First Alert is the retail brand of American safety equipment manufacturer BRK Brands, Inc., established in 1976 and based in

Aurora, Illinois Aurora is a city in the Chicago metropolitan area located partially in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located primarily in DuPage and Kane counties, it is the second most populous city in Illinois, a ...

, with a production plant in Juarez, Mexico. Products sold with the brand include

carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide ( chemical formula CO) is a colorless, poisonous, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the simpl ...

detectors,

smoke alarm A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Smoke detectors are usually housed in plastic enclosures, typically shaped like a disk about in diameter and thick, but shape and size vary. Smoke can be detecte ...

fire extinguisher A fire extinguisher is a handheld active fire protection device usually filled with a dry or wet chemical used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which ha ...

s, and other safety products like

flashlight A flashlight (American English, US, Canadian English, Canada) or torch (British English, UK, Australian English, Australia) is a portable hand-held electric lamp. Formerly, the light source typically was a miniature incandescent light bulb, b ...

s and

fire escape A fire escape is a special kind of emergency exit, usually mounted to the outside of a building or occasionally inside but separate from the main areas of the building. It provides a method of escape in the event of a fire or other emergency th ...

ladders. First Alert supports fire safety in partnership with Safe Kids USA and The United States Fire Administration, providing smoke alarms at reduced cost to low-income families in the United States.

History

* 1958-company created by Burke-Roberts-Kimberlin (BRK) Electronics. The three-man team (Burke-Roberts-Kimberlin) invented the first battery-powered

smoke detector A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. Smoke detectors are usually housed in plastic enclosures, typically shaped like a disk about in diameter and thick, but shape and size vary. Smoke can be detecte ...

*1964- Began commercial manufacturing of the first battery-powered

*1967- Pittway began manufacturing the alarms *1974-

Sears Sears, Roebuck and Co. ( ), commonly known as Sears, is an American chain of department stores founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwald, with what began a ...

begins selling the BRK model SS-74R battery powered smoke alarm *1992-Sold to T.H. Lee & Associates *1998-Sold to

Sunbeam Corporation Sunbeam Products is an American brand that has produced electric home appliances since 1910. Its products have included the Mixmaster mixer, the Sunbeam CG waffle iron, Coffeemaster (1938–1964) and the fully automatic T20 toaster. The compa ...

*2002-American Household, Inc. is formed from Sunbeam Corporation *2005-Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH) purchases American Household, Inc. *2006-BRK Brands/ First Alert becomes part of Jarden Branded Consumables. *2016-Newell Rubbermaid acquires Jarden, including BRK Brands, forming

Newell Brands Newell Brands is an American manufacturer, marketer and distributor of consumer and commercial products. The company's brands and products include Rubbermaid storage and trash containers; home organization and reusable container products; Conti ...

. *2022-Resideo Technologies acquires First Alert

Awards

*2009 DIY, Garden & Housewares "Silver" Industry Award in Security & Safety- Tundra K, Europe*2008 Chicago Innovation Award- Tundra *2007 International Housewares Show "Best of Show"- Tundra *2006 Golden Hammer Gold Level Award Winner *2005 Golden Hammer Gold Level Award Winner *2004 Golden Hammer Gold Level Award Winner *2003 Golden Hammer Gold Level Award Winner *2002 SPARC Award Winner *2001 ''

Popular Mechanics ''Popular Mechanics'' (sometimes PM or PopMech) is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do-it-yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation and transportation o ...

'' Editor's Choice Award for SA302 *2001 ''

Good Housekeeping ''Good Housekeeping'' is an American women's magazine featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, and health, as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Hous ...

'' "Good Buy" Award for SA302 *1999 CHAMPS Award for winning marketing strategy in the consumer category *1999 EFFIE Award for "Be Safe...Replace" campaign, most effective advertising campaign in the health aids category *1997 Pinnacle Award for the Standard for Excellence

Recalls

First Alert branded fire extinguishers model FE1A10G with serial numbers beginning with RH, RK, RL, RP, RT, RU, or RW were recalled. Fire Extinguishers were sold from September 1999 through September 2000. In May 2006, First Alert combination smoke alarms were recalled due to draining batteries rapidly.

References

External links

*{{official website Companies based in DuPage County, Illinois Manufacturing companies established in 1958 Fire protection Manufacturing companies based in Illinois 1958 establishments in Illinois 1992 mergers and acquisitions 1998 mergers and acquisitions 2005 mergers and acquisitions