Test your fire alarm regularly and report any faults
A working fire alarm can save your life. Heka has installed fire alarms in all apartments, but it is the responsibility of the resident to test them.
All Heka apartments have a fire alarm
As a result of a new law, the responsibility for the purchase, installation and maintenance of fire alarms in apartments was transferred from residents to housing companies from the beginning of 2026. However, Heka has already installed fire alarms in all homes before the change in the law. The law requires one fire alarm for every 60 square metres of floor space.
You can improve fire safety in your home, for example, by buying fire-fighting equipment such as a fire blanket and a dry powder extinguisher. Learn how to use them and have your fire extinguishers serviced at a service centre supervised by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency.
Heka will replace batteries or faulty fire alarms based on a defect notification
It is always the responsibility of the resident to test the fire alarm, regardless of who supplied it. Test the fire alarm in your apartment regularly every month by holding down the button on the alarm for a few seconds. If the alarm sounds when the button is held down, it is working properly. If the alarm does not emit a sound, then it is defective. If you cannot reach the button, use a brush handle as an extension, for example.
If you do not have a working fire alarm in your home, there are too few of them for the size of your home, or if the alarm indicates that the battery is low, submit a defect notification.
Keep the fire alarm clean of dust by carefully cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner’s small nozzle or by gently wiping it with a damp cloth. Opening the fire alarm is prohibited!
Fire safety in the home and common areas
Taking care of fire safety, locking doors and windows and using electrical equipment properly will prevent many types of damage.
Electrical devices
Have electrical devices installed and repaired by a professional. Do not use electrical devices that are in poor condition. Unplug a device by pulling on the plug, not the cord. In lamps, do not use a bulb that is more powerful than what is specified on the device. Place home appliances so that there is free ventilated space around them. Vacuum any dust from the outside of the devices when necessary. Do not cover electric radiators or supplementary heaters.
Smoking
A cigarette left smouldering can easily ignite a fire that often advances slowly and produces toxic gases that disable vital functions. Smoking in bed or on the sofa is risky because the smoker is often asleep when the fire breaks out. So special care should be taken when smoking while tired or under the influence of alcohol.
Heka has different smoking bans, depending on, for example, the year of construction of the property and the start date of the lease agreement. Some of our properties are completely smoke-free. All properties have a no-smoking policy in public and common areas and in the courtyard with the exception of possible designated smoking areas.
Candles and outdoor candles
Do not burn candles on a bookshelf, on a television or any other electrical device or in any other way near flammable materials.
Only burn candles on a non-flammable surface. Never leave a candle burning unattended or leave a child or pet alone near a burning candle.
Outdoor candles are not intended for use on balconies. Do not burn them on the porch or under a canopy either.
Sauna
Many fires start in the sauna when flammable material is left near the heater. Never dry laundry above or near the sauna heater, even when the heater is off. Make sure that nothing flammable is left near the heater when you start heating it.
Stairwells and other public facilities
Objects left in stairwells and other public facilities are a fire safety risk. It is forbidden to store bicycles, prams and other items in stairwells and other common areas. No flammable or hazardous substances may be stored in the shared facilities of the building.
Keep the doors to public and common areas closed. Also lock basements, attics and storage facilities and keep them tidy.
Driveways leading to the building must be kept clear. They must not be blocked by improper parking or other means. If there is an escape route marked with traffic signs, no parking or other obstructions are allowed on the driveway.