New smoke alarms designed for looks as well as function

Published 2:36 pm Friday, August 30, 2013

Fire protection has taken on a whole new look.

First Alert’s new Atom and Maximum Protection alarms are designed with aesthetics in mind. They’re less bulky than traditional alarms, so they blend better with a home’s decor.

The Atom is a compact smoke and fire alarm that comes in finishes including wood grain, stainless steel and bronze. It has a suggested retail price of $39.99.

The Maximum Protection line comprises both smoke alarms and combined smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, all of them less than an inch thick. One of the combined smoke-CO alarms has a recorded human voice to alert occupants to a threat and its location. The Maximum Protection alarms range in price from $19.99 to $64.99.