100 Million Smoke Alarms Needed In U.S. Homes, According To Industry Study

AURORA, Ill., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Is your home among those that lack one of the whopping 100 million smoke alarms needed in residences today?

The Vision 20/20 Project, a fire prevention initiative of the Institution of Fire Engineers, U.S. Branch, estimates a need for more than 100 million smoke alarms in U.S. homes today*, based on field experience indicating far more consumers have non-working alarms – or none at all – than previously thought.

"Many people don't think a fire will happen in their home, so they neglect alarms for years – and that means far too many people are unprepared," said Jim Crawford, Project Manager for Vision 20/20. "Having enough working alarms, and knowing what to do when they go off, can mean the difference between life and death in a home fire."  

This huge number indicates people likely need to install additional alarms throughout their house.

To ensure your home is best protected from fire, as well as the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure, First Alert, the most trusted name in home safety**, advises following guidelines set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  

The NFPA (www.nfpa.org) recommends homes should have smoke alarms installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement, and one CO alarm on each level and in a central location outside each sleeping area.

"To put this into perspective, the average-sized home in America – a two-story, three-bedroom house – needs a minimum of five smoke alarms and four carbon monoxide alarms," said Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs at First Alert.

New Alarms Offer Safety with Style

Consumers now have the opportunity to easily achieve this optimum protection at an affordable cost, and do so with attractive alarms that can complement any home decor. First Alert is the first major manufacturer to introduce alarms offering "safety with a sense of style" and recently unveiled two new series of alarms that blend high tech with high design.

The First Alert Atom™ alarm and the First Alert Maximum Protection alarm series feature minimalist, non-intrusive designs while also providing the highest levels of affordable protection from the threats of fire and carbon monoxide.

Vast departures from their bulkier counterparts, First Alert's new Atom and Maximum Protection alarms are a fraction of the size of traditional alarms and can be installed discretely on either a wall or a ceiling. Both alarms also feature breakthrough technology to help reduce the occurrence of nuisance alarms.

"The traditional spring home improvement season is an ideal time for consumers to increase household protection and do it in a fashionable way," said Hanson. "These new series include sleek, contemporary models that reflect today's trend toward more streamlined profiles that blend beautifully with any home decor."

Atom Smoke and Fire Alarm

Packing all the power of an advanced photoelectric smoke alarm into a miniature design, First Alert's new Atom Smoke and Fire Alarm weighs in at less than two ounces. The Atom is the smallest alarm available from First Alert with a compact design that blends seamlessly into any wall or ceiling. Currently offered in a sleek, contemporary white, the Atom is available in a number of decorative finishes including wood grain, stainless steel and bronze.

"We designed this alarm based on feedback from architects, interior designers and homeowners seeking an alarm option that offers superior performance and pleasing aesthetics," said Hanson. "The Atom gives smoke alarms a high-style look that we're so accustomed to seeing from other home appliances."

The Atom also features revolutionary micro technology with an advanced smoke entry system for fewer false alarms, and a loud, penetrating siren to reach the whole home. The alarm's accompanying long-life battery ensures continued protection for an extended period.

The Atom has earned a number of industry honors for its design and performance, including winning a 2013 Chicago Innovation Award.

Maximum Protection Alarms

Measuring less than one inch thick, the First Alert Maximum Protection Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms are a sleek alternative to traditional alarms, providing a less obtrusive option for style-centric consumers.

As the new standard of excellence, the Maximum Protection alarms feature a patented smoke entry system that allows smoke to have a more direct path to the nuisance-resistant photoelectric smoke sensor. This innovative system helps to prevent possible dangerous, but frequent, alarm deactivation due to battery removal.

The combination smoke and carbon monoxide models also offer a voice and location feature, which alerts residents with a loud, pre-recorded and tamper-proof human voice to the threat of smoke or carbon monoxide, as well as the specific location of the hazard within the home.

For more information, visit www.firstalert.com.

* Based on experience with home safety visits in communities across the U.S. – estimated range provided by TriData, a Division of System Planning Corporation.

** First Alert Brand Trust Survey, April 2012 – Results are based on the responses of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and older, living in the United States who completed a telephone survey, April 26-29, 2012.  Results are accurate to +/-3 percent points with a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire U.S. adult population. For more information or a copy of the complete survey and results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or [email protected].

About BRK Brands, Inc.

BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Jarden CorporationNYSE:JAH, a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. For 50 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert^®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brands in America. BRK^® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra^® Fire Extinguishing Spray, ONELINK^® wireless alarms and a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics^® brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com or http://www.brkelectronics.com.

About Jarden Corporation

Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of a diverse range of consumer products with a portfolio of over 120 trusted, quality brands sold globally. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, AeroBed®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, ExOfficio®, Fenwick®, Greys®, Gulp!®, Hardy®, Invicta®, K2®, Madshus®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, PENN®, Rawlings®, Ride®, Sevylor®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Volkl®, Worth® and Zoot®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Breville®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bernardin®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, Fiona®, First Alert®, First Essentials®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Lifoam®, Lillo®, Loew Cornell®, Mapa®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, ProPak®, Quickie®, Spontex®, Tigex® and Yankee Candle®. Headquartered in Florida, Jarden ranks #383 on the Fortune 500 and has over 30,000 employees worldwide. For further information about Jarden, please visit www.jarden.com.

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First Alert^® is a registered trademark of The First Alert Trust, Aurora, IL 60504.

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SOURCE First Alert