Domakihub Install Interlinked Smoke Alarms the Right Way
Understand the system, plan the layout, and know exactly when to call a licensed electrician.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Interlinked smoke alarms are the single most effective way to ensure every occupant of a home, holiday rental, or hotel room hears an alarm no matter where a fire starts — the moment one unit triggers, every alarm in the building sounds simultaneously. The video above walks through a complete installation of smoke, heat, and CO alarms in a real property, showing exactly how the units mount, link, and communicate. This guide covers what you need to understand before the work begins, which parts a homeowner can safely handle, and which steps legally require a qualified electrician in Greece.
Why Interlinked Alarms Are Different From Standard Smoke Detectors
A single stand-alone battery alarm only sounds in the room where it sits. An interlinked system connects every alarm — via a physical wire or a radio frequency signal — so that one activated unit triggers all others instantly. This matters enormously in multi-storey villas, hotel suites, and apartment blocks where a kitchen fire at midnight might not wake a guest sleeping three floors above.
There are two main types: mains-powered (hardwired) alarms that draw 230 V AC from a dedicated circuit and include a long-life battery backup, and wireless battery-operated models that use a radio link. The wireless variants are far easier for a homeowner or handyman to position and mount without electrical qualifications. The hardwired variant, by contrast, requires connection to the mains supply, which is notifiable electrical work under Greek and EU regulations (ΚΕΗΕ / EN 60669) and must be carried out — or at minimum certified — by a licensed electrician (αδειούχος ηλεκτρολόγος).
Choosing the Right Alarm for Each Room
Smoke detectors (optical or ionisation) belong in hallways, landings, living rooms, and bedrooms. Heat detectors — which respond to temperature rise rather than particles — are the correct choice for kitchens and garages, where cooking fumes and exhaust gas would cause nuisance trips from a smoke alarm. Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are mandatory wherever there is a gas boiler, fireplace, or open-flame appliance. Many modern interlinked systems combine all three sensor types in a single range, so every unit in a home can be linked together regardless of its sensor type.
For a typical two-storey Greek villa or apartment: place at least one smoke alarm on each storey, a heat alarm in the kitchen, and a CO alarm adjacent to any gas appliance. Holiday rental properties and hotels face additional obligations under Greek fire-safety legislation (Presidential Decree 41/2018 for tourist accommodation), so always verify current requirements with a fire-safety consultant or your local fire brigade (Πυροσβεστική) before committing to a layout.
How to Install Interlinked Smoke Alarms: 5 Steps
- 1
Plan the Layout Before Buying Anything
Draw a floor plan and mark every room. Decide which locations need a smoke alarm, which need a heat detector, and which need a CO alarm. Confirm that all units you intend to buy belong to the same interlink group — alarms from different manufacturers almost never communicate with each other, even if the packaging suggests otherwise. Once you have a compatible range selected, count the units and buy at least one spare.
- 2
Choose Wireless or Hardwired — and Get the Right Help
Wireless battery-operated interlinked alarms can be mounted by any competent adult: no mains wiring is involved and the radio pairing is done by pressing a learn button on each unit. If you opt for mains-powered alarms — which offer greater reliability and are required by some local regulations for new builds — the connection to the 230 V supply must be made by a licensed electrician. In Greece, this work falls under the scope of the electrical installation declaration (Υπεύθυνη Δήλωση Εγκαταστάτη, ΥΔΕ). Engage a qualified professional, confirm they will issue a ΥΔΕ, and obtain it before the work is signed off.
- 3
Mount the Bases at the Correct Position
Alarms must be ceiling-mounted as close to the centre of the room as possible, at least 30 cm from any wall or light fitting. In long corridors, space units no more than 7.5 m apart. Use the ceiling rose or back-plate that ships with the alarm to mark the drill holes; a standard 6 mm masonry bit handles concrete ceilings common in Greek construction. For wireless units, snap the base to the ceiling, run any cable to the battery compartment, and you are ready to pair. For hardwired units, the electrician will feed the supply cable through the ceiling and land it in the base before you clip the alarm head on.
- 4
Pair and Test the Interlink
For wireless systems, follow the manufacturer's pairing sequence — typically you press and hold the learn button on the master unit, then press it briefly on each secondary alarm in turn, until the master confirms with a beep or LED flash. Once paired, press the test button on any single alarm: every other alarm in the group must sound within three seconds. If any unit fails to respond, check that it is within radio range (typically 100 m open-air, far less through concrete), re-pair it, and retest. For hardwired systems, the electrician connects the red interconnect wire across all units on the ring; the test procedure is identical.
- 5
Register, Label, and Maintain the System
Write the installation date on a label inside each alarm's battery compartment — most units have a manufacturer-rated service life of 10 years, after which the entire unit should be replaced, not just the battery. Set a monthly reminder to press the test button. Vacuum the alarm grille gently twice a year to prevent dust accumulation triggering false alerts. If you manage a rental property, log each test in a maintenance record: Greek tourist accommodation inspections may request evidence of working fire detection. Replace any unit immediately if it chirps continuously (low battery or end-of-life) or if a test fails.
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FAQ
- Can I install interlinked smoke alarms myself in Greece?
- Wireless radio-interlinked battery alarms involve no mains wiring, so any competent adult can mount and pair them without an electrical licence. Hardwired mains-powered alarms are a different matter: connecting them to the 230 V supply is regulated electrical work in Greece that must be carried out by a licensed electrician (αδειούχος ηλεκτρολόγος) who issues a ΥΔΕ declaration. If you are unsure which type you have, check whether the alarm has a three-core mains cable — if it does, call a professional.
- How many alarms do I need in a typical Greek villa or apartment?
- The minimum is one smoke alarm on every storey (including the basement if habitable), a heat alarm in the kitchen, and a CO alarm next to any gas boiler or fireplace. A two-storey villa with a kitchen and a gas combi-boiler therefore needs at least four units. Larger properties, holiday rentals, and tourist accommodation must comply with the specific requirements of Greek fire-safety legislation (PD 41/2018 and local fire brigade guidance), so verify the exact count with a fire-safety consultant before installation.
- Will alarms from different brands link together?
- Almost never — interlink communication uses proprietary protocols, and brands do not cross-certify with each other. Buy all alarms for a property from the same manufacturer's interlink-compatible range. If you are expanding an existing system, bring the model number of your current alarms to the supplier and confirm compatibility in writing before purchasing additional units.