Updated 12/1/2008

Each alarm's score is simply a count of the number of life saving features it incorporates. Many alarms have special features such as a remote silence function, easy access battery door, quick connect power harness, etc. that are nice to have, but don't really save lives, and so are not represented here. A 12 is a perfect score. Basically don't waste your money on any that score below a 4.

Don't forget the battery: Ultra Life 10 Year Smoke Detector Battery

Manufacturer	Model number(s)	Score	Smoke		Heat		Gas				Connect	Light	Talking	Power
			Ion	Photo	Fixed	ROR	CO	ppm	NG	LP				DC	AC
			First Alert	GCO1CN	5					X	X	X	X				X	X
Kidde	900-0113 / KN-COEG-3	5					X	X	X	X				X	X
Kidde	900-0114 / KN-COSM-IB	5	X				X				X		X	X	X
American Sensors	770LBX	4	X	X							X			X	X
BRK	CO5120PDBN / CO5120PDB	4					X	X			X			X	X
BRK	HD6135FB	4			X	X					X			X	X
BRK	SC9120B / SC6120B	4	X				X				X			X	X
Everday	SD-728-H-A2BI	4		X	X						X			X	X
FireX	12000 / 12000C / 7000 / FADCM / FADCO	4	X				X				X			X	X
First Alert	SCO501CN-3ST / SCO500 / SCO501 / SA500	4		X			X				X		X	X
First Alert	SCO7CN / SCO7	4		X			X	X					X	X
GE Security	60-848-02-95 / 60-849-02-95 / NX-491NT	4		X	X	X					X			X
Gentex	7109CS / 7109CSX / 7139CS / 7139CSX	4		X							X	X		X	X
Gentex	9120T / 9120H / 9120TF / 9120HF / 9123T / 9123H / 9123TF / 9123HF / 9220T / 9220H / 9220TF / 9220HF / 9223T / 9223H / 9223TF / 9223HF	4		X	X						X			X	X
Kidde	1285 / 1285E / 440382 / i12080	4	X								X	X		X	X
Kidde	900-0121 / KN-COP-IC	4					X	X			X			X	X
Kidde	PI2000 / 442006	4	X	X							X			X	X
Universal	CD-9490	4					X	X			X			X	X
Universal	CD-9795	4	X				X				X			X	X
USI Electric	7490	4					X	X			X			X	X
USI Electric	7795	4	X				X				X			X	X
American Sensors	470LBX	3		X							X			X	X
American Sensors	670LBR	3	X								X			10y	X
American Sensors	670LBX / SA379	3	X								X			X	X
American Sensors	770L	3	X	X							X				X
American Sensors	CO851 / CO852 / CO920	3					X	X						X	X
American Sensors	COS2010	3	X				X				X				X
BRK	100S	3	X								X	X			X
BRK	2002RAC / 7010B	3		X							X			X	X
BRK	4120B / 4120SB / 9120B	3	X								X			X	X
BRK	5919TH	3		X	X						X				X
BRK	CO5120B / CO5120BN	3					X				X			X	X
BRK	CO6120PBD	3					X	X						X	X
Bryant		3					X	X						7y	X
Carrier		3					X	X						7y	X
Everday	F-911-I	3							X	X	X				X
Everday	SD-728-A2BI / SD-733-A2BI / SD-738-ABI	3		X							X			X	X
Everday	SD-728-H-A2B	3		X	X									X	X
Everday	SD-728-H-A2I	3		X	X						X				X
Everday	SD-728-HI	3		X	X						X			X
Family Safety Products	Safety Siren / HS80104 / HS80004 / SM-TT-202	3					X		X	X					X
FireX	ADC / FADC / 4618 / 5000 / 50004 / 4618 / 46182 / 46184 / 4518 / 4518C / 45184 / 45189	3	X								X			X	X
FireX	ADH / 5700	3			X						X			X	X
FireX	COE / 10000 / 10000C	3					X				X			X	X
FireX	GCM / 12220 / 12400C	3	X				X				X				X
FireX	PAD / 4480	3		X							X			X	X
First Alert	CO511 / CO511CN	3					X				X		X	X
First Alert	FCD4 / FCD4N / FCD4CN-3 / CO615	3					X	X						X	X
First Alert	SA4121 / SA4121B	3	X								X			X	X
First Alert	SA511 / SA511CN2-3ST	3		X							X		X	X
First Alert	SA520 / SA521 / SA521CN-3ST	3		X							X			X	X
GE Security	350 / 350CC / 350CX	3		X							X			X	X
GE Security	560NST / 562NST	3		X	X	X								X
Gentex	7100T / 7100H / 7100TF / 7100HF / 7103T / 7103H / 7103TF / 7103HF / 7200T / 7200H / 7203T / 7203H	3		X	X						X				X
Gentex	7109LS / 7139LS	3		X								X		X	X
Gentex	710CS / 710CSX / 713CS / 713CSX	3		X							X	X			X
Gentex	GN-300 / GN-303 / 9120 / 9120F / 9123 / 9123F / 9220 / 9220F / 9223 / 9223F	3		X							X			X	X
Honeywell	5809	3			X	X					X			X
Honeywell	5808LST / 5808W3	3		X	X						X			X
Kidde	1275 / 1276 / 1296 / RF-SM-AC / 1275E / 440381 / 1276E / 1296E / i12040 / i12060 / KN-SMFM-i	3	X								X			X	X
Kidde	HD135 / HD135F	3			X						X			X	X
Kidde	KN-COB-IC / 900-0120	3					X				X			X	X
Kidde	KN-COPP-3 / 900-0076	3					X	X						X	X
Kidde	KN-COSM-B / 900-0102	3	X				X						X	X
