The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a product safety report for an unbranded carbon monoxide alarm, case number 2112-0591, with a recall and alert date of 28 January 2022. The report was published on 27 March 2022. The alert was notified by Local Authority Trading Standards and carries a risk level of serious1.
The alarm is described as an unbranded carbon monoxide alarm for domestic use with an LCD ppm display, powered by 3x15.V AA batteries and packaged in black and orange cardboard packaging. It was sold under ASIN X001FDH8EZ and originated in China1.
The report states that the product does not sufficiently detect carbon monoxide at the minimum permissible levels of 55ppm and 110ppm as required by the standard, and presents a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. The corrective action recorded is removal of the listing by the online marketplace (Amazon) and warning consumers of the risks1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Unbranded carbon monoxide alarm, LCD ppm display, 3x15.V AA batteries |
| ASIN | X001FDH8EZ |
| Country of origin | China |
| Hazard | Serious risk of asphyxiation; insufficient detection at 55ppm and 110ppm |
| Regulations breached | General Product Safety Regulations 2005 |
| Corrective action | Removal of the listing by Amazon; warning to consumers |
| Recall/alert date | 28 January 2022 |
| Report published | 27 March 2022 |
Why it matters for households
A carbon monoxide alarm that does not respond at the levels set by the standard may fail to warn occupants of a leak from a boiler, cooker, fire or other fuel-burning appliance. The OPSS describes the hazard as a serious risk of asphyxiation and carbon monoxide poisoning1. The report does not state how many units were sold or the period over which they were offered, and no figure for units in UK homes has been reported1.
The OPSS states that owners should stop using the product immediately and seek alternative carbon monoxide detection, and contact the distributor they purchased it from to request redress1. The listing has been removed by Amazon1. The report does not name a replacement product or set out a refund process beyond contacting the distributor.
Households wanting to check the placement or behaviour of an alarm they already own can refer to the guide on where to put a carbon monoxide alarm, and to why a carbon monoxide alarm is beeping. The site's home emergencies hub covers wider household planning.
What happens next
The report records the recall and alert date as 28 January 2022 and publication as 27 March 2022, with the Amazon listing removed1. No further steps, follow-up notice or deadline has been reported1.
