How to Choose a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in Taiwan: the Approval Standard, Type Approval Number, Service Life, and Rental Water Heaters (一氧化碳警報器)
Many renters in Taiwan use gas water heaters in winter and search Shopee for a carbon monoxide alarm. Prices range from a few dozen to over a thousand NT dollars, and the product page usually says only “國際認證” (international certification), so it is hard to tell the listings apart. We checked official Taiwanese sources: the Ministry of the Interior has an approval standard for carbon monoxide alarms and gas leak alarms that sets detection levels and times, alarm volume, the low-battery notice, and labeling on the unit, while the National Fire Agency (NFA) focuses its guidance on the type and location of water heaters. We did not find a buying guide for alarms from the NFA or the BSMI, and we did not find a comparison test. This page summarizes the official material we could find, plus a checklist before ordering on Shopee.
First, the Types of Alarm
| Type | What it detects (per the approval standard) | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon monoxide alarm | The standard's scope includes alarms for carbon monoxide produced by incomplete combustion | A gas water heater with poor exhaust produces carbon monoxide, and this type of alarm detects the carbon monoxide itself |
| Gas leak alarm | The standard's scope includes alarms for leaks of natural gas or LPG | It detects leaking gas, not carbon monoxide, so the two cannot replace each other |
| Combination type | The standard lists carbon monoxide, natural gas, LPG, and combination types as separate kinds | Read the product name closely: carbon monoxide only, or both |
The standard also divides devices by place of use: household, commercial, and dual household-commercial. There is no “best” type. The right choice depends on whether you want to detect carbon monoxide, gas leaks, or both. Smoke (fire) alarms detect something different and are not covered here. The types above come from the approval standard, and this page only summarizes them. It is not product safety advice.
Five Things to Check When Choosing a Carbon Monoxide Alarm
| What to check | What to look at | What often goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
| What it detects and its type | Confirm the product name says carbon monoxide, gas, or both. The standard separates these as different kinds with different uses | Buying a gas leak alarm when you wanted a carbon monoxide alarm |
| Type approval number and labeling on the unit | Under the standard, the unit should carry a durable label with: type name or trademark, date of manufacture, serial number, type approval number, manufacturer, household or commercial use, voltage, service life, and more. The standard's page does not say whether this is mandatory for homes, and we did not find out whether a product like this must have an approval number, so check the product page and the label on the unit when it arrives | The page says only “國際認證”, with no type approval number |
| Alarm volume and low-battery notice | The standard requires an alarm of at least 70 dB at 1 meter, and when battery voltage drops the unit must give a notice of at least 60 dB, lasting at least 72 hours, at least once every 2 minutes. A volume figure on a store page may not be measured under the same conditions, and we did not test it | Looking only at loudness and not asking whether it warns you when the battery is low |
| Service life and battery | The standard requires a stated service life but does not set a number of years on that page. Check the product description or ask the seller how long the sensor and a battery are expected to last rather than guessing | The page does not give the sensor's life, so you do not know when to replace it |
| Warranty and after-sales | Check the store's warranty period, what it covers (batteries are usually consumables and excluded), and the return rules, and save screenshots | Not reading that opened items cannot be returned, and finding out only when it arrives |
Beyond the Alarm: What Matters for Rental Water Heaters (per the NFA)
- Outdoor-type heaters belong outdoors with good ventilation — The NFA says outdoor-type water heaters should be installed only outdoors in a well-ventilated place; indoors or in poorly ventilated places, switch to a forced-exhaust heater that vents exhaust outside, installed by a qualified installer (NFA, “5 principles for installing water heaters”, December 16, 2021).
- Wrong installation locations — The NFA's rental water heater guide lists wrong places for an outdoor-type heater: a balcony enclosed with windows, a stairwell, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Fixes: move it outdoors, switch to a forced-exhaust heater, or switch to an electric water heater. This guide file carries no date.
- Qualified installers and the work label — The guide says gas water heaters should be installed according to law by a qualified installer and carry a work label; installer lists can be looked up on local fire department websites.
- Landlords should provide a correctly installed heater — The guide reminds landlords to provide a correctly installed water heater so tenants are not poisoned by carbon monoxide.
- An alarm does not replace correct installation — Both NFA documents focus on the type and location of the water heater and do not say an alarm can replace them. We do not give safety advice, so for a rental, follow the NFA and your local fire department.
Before You Order, Confirm These
- Confirm whether you want to guard against carbon monoxide, gas leaks, or both, and that the product name says so.
- Check whether the product page shows a type approval number; if not, ask the seller, and check the label on the unit when it arrives.
- Ask the seller about the sensor's service life and how long one battery lasts; if the page does not say, you need to ask.
- If the store offers a first-generation and a second-generation type, ask what the difference is before choosing.
- Read the warranty coverage and return rules, and save screenshots of the store page.
