HARTFORD, Conn. – United Technologies Corp. (UTC) is recalling about 154,000 ESL and Interlogix smoke detectors because Radio frequency interference can cause the smoke detectors to fail to alert consumers of a fire, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.
The recall – covering about 141,000 units in the United States and 13,000 in Canada – involves 33 hardwired models of the 400 and 500 series of Edwards, or ESL, and Interlogix smoke detectors, the commission said in a statement.
The 2-wire or 4-wire detectors were made for professional installation and used primarily in commercial buildings, schools, hotels/motels, apartments, dormitories and homes as part of the fire alarm system.
Radio frequency interference can cause the detectors to fail to alarm in the event of a fire, the commission said. There have been no reports of injuries or incidents.
Recalled units have date codes 13084 through 14059 with the first two digits representing the year and the last three digits representing the day of the year. For example, 084 is the 84th day of 2013, which is March 25, 2013. The initials ESL, the date code and model numbers are printed on a label on the back of the detector’s cover and on the product’s packaging.
Manufactured in China, the ESL and Interlogix models are identical and were sold from March 2013 to February 2014 for $30 to $50. The recall covers free replacement and free installation of new smoke detectors. Installing security contractors should urge customers not to take the units out of service until the replacement alarm has been installed.