Kidde	PE120 / PE120E / 440399	3		X							X			X	X
SignalOne	12505	3		X									X	X	X
Universal	CD-9390	3					X				X			X	X
Universal	CD-9485	3					X	X			X				X
Universal	CD-9690	3					X	X						X	X
Universal	SS-2895	3		X							X			X	X
Universal	SS-790 / SS-795 / SS-2795	3	X								X			X	X
USI Electric	1103	3	X								X			10y	X
USI Electric	2430	3			X						X			X	X
USI Electric	3204	3		X							X			X	X
USI Electric	7390	3					X				X			X	X
USI Electric	7485	3					X	X			X				X
USI Electric	1204 / 1209 / 5204	3	X								X			X	X
USI Electric	CD-9690	3					X	X						X	X
American Sensors	470L / 470LR	2		X							X				X
American Sensors	770B / SA700	2	X	X										X
American Sensors	ASD100	2	X								X			12v
American Sensors	ASD200	2		X							X			12v
American Sensors	CO850	2					X	X						X
American Sensors	CO8RD	2					X	X						12v
American Sensors	CO900	2					X							X	X
American Sensors	CO910	2					X	X							X
American Sensors	SA358	2	X									X		X
American Sensors	SA360 / ESA5011	2	X								X				X
Atwood Mobile Products	37682	2					X	X						X
BRK	3001 / 3002	2	X	X										X
BRK	4120 / 9120	2	X								X				X
BRK	5919 / 7010	2		X							X				X
BRK	CO2120PDN	2					X	X							X
BRK	HD6135F	2			X						X				X
BRK	MP120	2							X	X					X
BRK	SC1000B	2	X				X							X
CCI Controls	7540 / 7687	2								X				X	X
CCI Controls	7550 / 7697	2							X					X	X
CO Experts	2002 / 2004	2					X	X						X
DuPont	CO828	2					X	X						X
DuPont	SC202	2	X								X				X
Everday	F-911	2							X	X					X
Everday	HD-2001	2			X									X	X
Everday	M-330W	2					X				X			X
Everday	SD-728-A2B / SD-738-AB	2		X										X	X
Everday	SD-728-A2I / SD-738-AI	2		X							X				X
Everday	SD-728-H / SD-733-H	2		X	X									X
Everday	SD-728-H-A2	2		X	X										X
Everday	SD-728-I / SD-733-I / SD-738-I	2		X							X			X
Everday	SD-738-CI	2		X							X			12v
Fireboy Xintex	CMD-4MR-RLY	2					X				X			12v
FireX	CCPB / 4021	2	X	X										X
FireX	CEC / 4009	2	X									X		X
FireX	COEA / COQ3 / 6035 / 10400C	2					X				X				X
FireX	FPAD / 4580	2		X										X	X
FireX	FXW-R / G / G-18 / G-6 / GC / 41216 / 406 / 406C / 418C / 428 / 428C	2	X								X				X
FireX	PG-40 / 484 / 484C	2		X							X				X
FireX	TPCI / 4671 / 4671C	2	X								X			X
First Alert	CO410	2					X	X						X
First Alert	FCD2BT / CO605	2					X							X	X
First Alert	FCD2DDBN / FCD2DDNP / FCD2DDN	2					X	X							X
First Alert	SA100B	2	X									X			X
First Alert	SA150 / SA150B / SA304 / SA304CN3	2	X									X		X
First Alert	SA302	2	X	X										X
First Alert	SA302LCN	2	X	X										10y
First Alert	SA304LCN	2	X									X		10y
First Alert	SA4120	2	X								X				X
First Alert	SA500 / SA501 / SA501CN-3ST / SA501CN2-3ST	2		X							X			X
First Alert	SA720CN	2		X								X		X
First Alert	SA9120BCN	2	X											X	X
First Alert	SC01 / SC01N / SC01BN	2	X				X							X
First Alert	SCO5CN / SCO5	2		X			X							X
GE Security	320 / 320A / 320ACC / 320ACX	2		X							X				X
GE Security	570NS	2		X							X			X
Gentex	710LS / 713LS	2		X								X			X
Gentex	GN-200 / GN-203 / 7100 / 7100F / 7103 / 7103F / 7200 / 7200F / 7203 / 7203F	2		X							X				X
Kidde	0918 / 0918E / 0918K / 440376	2	X									X		X
Kidde	1235 / 1235E / 440379 / i12020	2	X								X				X
Kidde	KN-COB-LCB-A / 21006137	2					X							X	X
Kidde	KN-COP-C / KN-COP-DP / KN-COP-HW / 900-0056	2					X	X							X
Kidde	KN-COPP-B / 900-0146 / 900-0089	2					X	X						X
Kidde	PI9000 / 442007	2	X	X										X
Kidde	RF-SM-DC / 0976 / 21005672	2	X								X			X
Kingdun	KD-101C / KD-101D	2		X							X			X
MasterGuard	MGB-380T	2		X	X									X
MasterGuard	MGE-380LS	2		X								X		X
Safe-T-Alert	30-441RV / 40-441RV / 40-442RV	2							X	X				12v
Safe-T-Alert	40-411	2							X	X					X
Senco Sensors	ONE	2					X	X						X
SignalOne	12504	2		X									X	X
S-Tech	CRCO-015	2					X						X		X
S-Tech	PS-001N	2					X	X						12v
S-Tech	STCO-100HWFN / STCO-100HWRN	2					X				X				X
S-Tech	STCO-850	2					X	X							X
