Smoke alarms: Standard does not support innovative options
Many of the innovative possibilities of smoke alarms are not supported by EN 14604. That is why VdS is now bringing the standard specifications in line with the opportunities offered by state-of-the-art technology.
The European product standard 14604 specifies requirements for manufacturers who want to sell smoke alarms in EU countries. The currently valid version dates back to 2005 - it lags behind the rapid technical development by more than a decade, writes VdS Schadenverhütung. The comprehensive possibilities of modern digitalization and networking in this large and important market are not taken into account. For example, the standard was published two years before the first smartphone, which greatly changed the entire user behavior.
"There is a huge gap here between the authoritative standard and the current capabilities of smoke alarms," emphasizes Ulrich Rabe, deputy head of VdS's fire protection laboratories. "In this context, differentiation, for example through integration in smart home systems, is quite crucial for gaining market share; after all, the typical optical detection principle has existed since 1976 and is thus very mature. In line with the VdS innovation focus, we are now supporting manufacturers with precise guidelines for home hazard management systems, fire alarm function to combine the opportunities of technical development with the demand for highest safety - always in line with EN 14604."
VdS 3438-3 is also the first set of regulations to allow smoke alarms to sound an alarm in the event of a break-in - naturally by means of a clearly distinguishable signal, as VdS further writes. Independently of it the highest priority has naturally the life saving in case of fire. The core requirement is therefore that this always functions independently.
VdS provides its assistance for the EN-compliant integration of smoke alarms into smart building systems free of charge (cf. vds-shop.com).
Source: VdS Schadenverhütung
