May 6 2008
After nearly forty years, the smoke alarm has evolved. Developed by Kidde, Silhouette™ is an Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-listed, low-profile smoke alarm with a sleek, modern design and maintenance-free battery. Kidde is part of UTC Fire & Security, a division of United Technologies Corp.
Traditional smoke alarm compared with the new Silhouette low-profile smoke alarm by Kidde.
“Homebuilders and interior designers told us that homeowners want their smoke alarms to be virtually unnoticeable and maintenance-free,” said Chris Rovenstine, vice president of marketing for Kidde Residential and Commercial, a leading manufacturer of fire safety products. “Kidde prides itself on continuing to develop new products, like Silhouette, that address our customers’ needs.”
News Image Targeted to the residential construction and home renovation markets, Silhouette’s low profile protrudes about half an inch from the ceiling, allowing it to blend in with its surroundings.
Once installed, homeowners won’t have to replace the Silhouette smoke alarm’s batteries. The AC- powered alarm contains a sealed lithium battery that will last the life of the unit, offering backup protection during power outages. The battery will recharge automatically once power is restored. At the end of its life, each alarm will emit a chirp to indicate that the unit needs to be replaced. The Silhouette has a limited ten-year warranty. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years.
Silhouette also features Smart Hush™, a simple, one button technology that handles several key operations. Homeowners can test their alarm system or silence an alarm in the event of a non-emergency alert, such as sounding due to cooking.
The Silhouette low-profile smoke alarm easily links with other Kidde devices to create an interconnected system, and complies with general residential building codes. It is available for sale through electrical distributors nationwide. Consumers can also inquire through their builder and/or contractor.
Kidde plans to add a low-profile carbon monoxide alarm to the Silhouette product line this fall.