So you’re buying a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide (CO) alarm (or perhaps a combination of the two) for your home?
Good idea.
When you purchase hard-wired or battery-operated electrical appliances at your neighbourhood hardware or big box store, you can take it for granted they are certified to be safe for use in Canada. Canadian certification labels bear the ‘CSA’, ‘ULC’ and CETL’ logos to indicate these products have been assessed by laboratories accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.
But what if you’re making the purchase online?
According to Health Canada, there’s a possibility the item may not be certified to Canadian safety standards. They may not meet Canadian performance standards, they may fail to operate, or they may not operate correctly.
And that could pose a safety risk for you and your family.
“More people are shopping online for consumer products as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Health Canada Product Safety Officer Dennis Kim. “If the product is coming from overseas, it’s important to make sure that it is CSA certified.
“If it’s not, it could pose a safety risk.”
Kim said consumers need to know what to look for when choosing a smoke alarm or CO alarm. The certification label, he added, is essential.
“It’s Health Canada’s duty to ensure products in the market meet quality standards,” said Kim. “Certification labels indicate the product has been tested and meets the appropriate standards.
“If the CSA label is absent, then the product likely doesn’t meet those standards.”
Kim said Health Canada is issuing an advisory to consumers about smoke and CO alarms in an effort to educate them before they make an unwise purchase.
“This is a proactive advisory,” said Kim. “We don’t have statistics on how many uncertified units have been purchased. But the reality is that because so many people are purchasing online, and there is such a proliferation of sellers, the consumer needs to be aware of the potential risks.”
“It’s important to know from whom you are buying, and make sure the seller provides their contact details in case you have questions,” he said. “Be aware that common Canadian online sales platforms may offer access to products sold by third-party sellers that do not operate in Canada, and it may be more difficult to follow up with these sellers.”
He added that if consumers have already purchased a smoke or CO alarm that does not have a recognized certification label, they should immediately replace it with one that does. Disposal of the non-certified electronic product should be disposed of according to the waste requirements of your municipality.
Kim said consumers should follow the manufacturer’s directions for installation, maintenance, testing and replacement of the alarm. He added that local fire departments are a good source of information and assistance on smoke and CO alarms.
Smoke and CO alarms should be tested regularly.
He said if consumers experience any health or safety incidents related to smoke or CO alarms, they are encouraged to report the incident to Health Canada through the agency’s website (www.healthycanadians.gc.ca). Notices of product recalls and other alerts are posted online.
Kim said smoke and CO alarms are essential appliances.
“Imagine having a fire or a CO leak,” said Kim. “It’s distressing enough when a properly-working alarm goes off.
“But the danger and risk is even higher when the alarm doesn’t go off.”