California Enacts New Requirements For Battery-Operated Smoke Alarms

Senate Bill 745 Requires Replacement of Battery-Operated Alarms with 10-Year, Sealed Models, Does Not Alter Requirements for Hard-wired Alarms

News provided by

First Alert

May 29, 2014, 11:55 ET

AURORA, Ill., May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Older California residences are about to get a much-needed safety upgrade as a new law outlining smoke alarm requirements takes effect throughout the state.

Beginning July 1, 2014, California Senate Bill 745 requires that all solely battery-operated smoke alarms and combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms sold and installed in California must contain a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the smoke alarm for a minimum of 10 years. The requirement does not apply to any alarms that are hard-wired.

"Each year nearly 3,000 Americans die from home fires—the vast majority in homes where a working smoke alarm is absent or disabled," said Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs for First Alert, the most trusted name in home safety.* "For homes without hard-wired alarms, this law will help ensure that Californians have better protection against such avoidable tragedies."

In addition to the 10-year sealed battery requirements, the bill also requires smoke alarms and combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to display the manufacture date, provide a place to write the date of installation on the device, and incorporate a hush feature, beginning on January 1, 2015.

First Alert's P910 series of smoke alarms complies with all of these new state requirements. Featuring a 10-year, sealed lithium ion battery, these alarms offer maximum protection and convenience with a patented smoke entry system and nuisance-free technology. In the case of false alarms, a mute button will temporarily silence alarm activation. Additionally, the ultra-slim profiles offer safety with a sense of style.

"Our P910 series alarms reflect today's trend toward more streamlined profiles," said Hanson. "Measuring half the size of standard alarms, they blend beautifully into any home décor, while packing all the power and protection needed to keep what matters most safe and secure."

California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 745 in August 2013, which superseded previous smoke alarm requirements throughout the state. Under this bill, retailers will have until July 1, 2015, to deplete their inventory of non-compliant alarms. For more information on California's new smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements, visit www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

In addition to its new P910 series, First Alert/BRK Brands also manufactures a comprehensive line of hard-wired smoke and combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to meet other building requirements not affected by Senate Bill 745. For more information, visit www.firstalert.com or www.brkelectronics.com.

* First Alert Brand Trust Survey, April 2012 – Results are based on the responses of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and older, living in the United States who completed a telephone survey, April 26-29, 2012. Results are accurate to +/-3 percent points with a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire U.S. adult population. For more information or a copy of the complete survey and results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or [email protected].

BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (Rye, NY)NYSE:JAH, a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. 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^® wireless alarms and 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.jarden.com.

About Jarden Corporation
Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of a diverse range of consumer products with a portfolio of over 120 trusted, quality brands sold globally. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, AeroBed®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, ExOfficio®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, Invicta®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, PENN®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Völkl® and Zoot®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Breville®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bernardin®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, Fiona®, First Alert®, First Essentials®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Lifoam®, Lillo®, Loew Cornell®, Mapa®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, Quickie®, Spontex®, Tigex® and Yankee Candle®. Headquartered in Florida, Jarden ranks #383 on the Fortune 500 and has over 30,000 employees worldwide. For further information about Jarden, please visit www.jarden.com.

©2014 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.
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SOURCE First Alert