Is there a law people violate when they make their smoke detectors go off A LOT when they cook?

Question

Idiots who live above me CONSTANTLY make their smoke alarm go off when, I assume, they're baking (I realize this happens). It doesn't do us any good since, whenever we hear it, we go on "alert", getting ready to evacuate the apartment if there really is a fire (the building had a real fire about four years ago but not related to them). Is there some law they're breaking? Is there a law for "false alarming smoke detectors"? It can't be pleasing to the people who live on THEIR floor either. P.S. The Managing Agent is useless.

Answer 1

in the matter of public safety, smoke alarms are critical. while the noise of a smoke alarm is a nuisance, there is nothing you can do about it except be prepared, and/or ignore the alarm. if there is a real fire, (caring) neighbors would have banged on your door telling you to get out. and of course you would have heard the fire engines coming. the fire department and most politicians would never publicly advocate removing smoke detectors as it can cause a scandal, and get them disciplined..... and advocating a law penalizing false alarms will only result in people removing their smoke detectors, and that will result in more fires, and injury.



please note that many newly constructed buildings these days have the smoke detector hardwired into the electric, so it’s useless trying to remove the alarm anyway unless you really really wanted to.



now.... car alarms, that is a different matter. nobody’s public safety is at stake when a car alarm goes off, so people get genuinely annoyed when one does go off.

Answer 2

There isn't any federal law, but most states and localities will have some sort of noise ordinance. If their smoke alarm is constantly giving false alarms, then it's a public nuisance and you can try reporting it to the police.



You can also ask them to clean their oven. Proper baking doesn't smoke; it's mostly likely stuff burning off of a dirty oven or stove.



If none of that works, call the police and tell them you get frequent smells of ammonia, and you saw them carrying in a lot of cold medicine. A few meth lab busts and they might get the hint.

Answer 3

If the alarm calls the fire dept. and they come out expecting a fire, that will get them fined, if there are too many false alarms the alarm company will cut them off. If you are just talking about smoke detectors that make a horrible noise, I think you are out of luck. Have you tried talking to them? Suggest that they may need to clean their oven, use the exhaust fan, open a window. Tell them nicely that it really is disturbing to hear the alarm and tell them why.

Answer 4

in our city if any noise can be heard coming from insde your residence on the outside of the residence, you are subject to a fine. This can be music, yelling, loud telephone ringing or smoke alarms. If somebody complains , the first time its a warning, after that its ever increasing fines.



Of course this law is selectively enforced as a way to harrass the poorest people in our community, but most of the laws like this are.



In a nearby city they are going to make all apartments non smoking, I wonder if this will be considered "smoking"?

Answer 5

there is not any federal regulation, yet maximum states and localities could have some sort of noise ordinance. If their smoke alarm is continually giving fake alarms, then that's a public nuisance and you will attempt reporting it to the police. you additionally can ask them to scrub their oven. suited baking does not smoke; that's quite often probable stuff burning off of a grimy oven or range. If none of that works, call the police and tell them you get ordinary smells of ammonia, and you observed them carrying in a lot of chilly medicine. some meth lab busts and that that they had get the hint.

Answer 6

That's actually a classic example of compliance with the Eight Law of Thermodynamics: "The amount of smoke produced is inversely proportional to the competence of the cook." Also known as Emeril's Law.

Answer 7

Technically, it is not a false alarm if there really is smoke (even if there is not a fire; it is a "smoke alarm", not a "fire alarm").