A particular type of smoke detector has led to several scary incidents and fires in recent years. Now the insurance company If warns:
– Many people have no idea about this fire hazard, and should change their smoke detectors as soon as possible, says communications manager Sigmund Clementz at If.
Recently there was a fire in a smoke detector in Alta. It is suspected that the design weakness in the detector has also led to this fire, according to several media.
Does your smoke alarm have a 9 volt battery, but lacks a battery pad to help you put the battery in the right way? Then you should replace the alarm as quickly as possible, emphasizes If.
In recent years, there have been several cases where smoke detectors have become very hot and short-circuited. Several times there has been smoke. Some whistleblowers have ended up as charred remains with black scorch marks on the roof.
Sold under various names
In December 2020, the Directorate for Community Safety and Preparedness (DSB) and the Directorate for Building Quality therefore came together and warned about the weakness of many smoke detectors.
It was then estimated that around 650,000 smoke detectors should be replaced. The smoke detectors have been sold under various brand names in chain stores and online.
– We know that many changed smoke alarms back then. Nevertheless, we unfortunately have reason to believe that there are still large numbers of detectors that have the design weakness and are still installed out there, says Sigmund Clementz in If.
– Smoke detectors are supposed to prevent fire tragedies, not contribute to them, he says.
240,000 notifications to home owners
– Our biggest concern is that there may be smoke detectors that do not work as they should, because the battery is inserted the wrong way. It could have serious consequences if a fire were to start at night when everyone in the house is sleeping, he says.
240,000 customers with home insurance in the insurance company If received an email at the beginning of 2021 with information on how to check whether they have the weakness in smoke detectors in their home.
– We saw it as a social duty to notify our customers about this. Unfortunately, it appears that it is necessary to warn the public once again about these flammable smoke detectors, says Clementz.
Sigmund Clementz
Communications Manager Sigmund Clementz in If
