Description

The First Alert SC5 Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a 2-in-1 device that detects both smoke and CO, then sends an alert straight to your phone whether you’re home or halfway across Dubai. It’s built as the official replacement for Google’s discontinued Nest Protect, so if your Nest Protect is approaching its 10-year end-of-life, this is the device Google itself points people toward.

What Is the First Alert SC5 Smart Smoke & CO Alarm?

It combines a smoke detector and carbon monoxide sensor in a single unit, connected through the First Alert app or the Google Home app, with Precision Detection Technology designed to cut down on false alarms from cooking smoke or steam. We’ve fitted a number of these across UAE apartments and villas already, mostly for owners replacing an ageing Nest Protect without wanting to rebuild their whole smart home setup around a different brand.

Key Features at a Glance

2-in-1 detection for smoke and carbon monoxide in one alarm
Google Nest Protect replacement — fits the same mounting bracket and hardwire adapter
Voice alerts with Heads-Up warnings that state the type and location of the danger
Interconnect capability — when one alarm sounds, every compatible alarm in the home sounds too
Mobile alerts through the First Alert app or Google Home app, even when you’re away
Precision Detection Technology built to reduce nuisance alarms while meeting current UL 217 9th Edition standards
Low battery notifications sent to your phone instead of a late-night chirp

Why This Matters for Nest Protect Owners in the UAE

Google stopped making the Nest Protect, and any unit already installed needs replacing roughly every 10 years to stay certified regardless of brand. The SC5 was built specifically to solve that gap — it uses the same mounting bracket and hardwire adapter as the Nest Protect, so swapping one out for the other doesn’t mean drilling new holes or rewiring anything.

How It Fits Into an Existing Google Home Setup

Because the SC5 connects through the same Google Home app as your other Nest devices, it shows up alongside your existing cameras, doorbells, and thermostats rather than living in a separate ecosystem. You can also mix SC5 units with any Nest Protects still in service, since interconnect works across both.

Installation Options

The SC5 is available as either a battery-powered unit or a hardwire version with battery backup for continuous protection during a power outage, which matters given how often UAE villas run backup circuits for exactly this reason. Our Home Monitoring team can advise which version suits your property, and handle the hardwire installation if your existing wiring needs checking.

Why Buy From Smartgain

We stock genuine First Alert hardware within our full Alarm category, and our technicians install fire and CO safety devices as part of complete Smart Villa setups across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman. If you’re already running a Google-based smart home, our Google Home Automation team can integrate the SC5 alongside your existing cameras and doorbells in one setup session.

Replacing an Existing Nest Protect?

If you’re not sure whether your Nest Protect needs replacing yet, Contact Us and we can check the manufacture date and advise before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the First Alert SC5 actually replace the Google Nest Protect? Yes. It’s designed as the official Nest Protect replacement option, using the same mounting bracket and hardwire adapter, and it integrates directly into the Google Home app alongside your other Nest devices.

Do I need a subscription to receive alerts? No. Mobile alerts, voice warnings, and app-based testing work through the free First Alert or Google Home app without a paid subscription.

What’s the difference between the battery and hardwire versions? The battery version runs entirely on its own power, while the hardwire version connects to your home’s electrical system with a battery backup, keeping it active even during a power outage.

Can I mix SC5 alarms with alarms I already have installed? Yes, the SC5 interconnects with other compatible First Alert/BRK alarms and existing Nest Protect units, so when one alarm sounds, all connected alarms in the home sound together.

Does Smartgain deliver and install this across the UAE? Yes, we ship and install the First Alert SC5 across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and other Emirates. Shipping and return details are on our FAQ page.