Hundreds of thousands of smoke alarms from a Florida-based company have been recalled due to a failure to function and alert product users in case of fire emergencies.
“Smoke sensitivity tests performed on the alarms by CPSC found that one of the detectors that was tested failed to alert when exposed to pre-determined concentrations of smoke,” said the notice.
Although this posed a risk of smoke inhalation or death, no injuries have been reported. The company said it received eight complaints of the alarm malfunctioning during the tests.
The model SM1 alarms measure approximately 2.5 by 2.5 by 2.5 inches, and were sold in packs of two or three alarms. Customers are asked to contact the company for a free replacement, which includes shipping.
Three61 noted that the lithium-ion batteries found inside the alarms must be disposed of in compliance with local and state regulations.
“Do not throw this recalled battery in the trash. Do not deposit this recalled battery in used battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores.”
CPSC has issued multiple warnings over the past year of faulty smoke alarms that fail to alert customers.
“Consumers will not be properly warned of carbon monoxide [CO] or fire dangers if their combination smoke and CO detector is defective and fails to properly alert, increasing the risk of severe injury or death,” CPSC said.
“More than 200 people in the United States die every year from accidental, non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer product emissions. In addition, most fatalities in residential fires are due to smoke inhalation, rather than heat and flames, and consumers may have as little as three minutes to escape a fire.”
The agency found that the products failed a smoke alarm safety standard UL 217 and “may not alert” customers in case there is a fire in the house.
“Of the fire fatalities that occurred in homes with working smoke alarms, 28 percent occurred when the alarm failed to alert occupants.”