Universal	CD-9385	2					X				X				X
Universal	CD-9590	2					X							X	X
Universal	CD-9685	2					X	X							X
Universal	CD-9775	2	X				X							X
Universal	SS-785	2	X								X				X
USI Electric	1213	2	X								X				X
USI Electric	7385	2					X				X				X
USI Electric	7685	2					X	X							X
USI Electric	CD-9590	2					X							X	X
American Sensors	470B / SA388	1		X										X
American Sensors	CO1100G	1					X							X
American Sensors	CO800 / CO810	1					X								X
American Sensors	LP200 / LP400 / LP643	1								X					X
American Sensors	LP401A	1								X				12v
American Sensors	LP405A	1								X					12v
American Sensors	NG200 / NG400 / NG643	1							X						X
American Sensors	NG401A	1							X					12v
American Sensors	NG405A	1							X						12v
American Sensors	SA900 / SA901	1	X											10y
American Sensors	SF200 / SA308 / SA310 / SA318 / SA320	1	X											X
Aprilaire	1800	1					X							X
Atwood Mobile Products	37683	1					X							X
Atwood Mobile Products	37063 / 37104 / 37105 / 37106 / 37761 / 37762	1								X				12v
BRK	2002	1		X										X
BRK	4000LB / 83R / 83RN	1	X											X
BRK	4010YR	1	X											10y
BRK	CO2120PN	1					X								X
BRK	CO3000B	1					X							X
CCI Controls	3400 (DC or AC)	1					X							12v	X
CCI Controls	7719 / 7730 / 7740 / 7770 / 7771 / 7773	1								X				12v
DuPont	CO808	1					X							X
DuPont	PS131	1	X												X
Everday	ECG-983L	1								X				12v
Everday	ECG-983N	1							X					12v
Everday	ECG-986L	1								X				24v
Everday	ECG-986N	1							X					24v
Everday	ECO-983	1					X							12v
Everday	M-330	1					X							X
Everday	SD-360	1		X										10y
Everday	SD-728 / SD-733 / SD-738	1		X										X
Everday	SD-728-A2 / SD-738-A	1		X											X
Everday	SD-738-C	1		X										12v
Fireboy Xintex	CMD-1M-9V / CMD-1MR-9V	1					X							X
Fireboy Xintex	CMD-2M / CMD-3M / CMD-4MR	1					X							12v
FireX	A / B / C / CC / 4003 / 461 / 462 / 465 / 4651 / 465C	1	X											X
FireX	COE-B / FADCM-B / 10200 / 10200C / 12200 / 12200C	1					X							X
FireX	COQ1 / 6030 / 6080	1					X								X
FireX	PB / CPBC / 4006 / 480 / 480C	1		X										X
First Alert	FCD2BN / FCD2CN / FCD2N / FCD2NP / CO600	1					X								X
First Alert	FCD3BN / FCD3N / CO400	1					X							X
First Alert	SA10YR / SA97 / SA97B / SA340CN / SA305CN3	1	X											10y
First Alert	SA300 / SA303 / SA305 / SA67 / SA67B / SA87 / SA87B / SA88 / SA90 / SA90B / SA303CN3 / SA300CN2 / SA300CN3 / FG888D / FG888CL	1	X											X
First Alert	SA710 / SA710CN	1		X										X
First Alert	SA710LCN	1		X										10y
GE Security	560NS / 562NS	1		X										X
Kidde	0910 / 900-0136 / 21005117	1	X											10y
Kidde	0913 / 0914 / 0914E / 0915 / 0915K / 0916 / 0916K / 900-0159 / 440374 / 440375	1	X											X
Kidde	KN-COB-B / 9CO5 / 900-0090	1					X							X
Kidde	KN-COB-DP-H / 900-0107	1					X								X
Kidde	PE9 / 440378	1		X										X
Kingdun	HS-101 / HS-104 / KD-107 / KD-108 / HS-103A	1		X										X
Kingdun	KD-106	1					X								X
Kingdun	KD-106C	1					X							X
MasterGuard	MGB-380	1		X										X
MasterGuard	MG-CO/2000	1					X							X
Quantum Guardian	QG-100	1					X							X
Safe-T-Alert	60-511 / 60-521 / 60-531	1					X								X
Safe-T-Alert	60-541 / 60-542	1					X							12v
Safe-T-Alert	SA 668S / SA 668M	1	X											X
S-Tech	PS-002N / PSM-011	1					X							12v
S-Tech	STCH-1000	1							X						X
S-Tech	STCO-058 / STCO-100HN	1					X								X
S-Tech	STCO-300	1					X							X
S-Tech	STCP-1000	1								X					X
S-Tech	STCP-4000 (DC or AC)	1								X				12v	12v
UltraGuard	12SIR	1					X							12v
Universal	CD-9000	1					X							X
Universal	CD-9585	1					X								X
Universal	SS-376	1	X											3y
Universal	SS-770 / SS-775	1	X											X
Universal	SS-876	1	X											10y
Universal	SS-901	1		X										X
USI Electric	7585	1					X								X
USI Electric	1122L	1	X											10y
USI Electric	1223L / 1227L / SS-770	1	X											X
USI Electric	CD-9000	1					X							X
USI Electric	SS-901	1		X										X

