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Smoke alarms

We tested 20 models to see which respond fastest to smoke.

Smoke alarm on ceiling
Jobmate MT588H-LB

Jobmate

MT588H-LB

recommended

80

Avg price

$20

Member Reviews

10 member reviews

    Test results

    • 65
      Ease of use

    Why is this free?

    This report is free thanks to funding from Tenancy Services.

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    How we test

    Overall score is based on smouldering and flaming fire sensitivity.

    “Good” or “OK” meant the alarm sounded quickly enough to alert you to danger.
    “Poor” meant the alarm took significantly longer to sound.
    “Extreme” sensitivity meant the alarm sounded so quickly they are more likely to issue false alarms.

    Ease of use includes instructions and ease of installation.

    See "About our test" for more information.

    Noise is measured in a quiet room 3m from the alarm.

    Price is from a March 2018 price survey.

    More test results

    • Smouldering fire sensitivity

      Good

    • Flaming fire sensitivity

      Good

    Model

    • Avg price

      $20

    • Alarm type

      Photoelectric

    • Noise (dBA)

      91

    • Battery type

      Sealed lithium

    • Size

      Standard

    Features

    • Battery life (years)

      10

    • Alarm life (years)

      10

    • Warranty (yrs)

      10

    • Hush period (min)

      10

    • Carbon monoxide alarm

    • Alarms can be linked

    • Voice alerts

    More info

    • Notes

      -

    • Availability

      Mitre10 only.

    Member reviews

    10 Member reviews

    Jobmate brand smoke alarm

    Pros

    Lasted the longest, only one of four units lasted six years, finally went off without any good reason in June 2020.

    Cons

    Of four Jobmate, 3 required replacing within last 3 years, the last taken down this month, due to expire 2024. This brand were replacements from other photoelectric 10 year long life brands that had also failed. I'm left with lots of different holes in the ceiling depending on the size of their ceiling plates. Out of maybe 4 different types in the last 8 years, this was probably more reliable but still none have reached the 10 year mark!

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Rita M.

    Used 6 months or more

    10-Year Long Life Battery lasts 5 years.

    Pros

    Easy to install and seemed to work fine for 5 years.

    Cons

    I bought the Warrior (now JobMate) MT588H-LB twin pack from Mitre10 in Feb 2015 with their 10-year battery life warranty. Both units recently started emitting the single beep "battery low" warning, within a little over 5 years of use.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Paul S.

    Used 6 months or more

    Good value if you get one that works, poor quality control

    Pros

    Work well and they last.
    Not over sensitive, but also detect when needed. Great value.

    Cons

    Poor quality control as about 25% of these seem to fail early, within a year.
    The branding has changed between Warrior and JobMate.

    Recommend it?

    Maybe, it depends on what you're after.

    Andy C.

    Used 6 months or more

    Failed after a year

    Pros

    Purchased these for our house on the strength of Consumer review

    Cons

    we've had two of these fail after about one year. By fail, I mean they alarm without reason. Regardless of it they can be returned, you don't want a alarm that goes off without reason. Pay a bit more and get a decent one.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    David P.

    Used 6 months or more

    Do not buy

    Pros

    Look good and sound good with 10 year battery but see cons

    Cons

    Randomly goes off and you can’t turn it off ... my husband ended up smashing it at 2am to turn the alarm off!! Don’t buy they go off frequently!

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Alison H.

    Used 1 month or less

    Don’t use!!!!! See cons!!!!!!!!

    Pros

    None!

    Cons

    We have bought 20-30 of theses for rentals. They fail randomly. They go off when too cold. Mitre 10 no longer sell this or the warrior brand. I’ve taken them back and they have been fab! At refund and replace. Also the 10 year date can’t be seen until u open it. Some were 2026! So u only get 8 yrs!

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Gael L.

    Used 6 months or more

    Unreliable

    Pros

    Reasonable price easy to install and 10year guarantee

    Cons

    Have installed in 4 houses and have had 2 failures where alarms keep going off and reset 3 times before cutting the power supply to deactivate as battery built in.

    Recommend it?

    Maybe, it depends on what you're after.

    John R.

    Used 6 months or more

    Smoke Alarm

    Pros

    No pros.

    Cons

    Alarm failed after 2 1/2 years. Was beeping intermittently. Did not keep receipt or would have returned. Expiry date was 2026. Would not purchase the brand again.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Sharon B.

    Used 6 months or more

    Reliable

    Pros

    I have installed these in 6 properties. I installed as new alarm and as a replacement for another 10 year brand that kept giving false alarms. I haven't had any issues at all with false alarms and all are still installed and tested regularly over last 1-3 years.

    Cons

    Alarm would be better if it were louder. Expiry date hard to read

    Recommend it?

    Yes, I recommend this product.

    Joanna S.

    Used 6 months or more

    Purchaser reviews on Mitre 10 website suggest this is a lemon

    Pros

    nil

    Cons

    2 user reviews at Mitre 10 online report problems with this model - goes off randomly from installation (so unlikely to be due to dust etc)

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Fiona L.

    Used

    See all 10 member reviews