04/28/2026
The Connecticut State Fire Marshal’s Office (OSFM), within the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) are warning residents about the growing availability of non-listed fire safety products being sold both online and in retail stores across the state. These products include portable fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms that have not been tested and certified to nationally recognized safety standards.
Fire safety devices are critical life-saving tools. However, non-listed or improperly marked products may fail to perform as intended in an emergency.
“Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms are often the first line of defense in an emergency,” said State Fire Marshal Lauri Volkert. “When these devices have not been tested and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, there is no assurance that they will operate properly when lives depend on them. A device that fails to activate or extinguish a fire can have tragic consequences.”
Under Connecticut law, it is illegal to sell or offer for sale portable fire extinguishers that have not been tested, listed, and rated as satisfactory for their intended purpose by a nationally recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the State Fire Marshal. In addition, the Connecticut State Fire Safety Code requires that smoke alarms be listed in accordance with UL 217 and that carbon monoxide alarms be listed in accordance with UL 2034.
What Consumers Should Look For
Consumers are urged to carefully inspect fire safety products before purchasing. Approved devices should:
Display the official mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL, ETL, or FM.
o Learn about UL Listing
https://www.ul.com
o Learn about ETL (Intertek) Listing
https://www.intertek.com/marks/etl/
o Learn about FM Approvals
https://www.fmapprovals.com
https://youtu.be/DyZIR5IHONM?si=KBEGkrSPJ3X5hl4v
Before you buy a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, or fire extinguisher, take a few seconds to check the label. Some products sold online and in stores hav...
