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 northeastern Illinois, United States. It is located along the Fox River (Illinois River tributary), Fox River west of Chicago. It is the List of municipalities in Illinois, second-most populous city in Illinois, with a popul ...
, with a production plant in Juarez, Mexico. Products sold with the brand include
carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO) is a poisonous, flammable gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the si ...
detectors,
smoke alarms,
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
flashlights and
fire escape 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
*1964- Began commercial manufacturing of the first battery-powered
smoke detector
*1967-
Pittway began manufacturing the alarms
*1974-
Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co., commonly known as Sears ( ), is an American chain of department stores and online retailer founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck and reincorporated in 1906 by Richard Sears and Julius Rosen ...
begins selling the BRK model SS-74R battery powered smoke alarm
*1992-Sold to T.H. Lee & Associates
*1998-Sold to
Sunbeam Corporation
*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.
*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'' Editor's Choice Award for SA302
*2001 ''
Good Housekeeping'' "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.
On September 4, 1992, BRK recalled all hardwired smoke alarms under the series 1839I and 2839I due to testing programs determining that corrosion could form on the alarm horn's electrical contacts, causing the piezo to fail to make any noise.
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