Smoke detectors mandatory in 2022.
Smoke detector obligation from 1 July 2022
From 1 July 2022, it is mandatory in the Netherlands to have a smoke detector on every residential floor in your house and in enclosed spaces through which an escape route runs. The Building Decree will be amended for this purpose and it will therefore be legally required to comply with it. Even if you live in a rented house.
When are smoke detectors mandatory?
• As of July 1, 2022, smoke detectors will be mandatory.
• This applies to every residential floor in every house.
• Both owner-occupied and rental homes and both existing and new construction must comply with this.
• The obligation also applies to confined spaces that serve as an escape route.
What does this mean for me?
Do you already have working smoke detectors on every floor? Then this amendment to the law will not affect you. If you don’t have smoke detectors yet, it’s time to get them. An approved fire detector must be installed on every building layer. An attic that does not serve as a living space does not need to have a smoke detector. If your closed hallway on the ground floor is an escape route for a floor above, then you should also install a working smoke detector there.
In contrast to new-build homes where the law has been in force since 2003, there are no requirements for the interconnection of the detectors. Also, the fire detectors do not have to be connected to the 230V/electricity network; a fire detector with batteries is sufficient.
What should I pay attention to when buying smoke detectors?
According to the law, you do not have to comply with anything with regard to the specifications of the smoke detector. The detectors must comply with NEN-14604 and have a CE mark. So beware of smoke detectors from vague brands and smoke detectors that are very cheap. Take it from us: cheap is often expensive with smoke detectors.
For example, you are not obliged to install a smoke detector with a 10-year battery or to connect smoke detectors to the mains. A fire detector with a 1 year battery is therefore also fine. Our advice is to do it right right away and buy smoke detectors with a 10-year battery. Then you will be rid of annoying beeps in the middle of the night for 10 years and you no longer have to change batteries.
What will the law soon be?
The law does not prescribe which fire detector you must install. The government has therefore not chosen to synchronize the new rules for existing houses with the regulations for new construction. In new buildings, a smoke detector must be connected to 230v/mains voltage and equipped with a back-up battery. Battery-operated smoke detectors are sufficient for existing buildings. Also, the coupling of smoke detectors does not apply as in the new construction.
The law will soon state that the obligation will apply to floors with a occupied space or with an enclosed space through which an escape route runs between the exit of a occupied space and the exit of the residential function. The bottom line is that there should be a smoke detector on every floor.
For more information, please contact i.b. Prevention Team@gmail.com
Gertjan van den Heuvel,
Prevention team Eindhoven
