Smoke detector, gas detector and CO detector: which detector do you need in your home?

The types of detectors that you place in your home immediately determine how safe your home is. That is why it is important that you know exactly which detectors you need, how they work and where to install them. In this article we compare the most common detectors: the smoke detector, gas detector and CO detector. This way you can easily make the right choice for your home or business premises.

What are the main types of detectors for your home?

When we look at the most commonly used types of detectors, three groups keep recurring: smoke detectors, gas detectors and CO detectors. Although they can all save lives, each detector works in a different way and detects different risks. It is therefore wise to know when you need which detector.

Smoke detectors: mandatory and essential in every home

The smoke detector is the most well-known and moreover mandatory in all Dutch homes. This detector goes off as soon as smoke particles are detected. Because smoke spreads quickly, a smoke detector often provides the first warning of a fire.

Advantages of smoke detectors:

• Go off before heat or flames are visible

• Mandatory in bedrooms, escape routes and on every floor

• Often easy to connect wirelessly

Where do you place smoke detectors?

• In the hall

• On landing and stairwell

• In or near bedrooms

• Not directly in the kitchen, where a heat detector is better

Gas detectors: protection against explosion hazard

A gas detector detects natural gas or butane/propane. The risk of an unnoticed gas leak is enormous: one spark can be enough to cause an explosion. Although a gas detector is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended in homes that still work with a gas installation.

When do you need a gas detector?

• When you cook on gas

• Wanneer er een CV-ketel aanwezig is

• Bij gebruik van gasverwarming

Plaatsing van gasmelders:

• Aardgas stijgt op → melder hoog ophangen

• Propaan/butaan zakt naar beneden → melder op vloerniveau plaatsen

CO-melders: bescherming tegen koolmonoxidevergiftiging

Koolmonoxide (CO) is geurloos, kleurloos én dodelijk. Een CO-melder is daarom één van de belangrijkste beveiligingsproducten in huis. CO ontstaat bij slechte verbranding, bijvoorbeeld door een defecte cv-ketel, geiser of haard.

Waarom is een CO-melder onmisbaar?

• Koolmonoxide is niet waarneembaar

• Vergiftiging gebeurt snel en vaak tijdens slaap

• Melders geven vroegtijdig alarm bij te hoge CO-concentraties

Waar plaats je een CO-melder?

• In ruimtes met verbrandingstoestellen

• Op ademhoogte (ongeveer 1,5 meter)

• Minimaal 1 meter van de warmtebron

Hoewel iedere melder zijn eigen functie heeft, is een combinatie van meerdere soorten melders het meest veilig. Dit is vooral belangrijk in woningen met gasinstallaties of oudere verwarmingssystemen.