New Alarm Protects Against CO and Smoke with Prerecorded Human Voice

August 2004-- Most home fires occur in the middle of the night when people are asleep, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). When an alarm sounds in the home, it can be difficult to determine which area of the home the danger originated and what type of danger one is faced with. Knowing these two facts could mean the difference between life and death.

To help consumers identify the room from which the alarm is sounding and whether it is a smoke or carbon monoxide danger, BRK Brands, Inc., the makers of First Alert -branded home-safety products, helps offer an early warning with that information. The new First Alert Model SCO7 is a combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm that, when in alarm, uses a prerecorded human voice to identify the incident and the room where the alarm is located.

“It is important to be able to distinguish between a fire danger and a carbon monoxide (CO) incident. If you mistake the danger as a CO incident and open a door or window to increase the flow of fresh air in the home, you could be literally adding fuel to a fire,” explains Chief Dennis Compton who serves on the boards of several national fire organizations.

“Knowing which emergency is at hand and what rooms of the home are dangerous is critical information for both the resident and firefighters who will be responding,” he added.

When the alarm is programmed by the consumer for a specific room in the house and the alarm is activated, the alarm will tell whether there is a smoke or carbon monoxide danger and what room the alarm is located in—for example, “Smoke in Kitchen (if programmed for ‘Kitchen’)” or “Carbon Monoxide in Bedroom (if programmed for ‘Bedroom’).” The First Alert® Model SCO7 will also tell the user and fire service professionals the highest carbon monoxide level stored in memory.

“Knowing where the source is, especially in a fire, gives important decision-making information when exiting the home,” Compton said.

An additional feature of the SCO7 alarm is the infrared remote capability that allows the homeowner to test the alarm, silence a nuisance alarm and temporarily silence low-battery chirping with the use of any regular household remote control.

According to the NFPA, about 39 percent of consumers with smoke alarms have nuisance alarms each year. The infrared remote feature helps to alleviate this issue by allowing the users to quiet a nuisance alarm using any TV or VCR remote control. Simply point the remote at the alarm, and hold down any button for 5 seconds to quiet the alarm. The alarm remains functional with sensors continuing to monitor the room for building smoke situations. The remote feature can also be used to test the alarm or quiet the chirping which signals low batteries–no more climbing on chairs to reach the test button.

“The First Alert Model SCO7 helps reduce the temptation to disable the alarm by taking its battery out when it goes off from something other than a real emergency such as burnt toast or shower steam,” said Mark Colello, senior vice president of sales and marketing at BRK Brands, Inc., manufacturer of First Alert home-safety products. “To silence the nuisance alarm, many of us–about 26 percent–will remove the battery, leaving the alarm inoperable and potentially putting the residence and its occupants at risk should a life-threatening fire occur.”

This alarm also features Microprocessor Technology, which is a “smart sensing” microprocessor that automatically runs a daily self-check test on the alarm functions to ensure all are working properly. And the First Alert Model SCO7 is a battery-operated unit that will operate in the event of a power outage.

It is backed by a 5-year limited warranty and available at discount, department, home center, and hardware stores throughout the nation. The suggested retail price for the alarm is $49.97.

For more information on home safety, visit the First Alert Website at www.firstalert.com.

SOURCE First Alert