Health Canada Recalls Several Smoke Alarm Models Over Safety Concerns
Patrick D Costa
Health Canada has issued a recall for several smoke alarm models after identifying potential safety risks that could prevent the devices from functioning properly during a fire emergency. The federal health agency warned that the affected alarms may fail to detect smoke, putting households at risk.
In a recall notice released Thursday, Health Canada said the affected products include three models: the PGST Independent Smoke Detector Sensor Fire Alarm System (model S11D-EN), the Photoelectric Smoke Alarm (model PG-S11), and the GauTone Independent Smoke Alarm Fire Protection Smoke Detector (model GT-441B-1).
According to the agency, hundreds of these devices have been distributed across Canada. Officials are urging consumers who own any of the recalled smoke alarms to stop using them immediately and dispose of them in accordance with local hazardous waste disposal guidelines.
Health Canada noted that some of the recalled alarms particularly the PGST and GauTone photoelectric smoke detectors were previously sold through the online marketplace AliExpress. The agency’s testing and evaluation program determined that the products may not comply with Canada’s Residential Detectors Regulations, which set standards for smoke detection devices used in homes.
All of the recalled smoke alarms were manufactured in China. Health Canada also highlighted that the products do not display a recognized Canadian certification mark, raising concerns about their reliability.
Without proper certification, it remains uncertain whether the alarms will activate when exposed to smoke or fire. Officials warned that this uncertainty could create a serious fire safety hazard if residents rely on devices that fail to alert them during an emergency.
Health Canada is reminding consumers to carefully check for certification marks when purchasing safety devices. Products lacking recognized Canadian certification may not meet national performance standards and could malfunction or fail entirely, increasing the risk of injury or property damage during a fire.
Consumers are encouraged to verify the safety and certification of smoke detectors before installing them in their homes to ensure reliable protection.
