Recall: Defective Alarm Prompts Recall Of Battery Powered Smoke Detectors

Note: phone number change for Black & Decker; another firm can no longer be contacted.

Defective Alarm Prompts Recall Of Battery Powered Smoke Detectors

PRODUCT: Certain models and date codes of battery operated smoke detectors manufactured by Seatt Corporation sold after July 10, 1992 by the following firms:

• Black and Decker
  
• Walter Kidde Portable Equipment
  
• Safety First
  
• Maple Chase
  
• Jameson Home Products
  
• Funtech
  

PROBLEM: The smoke detectors may not sound in the event of a fire.

WHAT TO DO: If you purchased a smoke detector on or after July 10, 1992, check the label on the back for the involved models and date codes. If you have an affected unit, call (800) 762-6672 for Black and Decker units (or return to Black and Decker service center).

WASHINGTON, DC -- Six brands of battery powered smoke detectors are being recalled because they may not sound an alarm in the event of a fire. Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Seatt Corporation, Downers Grove, IL urged any consumer who purchased a battery powered smoke detector on or after July 10, 1992 to check the unit immediately to see if it is involved in this recall. According to information provided by Seatt Corporation, the brands and models affected are:

These battery powered smoke detectors were sold nationwide since July 10, 1992 in major retail and specialty stores. Approximately 120,000 affected smoke detectors are believed to be in use by consumers.

To determine if you have an affected smoke detector, examine the label on the back of the smoke detector for the model and date codes listed above. If the smoke detector has been installed, remove the smoke detector from its brackets by twisting the detector counterclockwise to remove the detector from the wall and expose the label. Only the listed models having the listed date codes are involved. Other date codes of these models are not involved.

Consumers with one of these units except that made by Jameson Home Products, Inc. should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 for information on obtaining a replacement smoke detector. Jameson Home Products, Inc. can no longer be contacted and may be out of business, so no remedy is available for the product from that firm, and the product should be discarded or destroyed.

To date there have been no reports of injuries or damage resulting from failure of these smoke detectors. Seatt Corporation, the manufacturer of the smoke detectors, voluntarily reported this problem to the CPSC.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as a part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks associated with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction. The Commission recommends the use of smoke detectors in all homes. The Commission staff is currently involved in an ongoing priority project on smoke detectors to increase awareness, maintanence, and usage of smoke detector.