General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
A fire in progress requires emergency help: in France, call 18 or 112 and follow their instructions. If the fire is outside your flat and smoke is present in the stairwell, do not use it. Alarm checks belong before a fire, not during one.
A smoke alarm detects smoke and triggers an audible warning. Models with light or vibration alerts exist for deaf or hard-of-hearing people. Identify your device’s warning type and the occupants’ needs.
The alarm must carry CE marking accompanied by the reference NF EN 14604. Check this marking on the device or its documentation. It is not a promise that a fire will be prevented or extinguished.
Service Public specifies secure fixing to the ceiling, preferably in the passage serving the bedrooms. In a studio without such a passage, the alarm should be as far as possible from the kitchen and bathroom. Clarify its location without improvising installation.
As a general rule, the owner installs the alarm and the occupant maintains and replaces it when needed. This allocation changes with the housing type, including furnished or seasonal rentals. Check who is responsible for these tasks in your situation.
Prevention also involves habits: do not charge a device on a bed, sofa or other flammable surface; do not connect too many appliances to one socket. Keep flammable products away from heat sources. These precautions complement having an alarm.
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