ESL Smoke Detectors False alarm should be included in there name and now there is a Major Recall for 2014 models

Back in the 80's one of the few makers of a lower profile smoke detectors was ESL, Electro Signal laboratory's
Most of the other smoke detectors on the market at the time where what we refereed to as high hats which stood 5-6 " off ceiling while the low profile ESL was 2" 

My customers like many other alarm company customers wanted the lower profile units they just looked better and while some of the ESL smokes I installed have behaved and never falsed this was not the normal seems they worked for a couple years and then nothing but false alarm problems.

One big problem I found was the silver metal heat detector on the unis which triggered from static electric and radio frequencies if they where strong. but even the not heat detector units false alarmed as well.
So like other company's I put the practice in place of  if an ESL smoke falsed it was replaced with a System Sensor smoke which where very stable.
In the 90's ESL was bought and sold several times and they came out with a new design suppose to stop false alarms and while they had a better track record they still had problems the few I tested again some worked fine others just falsed. So I will no longer install them .

The units are still made but now they have had to have a major recall of units made in 2014 after it was found they will not activate in some cases.

ESL, Interlogix Hard-Wired Smoke Alarms Recalled Due to Failure to Alert Consumers of a Fire

Recall date: August 13, 2014

Recall number: 14-255

Recall Summary

Name of product: ESL and Interlogix brand 400/500 series smoke detectors
Hazard:

Radio frequency interference can cause the smoke detectors to fail to alert consumers of a fire.

Remedy:

View Details

Replace

Consumer Contact: Edwards at (800) 655-4497 select option 5, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.edwardsfiresafety.com and click on Contact Us. Interlogix toll-free at (855) 286-8889 select option 2, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.interlogix.com and click on Customer Service for more information.
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Recall Details

Units

About 141,000 in U.S. and 13,000 in Canada

Description

This recall involves thirty-three models of the 400 and 500 series Edwards (ESL)-branded and Interlogix smoke detectors hard-wired into a security system. Edwards and Interlogix smoke detectors are identical. The 2-wire or 4-wire detectors are round, white and measure 6 inches across by 2 inches high. The smoke detectors were made for professional installation and used primarily in commercial buildings, schools, hotels/motels, apartments, dormitories and homes as part of the fire alarm system. Recalled units have date codes 13084 through 14059 with the first two digits representing the year, for example: 13 for 2013 and 14 for 2014; and the last three digits representing the day of the year, for example: 084 is the 84th day of 2013, which is March 25, 2013. The initials ESL, the date code and one of the following model numbers are printed on a label on the back of the detector’s cover and on the product’s packaging.

400 series: 429AT, 429C, 429CAD, 429CRT, 429CST, 429CT, 429CTAD, 449AT, 449C, 449CRT, 449CSRH, 449CSRT, 449CST, 449CSTE, 449CT and 449CTE.

500 Series: 511C, 518C, 521B, 521BXT, 521B-10PKDMP, 521B-10PKG, 521BXT-10PKG, 521BXT-DMP-10PKG, 528B, 528CRXT, 541C, 541C-10PKG, 541CXT, 541CXT-10PK and 548C.

Incidents/Injuries

None.

Remedy

Customers should immediately contact their security or fire system provider to determine if any of their units are included in the recall. If so, they will receive free replacement and free installation of new smoke detectors. Consumers should not take the alarms out of service until the replacement alarm has been installed. Only professional installers should remove and replace these units.

Sold at

Alarm system, security equipment and electrical equipment contractors, dealers and installers for use in fire alarm systems for commercial buildings, hotels/motels, apartments, dormitories and homes from March 2013 to February 2014. The cost of the individual detectors varies between $30 and $50. The cost of the integrated alarm or security systems varies greatly.

Importers

UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation Inc, of Arden Hills, Minn. owns the Interlogix assets. Edwards assets were acquired by Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C. in January 2014. Both importers are units of United Technologies Corp., of Hartford, Conn.

Manufacturer

Fyrnetics Limited of Hong Kong, China.