If two or more smoke alarms are required in a living unit, how should they operate?

• A. Independently
• B. In sequence
• C. Interconnected so that triggering one alarm causes all to sound
• D. Only the nearest alarm sounds

Answer: (C)

When two or more smoke alarms are required in a living unit, they should be interconnected so that triggering one causes all of them to sound. This setup ensures everyone in the home, no matter which room they’re in, hears the alarm promptly. It’s a life-safety feature because it creates a single, widespread warning rather than relying on a single device.

Hard-wired interconnection or wireless interconnects allow the signal to be shared across all alarms, so if smoke is detected anywhere, the entire system helps wake and alert occupants. That redundancy is crucial for timely evacuation, especially if people are asleep or in different parts of the dwelling.

If alarms operated independently, only the detecting unit would sound, which could leave others unaware. A sequence approach would delay notification and potentially reduce the chance of a safe escape. Having only the nearest alarm sound also fails to notify people in other areas, defeating the purpose of multiple alarms in a living unit.