AURORA, Ill., Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- You replace your
cell phone, your home's air filters and lightbulbs – even your
toothbrush. But when was the last time you replaced – or thought
about replacing – your home's smoke alarms?
While smoke alarm lifespan and sensing technology has vastly
improved in recent years, the fact remains that all smoke alarms
expire after 10 years. However, nearly a quarter of Americans (23
percent) have either never replaced their smoke alarms – or have
not done so in more than six years.* This, coupled with the fact
that three out of five home fire deaths occur in properties without
working smoke alarms – often due to missing alarm batteries or
expired alarms** – is cause for concern for local fire and safety
officials.
As a proud promoter of the National Fire Protection
Association's (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week campaign, "Don't Wait –
Check the Date: Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years," First Alert,
the most trusted name in home safety,*** is urging the public to
check the manufacture dates on their home's smoke alarms and
replace them as needed.
"Many people assume that because they have smoke alarms in their
homes, they're automatically protected in the event of a fire,"
said Lorraine Carli, vice president
of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. "In reality, smoke alarms need to
be installed, maintained and tested regularly to ensure that
they're working properly. Part of that effort includes knowing how
old your smoke alarms are, because smoke alarms don't last
forever."
NFPA 72, National Signaling and Fire Alarm
Code®, requires that residential smoke alarms be
replaced at least every 10 years, but because the public is
generally unaware of this requirement, many homes may have smoke
alarms well past their expiration dates. To find out whether it's
time to replace the smoke alarms in your home, simply look on the
back of the alarms where the date of manufacture is marked. The
smoke alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date (not the
date of purchase or installation).
"Installing new alarms ensures your home is protected with the
most current sensing technologies and the latest safety features
available," said Tom Russo,
president of First Alert. "Conversely, by neglecting to replace
alarms, you could be putting yourself and your family at serious
risk. If the alarms in your home are approaching the 10-year mark,
or if you can't remember when they were installed, be safe and
replace them immediately." Several laws have been enacted or
proposed in recent years requiring specific alarm features, such as
10-year sealed batteries or hardwired models, as well as specific
smoke sensing technology. While homeowners may have been up to date
with previous regulations, there's a possibility that further
action may be needed in order to comply with newer local laws.
If alarms are due for replacement, consider upgrading your level
of protection with devices containing 10-year sealed batteries,
which offer tamper-proof, hassle-free protection while eliminating
the need to replace batteries for the life of the alarms. For
ultimate home safety, select combination smoke/carbon monoxide (CO)
alarm models for complete protection from the threats of smoke and
CO. A variety of smoke alarms, including hardwired, combination and
10-year battery-powered models, are available to meet specific
needs and local requirements.
"Each year nearly 3,000 Americans die from home fires,****" said
Russo. "Our goal, and the goal of NFPA's Fire Prevention Week
campaign, is to bring these numbers down by continually educating
consumers about the dangers of fire and teaching them how to
protect themselves, their families and their homes."
For more information on Fire Prevention Week, visit
www.firepreventionweek.org. For more information on First Alert
home safety products, as well as legislation resources and a
complete home safety checklist, go to www.firstalert.com.
*First Alert Smoke Alarm Survey, 2009 – For more information
or a copy of the complete survey and results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or
tyoung@lcwa.com.
** "Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires," National Fire
Protection Association;
http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/research/nfpa-reports/fire-protection-systems/ossmokealarms.pdf
***First Alert Brand Trust Survey, January 2016 – Results are based on the responses
of 1,004 adults, ages 18 and older, living in the United States who completed a telephone
survey, January 28-31, 2016. Results
are accurate to +/- 3 percentage points with a 95 percent
confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult
population in the United States
within those statistical parameters. For more information or a copy
of the complete survey and results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or
tyoung@lcwa.com.
****National Fire Protection Association
(www.nfpa.org)
About BRK Brands, Inc.
BRK Brands, Inc.
(Aurora, IL), is a fully owned
subsidiary of Newell Brands. For 50
years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First
Alert®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted
and recognized safety brand in America. BRK® Brands
designs and develops innovative safety solutions including
Tundra™ Fire Extinguishing Spray, Onelink by First Alert
smart home products, 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,
http://www.brkelectronics.com or
http://www.newellbrands.com.
About Newell
Brands
Newell
Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods
company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including
Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer's®, Coleman®,
Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Oster®, Sunbeam®,
FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®,
Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First
Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. Driven by a sharp focus on
the consumer, leading investment in innovation and brands, and a
performance-driven culture, Newell
Brands helps consumers achieve more where they live, learn,
work and play.
This press release and additional information about
Newell Brands are available on the
company's website,
http://www.newellbrands.com.
©2016 BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora,
IL 60504. All rights reserved.
First Alert® is a registered trademark of The First
Alert Trust, Aurora, IL 60504.
BRK Electronics® is a registered trademark of BRK
Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL
60504.
NYSE is a registered service mark of NYSE Group, Inc.
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SOURCE First Alert