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First Alert SA320AUS Dual review

Dual Sensor smoke alarm. Priced at $39.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

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CHOICE Expert rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

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The product's best features and benefits

Bad points

Drawbacks or issues you need to know about
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CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

Our overall score consist of: Performance (80%) and Ease of use (20%).

Performance score View more details.

Based on comparative speed of response under similar smoke levels in a range of tests. Made up of 'real fire' scenarios 70% (made up of smouldering foam 40%, burning wood 20%, smouldering wood 20%, and burning oil 20%) and nuisance smoke scenarios 30%.

Ease of use score View more details.

Based on the ease of installing the battery, installing the alarm, and the supplied instructions, weighted equally.

Smouldering foam score View more details.

Based on the comparative speed of response to smouldering polyurethane foam. The faster the alarm detects this type of fire, the higher the score.

Smouldering wood score View more details.

Based on the comparative speed of response to smouldering wood. The faster the alarm detects this type of fire, the higher the score.

Burning wood score View more details.

Based on the comparative speed of response to burning (flaming) wood. The faster the alarm detects this type of fire, the higher the score.

Burning oil score View more details.

Based on the comparative speed of response to burning (flaming) cooking oil. The faster the alarm detects this type of fire, the higher the score.

Nuisance alarm score View more details.

Based on the comparative speed of response to nuisance sources ('false alarms') from cooking toast, smouldering cooking oil and cooking a hamburger patty. The faster the alarm detects this type of fire, the lower the score. Models with high scores are less likely to go off due to nuisance smoke/fumes, such as from cooking.

Recommended View more details.

We recommend models that score at least 70% overall. The score is based on how well they perform compared to the others on test. We also set a minimum score for the smouldering foam test: photoelectric alarms must score at least 80% in this test, as this is exactly the sort of smoke they should be quick to detect. Ionisation and dual sensor models must score at least 70% in the smouldering foam test. Ionisation models are less effective at detecting this sort of smoke, and for dual sensor models, fitting both types of detector into one unit may involve a compromise in the internal space; but in either case they should be at least good at detecting this common fire type.

Availability View more details.

'Tested' models are currently available. 'Discontinued' models are no longer available, but may still be included in the review so you can see how they compare.

Discontinued model
Intended use View more details.

The manufacturer's recommendation for the best rooms to install this alarm.

All rooms
Battery type View more details.

Regular 9V or AA batteries need to be replaced annually. 10-year lithium batteries last the life of the smoke alarm and don't need to be replaced. Mains-powered units have a battery back-up in case of power outages.

AA x 2
Warranty (years) View more details.

The warranty period (in years). Alarms should last for 10 years so a 10-year warranty is best.

10
Origin View more details.

The stated country of manufacture.

Mexico
Contact View more details.

The manufacturer or distributor. Note that some distributors don't list all their brands and models on their site.

altamonte.com.au
Hush button View more details.

Silences the alarm temporarily. Useful in case of a nuisance alarm.

Yes
Interconnectable View more details.

With an interconnectable model, you can connect multiple alarms (usually by wire) so that when one goes off, all go off. 

No
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