MEBANE, N.C., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A smoke
alarm's low battery chirp is the number one home fire safety
complaint among American homeowners who participated in a recent
survey conducted by Kelton on behalf of Kidde, the leading
manufacturer of residential fire safety products. In fact, 61
percent of respondents have left their alarm without a working
battery. Kidde's new Worry-Free line of smoke alarms with a 10-year
sealed-in lithium battery aims to solve common consumer complaints
and pressing fire industry concerns. Kidde is a business of UTC
Climate, Controls, & Security, a unit of United Technologies
Corp. (NYSE: UTX)
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release,
please click:
http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59180-kidde-worry-free-smoke-alarms-sealed-in-lithium-battery
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121119/MM15582)
According to the survey results, homeowners' primary frustration
is timing: almost half of those who have heard a low battery chirp
said that it sounded in the middle of the night. Yet, homeowners
don't automatically replace the battery. After hearing a low
battery chirp, 33 percent of homeowners might wait a day or more to
replace it, according to the survey. Another seven percent say
they'd be more likely to disconnect the battery than insert a new
one.
Failing to react quickly and replace batteries could have tragic
results. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) cites
missing or disconnected batteries as the main reason smoke alarms
fail to operate in residential fires. Two-thirds of all home fire
deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarm or no working
alarm. Recently, the National Association of State Fire Marshals
(NASFM) issued a recommendation for smoke alarms to be powered by
10-year, sealed-in batteries. NASFM's support of a long-life
battery follows similar recommendations from NFPA and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
"Overall, smoke alarms have been cited as a great success story
in this country's efforts to reduce fire death rates, but
persistent problems have been identified along the way that
continue to hamper our ability to reduce home fire deaths," said
J. William Degnan, state fire
marshal, New Hampshire and
president, NASFM . "Consumers with battery-operated smoke alarms
should use 10-year batteries in tamper-resistant units to help
ensure that they will have that early warning if it is needed. A
sealed-in, 10-year battery takes the burden off consumers to
remember to change smoke alarm batteries, and it will save
lives."
Kidde's Worry-Free smoke alarms offer a decade of protection
without ever having to replace a battery. They are the only
UL-listed alarms to contain a photoelectric smoke sensor that is
programmed to reduce nuisance alarms, the second most common
complaint of homeowners. The Kelton survey found one quarter
of homeowners report nuisance alarms sounding at least once a month
when cooking in their home. Kidde's Worry-Free Kitchen Alarm
includes smart-sensing technology to minimize, if not eliminate,
cooking-related nuisance alarms.
Each Worry-Free Kitchen Alarm is designed with location-specific
features, such as super-bright LEDs in the Hallway Alarm and an
added voice warning in the Bedroom Alarm to help wake those who may
sleep through the traditional beep. NFPA recommends installing
smoke alarms on each floor and inside and outside of sleeping
areas. However, survey results show less than a quarter of
homeowners comply with this recommendation, and three out of four
homeowners don't know where to place alarms.
"We've heard loud and clear that homeowners are frustrated with
low battery chirps and nuisance alarms," said Chris Rovenstine, vice president, sales and
marketing, Kidde. "In addition to technology advances that
eliminate the low-battery chirp, the Worry-Free smoke alarms give
consumers peace-of-mind by offering features to address
location-specific safety needs. Homeowners now can feel confident
that they have the right alarm for the right location."
Kidde's Worry-Free smoke alarms are available at The Home Depot.
With no need to replace batteries, consumers will save about
$40 in battery costs over the life of
an alarm. After ten years, the alarms will sound a warning to
indicate it is time for replacement. Fire experts recommend
replacing all smoke alarms every 10 years.
The online survey was conducted by Kelton between July –
August 2012 among 1,018 homeowners
with battery-powered smoke alarms and homes older than 10 years.
For more information, visit www.WorryFreeAlarm.com.
About Kidde
As the world's largest manufacturer
of fire safety products, Kidde's mission is to provide solutions
that protect people and property from the effects of fire and its
related hazards. For more than 90 years industry leaders, the
military, airlines and firefighters have relied on Kidde to deliver
superior fire detection and suppression. Consumers will find that
same advanced fire safety technology in Kidde's residential and
commercial smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers
and other life safety products.
Based in Mebane, N.C., Kidde is
part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United
Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and
building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit
www.kidde.com.
SOURCE Kidde