Smoke alarms
We tested 20 models to see which respond fastest to smoke.
Orca
OM107H-LS
recommended
Avg price
$25
Test results
- 65Ease of use
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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
$25
- Alarm type
Photoelectric
- Noise (dBA)
96
- Battery type
Sealed lithium
- Size
Standard
Features
- Battery life (years)
10
- Alarm life (years)
10
- Warranty (yrs)
10
- Hush period (min)
9
- Carbon monoxide alarm
- Alarms can be linked
- Voice alerts
More info
- Notes
-
- Availability
-
Orca brand did not last one year let alone 10 years!
Pros
Big hush button, nothing much else going for it.
Cons
Of four Orca's, 3 would go off during the night as if I had a fire. I would hush then a few minutes later, the same thing. Swapped out in Dec 2019, deinstalled in March, May & June 2020, barely six months later. These 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. Very unreliable. I am now trying Goldair brand. I've been labelling the units for dates I purchased and kept receipts although how ironic, the actual receipt ink faded to nothing on one!
Recommend it?
No, this product has too many drawbacks.
Rita M.
Used 3 - 6 months