““Exploding Smoke Exploding Smoke Alarms”Alarms”

Amy Teddy Amy Teddy South Metro South Metro Fire Rescue Fire Rescue Public Education Specialist Public Education Specialist 720-488-7164 720-488-7164 a.murphy@southmetro.orga.murphy@southmetro.org

The Culprit:The Culprit: WHO: WHO:

– BRK Brands, Inc. (First Alert)BRK Brands, Inc. (First Alert)

WHAT:WHAT:– Hard-wired smoke alarmsHard-wired smoke alarms– Model: 4120B or 4120SBModel: 4120B or 4120SB– Date: 1998 - Oct 2000Date: 1998 - Oct 2000

DEFECT:DEFECT:– Undersized battery compartmentUndersized battery compartment

No recall issued by CPSC or BRK (yet)No recall issued by CPSC or BRK (yet)

BRK became aware of this issue & made a design change in BRK became aware of this issue & made a design change in Oct 2000 & newer units do not have Oct 2000 & newer units do not have this problem.this problem.

History…History…

Summer 2002: BRK changed designSummer 2002: BRK changed design June 2005: BRK advisement June 2005: BRK advisement (most (most current)current)

3/13/06: phone call from “Dave”3/13/06: phone call from “Dave” 3/10/06: St. Louis story3/10/06: St. Louis story 3/14/06: Philadelphia story3/14/06: Philadelphia story 5/4 & 5/5: CBS 4 Denver story5/4 & 5/5: CBS 4 Denver story

What Happens…What Happens…

Consumer replaces back-up battery with Consumer replaces back-up battery with “Duracell” battery“Duracell” battery– ““Duracell” 9-volt batteries are slightly Duracell” 9-volt batteries are slightly longer than other 9-volt batterieslonger than other 9-volt batteries

Improper contact with “Duracell” battery Improper contact with “Duracell” battery causes:causes:– Premature draining of charge Premature draining of charge (within days or (within days or weeks)weeks)

– overheatoverheat– expandexpand– explodeexplode

Reports:Reports: Battery exploded while on the ladder to Battery exploded while on the ladder to change, or shortly after removing change, or shortly after removing

Series of “explosion” episodes Series of “explosion” episodes ““Explosion sounded like a bomb in my Explosion sounded like a bomb in my home”home”

Many calls to 911 w/ fire responseMany calls to 911 w/ fire response– Told to get units checked & replace Told to get units checked & replace batteries…..unknown causebatteries…..unknown cause

Premature and/or intermittent “chirping”Premature and/or intermittent “chirping” Unexplained alarmsUnexplained alarms

– affect of explosions on circuitry of the affect of explosions on circuitry of the units?units?

Due to series of issues & annoyance Due to series of issues & annoyance (over (over yrs)yrs) = flipping circuit that eliminates = flipping circuit that eliminates electrical current to system & being electrical current to system & being unprotectedunprotected

Collateral ConcernsCollateral Concerns

Death/Injury:Death/Injury:– Disabled alarmsDisabled alarms– Reliability Reliability – Significant falls from ladderSignificant falls from ladder– Battery “debris” contact with Battery “debris” contact with skin and/or eyes skin and/or eyes

Cost:Cost:– $700 for an electrician to re-wire & $700 for an electrician to re-wire & install new unitsinstall new units

– Property lossProperty loss

Recommendations Recommendations

South Metro Fire Rescue – St. 36 South Metro Fire Rescue – St. 36 – Replacement batteries & units Replacement batteries & units availableavailable

Consumer Product Safety Commission Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)(CPSC)

““File unsafe product” report:File unsafe product” report:–1-800-638-27721-800-638-2772–www.cpsc.govwww.cpsc.gov

Preventive Preventive Recommendations:Recommendations:

Use caution Use caution (especially Duracell’s)(especially Duracell’s)

– Do not replace aloneDo not replace alone– Wash hands after handling batteryWash hands after handling battery– Do not touch eyesDo not touch eyes

Proper replacement batteries: Proper replacement batteries: – Eveready 522: sold as “Energizer Max”Eveready 522: sold as “Energizer Max”

Recommended by Energizer Recommended by Energizer – Eveready 1222: sold as “Eveready Super Eveready 1222: sold as “Eveready Super Heavy Duty”Heavy Duty” ““lower performance compared to the 522”lower performance compared to the 522”

Things to know…Things to know…

BRK = 9120BRK = 9120– Requires installation of new Requires installation of new bracketbracket

SMFR = 4120SMFR = 4120– Has silencing feature easily Has silencing feature easily confused w/ testconfused w/ test

Types of Smoke Alarms:Types of Smoke Alarms:

IonizationIonization

PhotoelectricPhotoelectric

Dual-SensorDual-Sensor

IONIZATIONIONIZATION

$5-10$5-10 Easy accessEasy access Standard in construction?Standard in construction? Flaming fireFlaming fire Sensitive to minute smoke Sensitive to minute smoke particlesparticles

PHOTOELECTRICPHOTOELECTRIC

$20-25$20-25 Smoldering fireSmoldering fire Less sensitive to normal Less sensitive to normal cooking, humidity, etc.cooking, humidity, etc.

DUAL-SENSORDUAL-SENSOR

$30$30 Both: flames & smokeBoth: flames & smoke Battery operatedBattery operated RecommendedRecommended ““technology has existed since technology has existed since 1979 & unacceptable for company 1979 & unacceptable for company to continue to market inferior to continue to market inferior product”product”

PREVENTION is key!PREVENTION is key!

Smoke alarms are one component of Smoke alarms are one component of a comprehensive residential fire a comprehensive residential fire protection program…..protection program…..

Early detection is crucial to Early detection is crucial to escapeescape

Large homes & battery-operated Large homes & battery-operated alarms alarms

Next Step….Next Step….

Contract Electrician?Contract Electrician? Purchase dual sensor & Purchase dual sensor & distribute? distribute? – BRK/First AlertBRK/First Alert

Battery onlyBattery only– Model 3002Model 3002

– KiddeKidde Battery onlyBattery only

– Model PI9000Model PI9000 Hard-wiredHard-wired

– Model PI2000Model PI2000

More info:More info:

www.cpsc.govwww.cpsc.gov

www.brkelectronics.comwww.brkelectronics.com

www.cpnhoa.orgwww.cpnhoa.org