Smoke alarm device - compulsory installation

Please note in particular our information under:

  • Performance specification

    You can contribute a lot to the safety of you and your family with little effort and cost:

    Especially during the night hours, dangerous fire outbreaks can occur in flats, where smoke can spread within seconds. Due to the smoke and fire gases, sleeping people lose consciousness after a short time. Smoke alarms do not prevent fires, but they can give early warning of smoke development in the flat and wake sleeping people with their loud signal.

    Owners of a flat or a residential building are obliged to equip it with smoke alarms (see also Deadlines). All bedrooms and children's rooms as well as corridors that serve as escape routes must each have at least one smoke alarm device. The battery-operated devices can easily be retrofitted in the home and do not require a great deal of installation work. Battery-operated smoke alarms are available at low cost from specialist retailers and DIY stores. The smoke alarms must have a CE marking with reference to DIN EN 14604.

    As a rule, the tenants of a dwelling are responsible for the maintenance and testing of the devices, unless the owners of a dwelling have assumed this obligation.

  • What are the fees?

    The costs for the installation of smoke alarms have to be borne by the owners of a flat.

    Unless otherwise agreed, the owners, i.e. as a rule the tenants, are responsible for any costs incurred for regular maintenance and testing, including battery replacement.

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    Special information for - District of Waldeck-Frankenberg

    In Hesse, there has been an obligation to install smoke alarms in new buildings since 2005. Older flats and residential buildings had to be retrofitted by 31.12.2014.

  • Legal basis

  • What else should I know?

    Do not forget:

    In case of fire, please alert your fire brigade immediately on:
    Emergency number 112

    Comprehensive information can also be found on the website of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport in the leaflet "Smoke alarms save lives", which is available as a download in 12 languages.


Who do I need to contact?

For information, please contact the local fire brigades and fire protection services as well as the lower building supervisory authorities.

Responsible departments