Advisory Report

June 2000

Smoke Alarms Recalled
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Universal Security Instruments, Inc. are voluntarily recalling about 34,000 smoke alarms that can fail to alarm when smoke or fire is present.  A capacitor in the alarm can burn out, releasing smoke and melting the cover.

Consumers can identify the recalled models by removing the alarm cover from its base and looking for the manufacture date code and model number.  The smoke alarms are made of white plastic and have the manufacture date code and model number imprinted on the back of the alarm.  The recall information is below.

 

Brand	Model Number	Description	Date Code
Safe T Alert	SA-785	AC only unit	BCSR
Universal	SS-785	AC unit only	BCSR
Universal	SS-795	AC/DC unit with battery backup	BESS
USI Electric	USI-1203	AC/DC unit with battery backup	BESS

Since some alarms do not have the brand name printed on the unit, consumers should look at the model number to determine if it is a recalled alarm.

Electrical distributors, housing suppliers and hardware stores sold these smoke alarms nationwide from April 1998 through June 1999 for between $10 and $15.  Most of these alarms were pre-installed in homes during construction.

Consumers should call Universal Security Instruments Inc. toll-free at (800) 390-4321 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement alarm.

Other stories in this month's report:

Barrier EIFS Banned

Pesticide (Dursban) Banned

Arsenic Levels Reduced