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Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm Solutions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Solutions for Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Hard of hearing or deaf individuals may find it difficult or impossible to hear their smoke and/or CO alarms when they are triggered. A smoke or carbon monoxide detector can trigger another device that will provide a visual or vibration response, providing a safe alternative to an audible alarm. This will alert anyone who is profoundly deaf, has their hearing aids out, is sleeping, or can't hear an alarm for other reasons.
An easy and inexpensive alternative is to install a sound detector such as the Sonic Alert SA360, mounted close to the alarm unit. Sound sensors have a sensitivity control so that the closer the unit is to the beeping alarm, the lower the sensitivity control can be set. This prevents the SA360 from being triggered by other sounds. Some experimentation will be necessary in order to determine the most appropriate location and sensitivity setting.
The SA360 has an electrical outlet, which permits attachment of a lamp or bed shaker. When the SA360 is triggered, it will activate a device connected to the outlet, causing the lamp to flash or the bed shaker to vibrate. It will also send a signal through a house's electrical wiring, allowing you to use Remote Receivers for notification in multiple rooms. A Remote Receiver permits connection of a lamp or other signaling device (or has a signaler built in), which will activate when it receives a signal from the SA360. A user can connect multiple Remote Receivers, and so be alerted in multiple rooms, or by multiple means (a flashing light during the day, a bed shaker at night, etc.). There are many different models of remote receiver available, so a user can customize a system to suit their individual needs, whether that be a certain pitch of very loud sound, a certain light, or any other requirement. We have listed some different receivers below, or contact us with questions.
The actual equipment and associated costs for a particular installation will depend on how far away the individual to be alerted is situated from the smoke and/or CO detector, the type of alerting indication desired and in how many rooms the indication is to occur.
A summary of the Sonic Alert equipment and links to costs:
Sound Sensor SA360
Placed near the existing smoke and/or CO detector and plugged into an AC outlet. Connect a lamp or bed shaker for notification.
Remote Receiver SA201
Plug it into an outlet, and it will activate an attached lamp or the SA120V bed shaker when it is triggered by the SA360.
Super Shaker Bed Vibrator SA120
A powerful bed shaker designed to be plugged into the SA201 Remote Receiver for a vibration alert.
Remote Horn SA100
Plug it into an outlet, and it will sound a very loud, low-pitched horn when it is triggered by the SA360.
Sonic Blink BL300
Plug it into an outlet, and it will flash a bright, powerful strobe when it is triggered by the SA360.
Sonic Boom Alarm Clock 835966
This alarm clock does double-duty as a receiver for the SA360. It comes with its own bed shaker, a very loud audible alarm with adjustable pitch, and can trigger a flashing lamp. Any combination of these will activate when the alarm rings and/or when triggered by the SA360.
It is also very important to test this associated alerting equipment along with your smoke and CO detectors. While this method is very effective at detecting the sound emitted from a standard carbon monoxide or smoke alarm and alerting you to any danger, it is preferable where possible to use a complete system designed to detect CO or smoke and provide a visual and/or vibrotactile response. SoundBytes provides a collection of accessible detectors.
An easy and inexpensive alternative is to install a sound detector such as the Sonic Alert SA360, mounted close to the alarm unit. Sound sensors have a sensitivity control so that the closer the unit is to the beeping alarm, the lower the sensitivity control can be set. This prevents the SA360 from being triggered by other sounds. Some experimentation will be necessary in order to determine the most appropriate location and sensitivity setting.
The SA360 has an electrical outlet, which permits attachment of a lamp or bed shaker. When the SA360 is triggered, it will activate a device connected to the outlet, causing the lamp to flash or the bed shaker to vibrate. It will also send a signal through a house's electrical wiring, allowing you to use Remote Receivers for notification in multiple rooms. A Remote Receiver permits connection of a lamp or other signaling device (or has a signaler built in), which will activate when it receives a signal from the SA360. A user can connect multiple Remote Receivers, and so be alerted in multiple rooms, or by multiple means (a flashing light during the day, a bed shaker at night, etc.). There are many different models of remote receiver available, so a user can customize a system to suit their individual needs, whether that be a certain pitch of very loud sound, a certain light, or any other requirement. We have listed some different receivers below, or contact us with questions.
The actual equipment and associated costs for a particular installation will depend on how far away the individual to be alerted is situated from the smoke and/or CO detector, the type of alerting indication desired and in how many rooms the indication is to occur.
A summary of the Sonic Alert equipment and links to costs:
Sound Sensor SA360
Placed near the existing smoke and/or CO detector and plugged into an AC outlet. Connect a lamp or bed shaker for notification.
Remote Receiver SA201
Plug it into an outlet, and it will activate an attached lamp or the SA120V bed shaker when it is triggered by the SA360.
Super Shaker Bed Vibrator SA120
A powerful bed shaker designed to be plugged into the SA201 Remote Receiver for a vibration alert.
Remote Horn SA100
Plug it into an outlet, and it will sound a very loud, low-pitched horn when it is triggered by the SA360.
Sonic Blink BL300
Plug it into an outlet, and it will flash a bright, powerful strobe when it is triggered by the SA360.
Sonic Boom Alarm Clock 835966
This alarm clock does double-duty as a receiver for the SA360. It comes with its own bed shaker, a very loud audible alarm with adjustable pitch, and can trigger a flashing lamp. Any combination of these will activate when the alarm rings and/or when triggered by the SA360.
It is also very important to test this associated alerting equipment along with your smoke and CO detectors. While this method is very effective at detecting the sound emitted from a standard carbon monoxide or smoke alarm and alerting you to any danger, it is preferable where possible to use a complete system designed to detect CO or smoke and provide a visual and/or vibrotactile response. SoundBytes provides a collection of accessible detectors.