Battery Powered Smoke Detectors

CPSC Recall #93026 - December 17, 1992

Recall Summary

Recall Number93026
Recall DateDecember 17, 1992
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedApproximately 120,000

Product

Battery Powered Smoke Detectors

Description

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:   Firm Brand Model Date Code Black & Decker Slim Line SMK100 SMK200 SMK300 9228 to 9246 Jameson Home Products, Inc. CODE 1 2000 Model A, C and D 92192 to 92231 Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc. Kidde Smoke and Fire Alarm KSA700 92192 to 92231 Safety First Baby's Room Smoke & Fire Alarm 244 92192 to 92231 Funtech Safety's Sake Model A 92192 to 92231 Maple Chase Firex Model A and B 92192 to 92231 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.

Hazard

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

Incidents & Injuries

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.

Remedy Instructions

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).

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund, Replace) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.