The Ministry is working on a new obligation for apartment owners. It’s a safety issue

In its justification for the project, the Ministry of Interior and Administration quotes data from the State Fire Service. They show that approximately 80% of victims die during fires in residential buildings, and the largest group are people over 55 years of age (approximately 50%). Most deaths are recorded during the heating season.

Victims of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning

In its justification for the project, the Ministry of Interior and Administration quotes data from the State Fire Service. They show that approximately 80% of victims die during fires in residential buildings, and the largest group are people over 55 years of age (approximately 50%). Most deaths are recorded during the heating season.

As for those injured by carbon monoxide poisoning, in the period from 2013 to 2023 there were an average of 1,387 people per year. The number of fatalities averaged 36 per year. The most common cause of poisoning was improper operation of heating devices, their equipment or failure of chimney flues.

According to the ministry’s justification, approximately 6% of carbon monoxide poisoning fatalities are children, while in the group of injured children they constituted as much as 27%.

How does Poland fare in terms of fire safety?

The National Headquarters of the State Fire Service has prepared a list of the number of fatalities in apartment fires (including their conversion per million inhabitants) in Poland and selected European Union countries where there is an obligation to install at least one sensor. This study was based on data for 2022 and clearly indicates that Poland had one of the highest mortality rates in this period – both in terms of the number of such cases (363) and per 1 million inhabitants (9.9). Only France recorded more fatalities (400), but with a much lower rate per 1 million inhabitants (5.9).

However, only Estonia has a higher number of victims after conversion (28.6).

Why is it worth installing such a device in your home?

– An intelligent smoke detector and an intelligent carbon monoxide sensor will inform house and apartment owners that there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire – says Michał Sroka from Netatmo.

Some companies also offer phone notifications (using a special application). This will let homeowners know about a fire even if they are away from home.

Obligation to install autonomous smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – which properties will be covered by it?

According to the current draft act, the obligation to install a smoke detector will apply to rooms or residential units where hotel services are provided. In addition, owners of residential premises will be obliged to install at least one sensor in their properties. Importantly, the device must meet the requirements of the Polish Standard regarding autonomous smoke detectors.

However, this obligation does not apply to rooms, units and residential premises that are already protected by a fire alarm system.

The installation of a carbon monoxide detector has also been regulated accordingly. As can be read in the draft regulation of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, a room in which fuel is burned, which is part of a residential or commercial premises in the ZL life-threatening zone, must have at least one autonomous carbon monoxide detector in accordance with the Polish Standard.

If the combustion process takes place in a device with a closed combustion chamber or “when combustion takes place in a device powered by gaseous fuel, intended for preparing meals”, there is no obligation to install a carbon monoxide sensor.