Owners Must Install Smoke and CO Detectors

30 April 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

New Polish rule requires smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in homes; owners pay. Learn deadlines and what expats must do.

New regulation requires every owner to fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The government issued the rule in November 2024, and the obligation affects over 14 million homes across Poland.

Table of Contents

What the regulation says about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

The Ministry of Interior introduced §28a in a regulation published in the Dziennik Ustaw. Consequently, every residential unit must have at least one autonomous smoke detector. Moreover, a carbon monoxide detector must sit where any fuel burns. Therefore, boilers, fireplaces, gas water heaters and solid-fuel stoves trigger the CO requirement. The rule excludes appliances with sealed combustion chambers. However, plain gas boilers still require CO detection.

Three owner groups and phased deadlines

The regulation splits owners into three groups. New buildings require detectors from 23 December 2024. Consequently, developers must install the devices before handover. Short-term rentals and hotel-type lodging face a strict deadline of 30 June 2026. Therefore, Airbnb hosts must act now. Existing homes and flats get until 1 January 2030. However, the later deadline does not remove risk. Demand may spike and prices may rise as 2030 nears.

Choosing the right devices and placement

Buyers should check standards. The smoke device must meet EN 14604. The CO device must meet PN-EN 50291 and carry CE marking, the national B mark, and CNBOP-PIB certification. Inspectors already found problems with cheap imports. Moreover, a slow-reacting or poorly signaling device may fail in real life. Installation usually requires only a screw. A smoke detector on the ceiling can protect a whole flat, but larger layouts need extra units. Mount CO detectors on a wall, 1.5–1.9 metres high, and 1–3 metres from the source. Avoid placing them near strong drafts or vents.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you rent short-term, document compliance now. Take photos, keep purchase receipts and note activation dates. When dealing with Polish institutions, know local terms: ZUS (social security), NFZ (public health insurer), mandat (fine), PESEL (national ID number). In addition, insurers may deny claims after incidents if your property lacked required detectors. Therefore, keep evidence of correct models and their placement.

Why this matters for expats and practical next steps

Poland records about 455 fire deaths annually. Moreover, CO poisoning causes dozens of deaths and thousands of rescues during the heating season. As a result, the rule aims to reduce preventable tragedies. For expatriates, the change affects landlords, hosts and homeowners. Check rental agreements and building handover documents. Also, inform guests and neighbours about device locations. Finally, buy certified units and install them promptly. In short, compliance protects people and preserves insurance cover.

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