Updated 6/18/2013

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

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Manufacturer Model number(s) A brief description of each column is below the table.
Score Smoke Heat Gas Connect Light Talking Power
Ion Photo Fixed ROR CO ppm NG LP DC AC
First Alert GCO1CN / GCO1B 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
Kidde 21007624 / 900-0213 / KN-COPE-I 5   X    X     X   X X X
BRK SC7010BV 5   X    X     X   X X X
American Sensors 770LBX 4 X X        X    X X
BRK 7020B 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
BRK SC7010B 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  
First Alert SA773CN 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 GN-503 / GN-503F 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 PI2010 / PI2000 / 442006 4 X X        X    X X
Kidde 21007426 / 900-0232 / KN-COPF-i 4      X X    X    7y X
MasterGuard MGEB-400T 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 HS80504 / 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 / CO614CP1 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
Gentex CO1209 / CO1209F 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 / i5000 / i4618 3 X         X    X X
Kidde 21007288 / KN-SMFM-i 3 X         X    10y 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 / KN-COP-DP-LS / 900-0234 3      X X       X X
Kidde KN-COSM-B / 900-0102 / KN-COSM-XTR-B / 900-0216 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  
Family Safety Products HS80501 2        X X      X
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 / SA302CN / SA320CN 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 / 900-0193 / KN-COB-DP-LS / 900-0235 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 / KN-COPP-B-LS / 900-0230 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  
MasterGuard GS-500 2        X X      X
ProTech 7035 / 7035-SL / 8505 2      X X       X  
ProTech 8010 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 / COS-200 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  
Del-Rain Lifetime / DCO-20 1      X         X
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 / KN-COB-B-LS / 900-0233 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  
ProTech 7010 / 7020 / 7050-PL / 7080 1      X         X
ProTech 7030-SL 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 when room temperature exceeds a specified point (commonly 135° fahrenheit). Rate of rise (ROR) detectors alarm when the room temperature rises at more than a specified rate (typically 15° fahrenheit in less than a minute).

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that kills approximately 2,100 people each year in the US. 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. Though this prevents disabling the alarm by removing the battery, it also limits the alarm's lifetime. The number of years the battery should last is noted for these devices.


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