Counterfeit Alarms Are on the Rise. Here’s How to Avoid Dangerous Fakes

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are essential for home safety, delivering early warnings that save lives. But a growing threat, counterfeit fire safety devices, is putting more families at risk. As online shopping and global supply chains grow, so does the market for these substandard, potentially dangerous products. Understanding the risks and knowing how to help protect your home is more important than ever.

In 2024 alone, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1,388,000 fires in the US. These fires caused an estimated 3,920 civilian deaths, 11,780 civilian injuries, and $19 billion in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Genuine, tested smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. An NFPA study found that almost three out of five home fire deaths (41%) are caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms, and 16% occurred in properties where smoke alarms failed to operate.

Counterfeit products, on the other hand, undermine the safety net we depend on in emergencies. To ensure your home is truly protected, always look for alarms that have been certified by nationally recognized testing laboratories, such as UL Solutions or Intertek.

Unfortunately, some unsafe smoke alarms display counterfeit certification labels. In 2022, UL Solutions issued a public notice about combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms with unauthorized UL marks. These counterfeit products had not actually been tested for safety, making their reliability unknown. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also regularly recalls or warns against counterfeit and non-compliant alarms, many of which continue to enter the market via online platforms and third-party sellers.

Fire officials in Massachusetts and California have recently found more counterfeit alarms during home inspections. Many were purchased online and unable to detect hazards as advertised. The problem affects not just individual consumers: in 2011, more than 18,000 counterfeit smoke alarms were distributed for free in Atlanta as part of the Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program.

The Danger of Counterfeit Devices

In order to conform to safety standards, alarms undergo rigorous testing to ensure they work when you need them most. Counterfeit units, however, often fall far short of these standards and can pose a serious risk to residents. CPSC’s testing of the counterfeit alarms distributed in Atlanta found that many did not respond within an adequate time for life safety, and others did not respond at all. It’s vital to choose only authentic, safety-certified smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for your home.

How to Spot a Counterfeit Alarm

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are essential for home safety, delivering early warnings that save lives. But a growing threat, counterfeit fire safety devices, is putting more families at risk.

Watch Out for These Signs

• No brand name or certification mark
• Misspelled words or blurry pictures and text on packaging, products, and online listings
• Terms like “approved” or “pending” instead of “listed” or “classified”
• No manual or customer support contact

How to Stay Safer at Home

• Buy only from trusted, well-known brands and retailers.
• Choose alarms certified to ULSE standards: UL 217 for smoke alarms, and UL 2034 for CO alarms.
• Look for certification marks such as the UL Mark from UL Solutions, or the ETL Listed Mark from Intertek.
• Avoid deals that seem too good to be true, especially from unfamiliar sellers.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years; replace CO and combination CO/smoke alarms every 5–7 years.
• Install smoke and CO alarms on every level of your home, in every bedroom, and outside sleeping areas.
• Test alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions, at least twice per year. If the testing sound is weak or there isn’t a sound, it’s time to replace the batteries or the whole device, if it’s a sealed-battery alarm.

The Bottom Line

Counterfeit alarms put lives at risk by failing at the most critical moments. Take a moment to check your smoke and CO alarms. Ensure they’re genuine, properly certified, and in good working order.