Searching Shopee Taiwan: Mandarin Keywords and What They Mean
Shopee Taiwan uses Mandarin, so searching in English usually gives poor results. Copy the keywords below and paste them into the Shopee search box.
| Keyword / text (Mandarin) | Pinyin | Meaning | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一氧化碳警報器 | yīyǎnghuàtàn jǐngbàoqì | carbon monoxide alarm | The most common search keyword |
| 一氧化碳偵測器 | yīyǎnghuàtàn zhēncèqì | carbon monoxide detector | Another common name on product pages |
| 瓦斯警報器 | wǎsī jǐngbàoqì | gas alarm (gas leak alarm) | Detects leaking gas, not carbon monoxide |
| 熱水器 | rèshuǐqì | water heater | The appliance that is often the source of carbon monoxide in rentals |
| 強制排氣式熱水器 | qiángzhì páiqì shì rèshuǐqì | forced-exhaust water heater | The type the NFA recommends for indoors or poorly ventilated places |
| 使用期限 | shǐyòng qīxiàn | service life | A label the approval standard asks for |
| 電池 | diànchí | battery | A word that appears on product pages |
| 保固 | bǎogù | warranty | The warranty period the seller lists |
| 月銷熱賣 | yuè xiāo rèmài | best sellers this month | A sorting option in Shopee Taiwan search results (the displayed name may change) |
Brand names on packaging are usually in Mandarin too. If you are unsure, use your phone's camera translation (for example Google Translate) on the packaging or the product page and compare it with the table above. This list is a keyword guide, not an official translation, and the wording on a product page may differ.
Show this to the store staff, or paste it into the Shopee chat
請問這款的一代型和二代型差在哪裡？
Qǐngwèn zhè kuǎn de yīdài xíng hé èrdài xíng chà zài nǎlǐ?
What is the difference between the first-generation and second-generation types of this product?
請問本體上有型式認可號碼和使用期限的標示嗎？
Qǐngwèn běntǐ shàng yǒu xíngshì rènkě hàomǎ hé shǐyòng qīxiàn de biāoshì ma?
Does the unit carry a type approval number and a service life label?
請問感測器可以用多久？電池一次大約可以用多久？
Qǐngwèn gǎncèqì kěyǐ yòng duōjiǔ? Diànchí yīcì dàyuē kěyǐ yòng duōjiǔ?
How long does the sensor last, and about how long does one battery last?
【安全對策】Carbon monoxide detector with battery, LED indicator, LCD screen, CO alarm (Shopee)
Shopee store page information (shown on October 25, 2026; prices and promotions may change): the store is “安全對策” (An Quan Dui Ce), carrying the Shopee Preferred label (蝦皮優選), rated 5.0 with 2,136 reviews and 5,000+ sold (we only quote these and did not check individual reviews); the page shows authenticity protection and Shopee's buyer protection and returns; the price shown is NT$455; estimated delivery is October 28 to November 3. Product details (from the product page, not independently verified by us): battery included, 80dB alarm volume, 12-month warranty (manufacturer warranty; batteries are consumables and not covered), ships from New Taipei. The page says only “國際認證”, the specifications do not list a type approval number, and we did not check whether this product has been approved. The store offers two options, “一代型” (first generation) and “二代型（探頭、零件升級）” (second generation, upgraded probe and parts). The product page does not explain the difference, so ask the seller before ordering. The sensor's service life and battery life are also not stated on the product page. The store's description gives a seven-day inspection period and says it is not a trial period, and that opened items are not accepted for return or exchange; return shipping for non-new-item defects is paid by the buyer, so read this carefully before ordering. We do not give safety advice, and you should rely on the product page and the item you receive.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- Do you want to guard against carbon monoxide? → The product name must say carbon monoxide; a gas leak alarm detects something else
- Is there a type approval number? → If the product page has none, ask the seller and check the label on the unit when it arrives
- Is there a service life? → The standard asks for a stated service life; if the page does not say, ask the seller
- Does it warn when the battery is low? → The standard has a rule for it; if the page does not say, ask the seller
- What separates the first and second generation? → The product page does not explain, so ask the seller before ordering
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can a carbon monoxide alarm replace a correctly installed water heater?
- The NFA's guidance focuses on the type and location of the water heater: outdoor-type heaters go outdoors with good ventilation, and indoors or in poorly ventilated places a forced-exhaust type installed by a qualified installer is needed. The documents we read do not say an alarm can replace this. We do not give safety advice, so follow the NFA and your local fire department.
- Is the Ministry of the Interior's approval standard mandatory?
- The standard's page does not say whether it is mandatory for homes, and we did not find out whether a product like this must have an approval number, so we cannot say a product without one is illegal. What we suggest is to check the product page and the unit when it arrives for labels such as the type approval number. This standard was issued on December 26, 2008 (year 97 of the Republic of China calendar), and the page lists no revision date, so it may not be the latest version.
- What is the difference between the first and second generation?
- The product page describes the second generation as “探頭、零件升級” (upgraded probe and parts) but does not say what was upgraded. The product page does not explain the difference, so ask the seller before ordering.
- Where should it be installed? How long does the sensor last?
- The NFA documents and approval standard we read do not say where an alarm should be installed and do not set a number of years of service life (they only ask for a stated service life). This product page also does not give the sensor's life. Install it according to the instruction manual and confirm the service life with the seller.
- What if I feel dizzy or nauseous?
- Follow the NFA and local fire department guidance, and call 119 if needed. We do not give medical or safety advice.