Each alarm's score is simply a count of the number of life saving features it incorporates. Many alarms have special features such as a remote silence function, easy access battery door, quick connect power harness, etc. that are nice to have, but don't really save lives, and so are not represented here. A 12 is a perfect score. Basically don't waste your money on any that score below a 4.

There are two basic types of sensors used in smoke detectors. Ionization type detectors are better at detecting the small (less than 1 micron) smoke particles from fast flaming fires, while photoelectric type detectors are better at detecting the relatively large smoke particles from slow smoldering fires.

Heat detectors react to the heat emitted by a fire, rather than the smoke. Again, there are two basic types. Fixed temperature detectors alarm at 135° fahrenheit. Rate of rise (ROR) detectors alarm when the temperature rises more than 15° fahrenheit in less than a minute.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can kill without warning. Several localities have lately passed legislation requiring CO detectors near sleeping areas. Once detected however, if the alarm does not indicate the concentration of CO in the air (ppm) then the best course of action is not always evident. This information is normally given on a LCD display, however talking alarms can also simply say it.

Natural Gas (methane) and LP gas (propane) leaks can have explosive consequences. Early detection is critical to allow sufficient time for evacuation. Note that although many alarms detect both gases, methane rises while propane settles, so depending upon your placement the alarm may only be effective in detecting one or the other.

In larger homes the alarm that detects a problem can be too far away for everyone to hear. Connecting multiple alarms together allows them all to alarm when any of them detect a problem. Note that many alarms will only connect to others of the same type.

Alarms with a built in light can help you see where you are going through the thick smoke of a fire.

No one can be expected to memorize the different sounds every alarm in their home can generate. Talking alarms allow you to immediately know what is causing the alarm, helping you to determine the correct course of action to save your life and the lives of your family.

Nearly a thousand people are killed each year in the US because the batteries in their smoke detectors are dead or missing. Connecting the alarm to the household electricity ("AC") can mitigate this risk. However, fires can cause the loss of power to the alarms. Having a battery ("DC") as well as an electrical connection allows the alarm to activate even when the power is out. Every alarm has to get power somehow, so alarms are only given a point here if they support redundant power sources. Devices designed to run off of 12v DC for mobile use are designated as such. Some devices have internal lithium batteries that cannot be replaced. The number of years the battery should last is noted for these devices.

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The information on this website is provided with no guarantee of accuracy or completeness.