By Max Sargent


Smoke and fire alarms are found in almost all buildings—and with good reason! Though annoying when they go off by accident, they save lives when they go off at the right time. But with the advent of vaping (now in its teenage years), you might wonder: will vape smoke set off a fire alarm?

Well, it depends on what kind of alarms are around you. In this article, we explain different types of fire alarms, and ask if and when vaping can set off a smoke alarm. Keep reading to find out all about it.

How Do Smoke Alarms Work?

Smoke alarms or fire alarms work by detecting changes in the environment. Either they detect particulate matter in the air, or detect changes in temperature. Depending on the environment in which they are installed, different types of alarms are more or less suitable.

Trichomes

Types of Smoke Alarms

Below, find an overview of the main types of smoke alarms.

  • Ionisation Alarms

Ionisation smoke alarms detect smoke by detecting ions in the air. When smoke particles enter the chamber of the smoke alarm, they change the electrical conductivity within, indicating the presence of smoke (or other particles)—this then triggers the alarm.

Of the more traditional types of smoke alarms, these are the most likely to be triggered by vapour.

  • Particulate Sensors

These smoke alarms use infrared light to detect smoke. Much like burglar alarms, they emit infrared light towards a sensor, and when the light is blocked and the sensor no longer detects IR light, the alarm is triggered. Smoke is enough to block this light.

Vapour can trigger particulate sensor alarms, but there must be high quantities—it is unusual.

  • Gas Sensors

These use a range of different techniques to detect toxic and flammable gases and/or oxygen depletion. It is unlikely that gas sensors will be triggered by vapour.

  • Combination Sensors

These generally combine some kind of smoke sensor with a gas sensor, meaning that a single alarm can detect multiple dangers. While these are simple, they are not always favoured as smoke tends to rise whereas carbon monoxide diffuses evenly throughout the room, meaning that, ideally, the sensors would not be in the same place.

  • Heat Sensors

Heat sensors are generally found in kitchens where smoke is likely under normal circumstances and would trigger smoke alarms. As such, these will trigger once the temperature rises to an unusual level, indicating fire.

Do Vape Alarms Exist?

These days, as classic smoke alarms are not particularly good at detecting vapour, environmental sensors that detect both vapour and smoke have been developed. These are increasingly common in public buildings such as schools, universities, hospitals, and trains.

With the rise of vaping, including vaping cannabis, institutions instal these to deter indoor vaping. They are likely to be found in private spaces such as toilets, where people may try to secretly vape.

Vapour particles are smaller than smoke, so specialist environmental sensors are necessary to detect them. And in case you’re wondering, they are specifically designed to detect THC-containing vapour as well as nicotine-containing vapour, in an effort to deter drug use.

Often, these sensors work using what’s known as the vape index. Using multiple sensors, this measures vapour in the air—from 1 to 100. When the level surpasses a certain threshold, the alarm triggers.

Another important factor to be aware of is that, as vapour does not indicate a fire, these alarms do not audibly trigger, as they need not warn everyone of danger. Instead, they often send an alert to whoever is responsible for building security.

Convection vs Conduction Vaporizers: Do They Affect Detectors Differently?

It may be that because convection vapes operate at lower temperatures, they are less likely to trigger alarms. Lower temperatures mean less vapour, which means a lower score on the vape index.

However, these alarms are well-designed, and you shouldn’t bet your safety on the fact that you’re using a convection vape!

Orion F1

Best Vaporizers for Discreet Vaping

Keeping the above in mind, here’s a list of our favourite conduction and convection vapes, all of which offer the necessary control to vape at low temperatures, helping to avoid detection!

CBD Vape Pen 

Worried about setting off smoke alarms? The CBD Vape Pen produces light, clean vapour instead of dense clouds, minimising the risk of triggering alarms. Perfect for low-profile sessions in shared spaces.

G Pen Elite

This affordable, portable convection vape is a great choice. Designed for dry herb, it has a large ceramic chamber and many different temperature options, allowing for a custom vape style and minimal vapour, helping you to vape discreetly!

G Pen Elite II Vaporizer
56_1 Heat Conduction & Convection
57_2 Size 23 x 3.1 x 10.8 cm
58_Effect 120 gr
59_4 Temperature 200° – 428° F /  93º – 220º C
60_5 Heat Up Time 30 - 60 sec
61_6 Chamber Size 0,5 gr
62_7 Control type Manual
63_8 Used With Dry Herbs

Buy G Pen Elite II Vaporizer

PAX Mini

The PAX Mini is the little sibling of the PAX range. This vape is tiny but packs a punch, and it has a conduction chamber designed for herbs and concentrates. However, despite its size catering to stealth users, it has limited customisation options, meaning you can’t vape at super low temperatures.

PAX Mini Vaporizer
56_1 Heat Conduction
57_2 Size 3,1 x 2,2 x 9,3 cm
58_Effect 89 gr
59_4 Temperature 190 - 215°C / 374 - 420°F
60_5 Heat Up Time 22 sec
61_6 Chamber Size 0,25 gr
62_7 Control type Digital & manual
63_8 Used With Dry Herbs

Buy PAX Mini Vaporizer

DaVinci IQC

This conduction vape has two chambers, meaning you can pack dry herbs and concentrates all at once! Pocket-sized and sleek, this vape is sexy and pleasing to the eye. With simple buttons on the side that allow you to easily adjust the temperature, it is a good option for those who desire customisability.

DaVinci IQC
56_1 Heat Conduction
57_2 Size 4,5 x 9,2 x 2.5 cm
58_Effect 159 gr
59_4 Temperature 0°C - 221°C / 32°F - 430°F
60_5 Heat Up Time 30 sec
61_6 Chamber Size 0,5 gr
62_7 Control type Digital, Manual
63_8 Used With Dry Herbs

Buy DaVinci IQC

How to Avoid Setting Off the Smoke Alarm When Vaping

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If you’re vaping in a public space, it’s best to go outside or to places where you are certain there aren’t alarms. This is especially true if you’re vaping cannabis, as it could land you in serious trouble if you’re caught.

Moreover, never try to tamper with fire alarms. Primarily, they also detect smoke, so damaging a fire alarm could put others at risk. What’s more, they often have anti-tamper technology and will alert security if they detect foul play.

But if you’re vaping at home and your alarm is annoying you, there are a few steps you can take.

  • Disconnect your alarm: Some alarms can be disconnected or turned off—others will trigger if they are removed from the ceiling. Disconnecting alarms carries the inherent risk that you forget to reconnect them, fall asleep, and a fire starts. While unlikely, it is possible.
  • Ventilation: If you vape in a ventilated space, the chances of triggering a smoke alarm are very slim. Open some windows and doors.
  • Move away from the alarm: Unless you’re vaping directly beneath a smoke alarm, it really shouldn't be triggered by vapour. As long as you’re a little distant from it, everything will probably be okay.

Vaping and Alarms: Technology Is Catching Up!

In enclosed public spaces, there is a good chance that any alarms will be able to detect vapour, and you might not be able to tell if you’ve triggered them! Therefore, it’s best to not try to outsmart them, and instead, just vape outdoors or where you know you’re not going to set an alarm off.

If vaping at home and you have a generic smoke/fire alarm, it’s unlikely that vaping will trigger it, and you should be good so long as you’re not directly beneath it.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: