Edwards Heat Detector Recall Issued Over Failures To Warn Consumers Of Fires

Roughly 85,000 commercial and residential heat detectors have been recalled after the manufacturer recognized the alarms may fail to identify rising temperatures and warn about a potential fire.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Edwards Mechanical Heat Detectors recall on June 17, due to the potential for the devices to fail to activate in sensing elevated temperatures, which could cause a delay in alerting occupants in a commercial or residential building of a fire.

The recall involves certain mechanical heat detectors, which unlike a smoke detector, are designed to identify rising temperatures as part of a professionally installed fire detection system that trigger fire alarms or security panels when elevated temperatures are detected.

Officials are warning customers to immediately contact their installer and to have a backup, functioning smoke detector as a secondary source.

The recall includes approximately 85,000 Edwards Mechanical Heat Detectors mounted to walls or ceilings and are labeled with “135F” and “NOT A LIFE SAFETY DEVICE.” The devices were also marketed and sold for life-safety applications permitted by code such as in elevator shafts, or in lieu of smoke detectors, manual pull stations, or sprinklers in particular settings, or in residential attics or residential garages.

The devices were manufactured in China and imported by Edwards Fire Safety, of Bradenton, Florida. They were sold through Edwards’ distributors, electrical wholesalers, contractors, and fire safety professionals nationwide from January 1979 through May 2018 for between $6 to $7 per unit.

Customers are being asked to contact their fire or security professional installers immediately to schedule a free replacement and installation of the heat detector.

For additional questions or concerns regarding the recall, customers are being asked to contact Edwards Fire Safety at 800-505-5088 or visit them online and navigate to the “Mechanical Heat Detector Information” for more information.