fire alarm. Whatever you do, though, don’t disable the fire alarm. There are 37,000 house fires a year in the UK alone, and it’s just not worth putting your life or others at risk.

1. Blow away from the smoke alarm

First, note where the smoke alarm is, and ensure you blow vapour away from it. If you work in an office, try to locate your desk away from the alarm. In the case where our staff member set off the alarm, we actually moved his desk so it wouldn’t happen again.

2. Open the window

The air will help dissipate the vapour. For maximum safety, blow the vapour outside through the window.

3. Use a discreet device

I’d recommend using a device that doesn’t put out a whole lot of vapour, such as a cigalike, a pod kit or a pen-style device.

4. Use high PG e-liquid

It’s also worth thinking about the e-liquid you use.

High VG e-liquids produce larger clouds of vapour and are not suitable for discreet vaping. They also work better with powerful devices, and not with the discreet devices we’ve featured above.

Instead, choose an e-liquid with more PG. Examples include Halo Vapour Co, which has a VG:PG ratio of 50:50 or VapeMate.

5. Follow Local Policies and Laws

If you are in a place with clear policies against vaping, it is best to follow those rules to avoid any trouble, including setting off alarms.

Wrapping up

Don’t believe people who tell you vaping can’t set off fire alarms.

It can - and it has got a number of people into trouble.

The best option is to follow vape-free policies. If you are vaping where you are allowed to - ditch the sub-ohm mod for a while and use a discreet device that is less likely to set off a fire alarm.

And whatever you do, don’t blow vapour into the smoke alarm!

TL;DR: Can vaping set off smoke alarms?

Yes, vaping can set off smoke alarms, especially optical or photoelectric detectors that sense small particles in the air. Dense vapour - like that from sub-ohm devices - can trigger both smoke detectors and fire alarms, particularly in enclosed spaces like hotel rooms, airplanes, or offices.

To reduce the risk:

• Use lower-power devices
• Use 50/50 vape juice
• Avoid exhaling directly at alarms
• Vape near windows or ventilation
• Avoid vaping where it is illegal - penalties can be severe, especially in planes.

FAQs

Do smoke alarms detect vapor from nicotine-free vapes?

Yes, they can. Even nicotine-free vapes produce vapour containing particles (e.g. from propylene glycol or flavourings) that may trigger smoke detectors, especially optical or ionisation types. The presence or absence of nicotine doesn’t affect how alarms detect vapour.

Are vape detectors the same as smoke detectors?

No. Vape detectors are specially designed to detect vapour, and as a result are far more sensitive than traditional smoke or fire alarms. They may include chemical sensors, whereas traditional smoke detectors are designed to sense combustion-related particles or heat.

Is it safe to vape near a carbon monoxide detector?

Yes. Vaping does not produce carbon monoxide, so it shouldn’t interfere with or trigger a carbon monoxide detector.

Can air purifiers help prevent vape-triggered alarms?

Air purifiers with HEPA or activated carbon filters can help reduce vapour density in the air, making it less likely to reach a concentration that would trigger an alarm. However, they’re not guaranteed to prevent false alarms, especially if vaping occurs close to the detector.

Do Elf Bars set off smoke alarms?

Elf Bars and similar prefilled pod kits have been known to set off smoke alarms in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas. However, in general, they will be less likely to set off an alarm than a high wattage mod and tank kit.