Anti-Vape Crusader! More than a hundred schools to benefit from smart vape sensor innovation

With vaping on the rise and teachers struggling to stop pupils using e-cigarettes, technology provided by a Hampshire company is helping schools to fight back.

Hedge End-based VapeGuardian has created the UK’s first sensor that detects vaping and then sends an alert to a designated teacher within five seconds.

Credit: Raw Pixel

The vapour is not detected by normal smoke alarms as it’s not thick enough. But the VapeGuardian Smart Vape Sensor, designed by software engineer and father-of-four Simon Hassett, constantly examines the air and can pick up the slightest trace when someone is vaping.

He says that more than 100 schools have already ordered the sensors, including several primary schools.

Now he is about to launch a smaller, more discreet model that can be fitted in children’s bedrooms so parents can find out if they are vaping at home.

Meanwhile enquiries have also started to come in from airlines and airports; Simon says he has also spoken to several hotels about potentially supplying sensors.

Simon explained: “There has been such a rapid growth in vaping and many people, especially parents, are just not aware of how bad for your health it can be.

“The levels of nicotine are getting children addicted, while the amount of plastics being breathed into their lungs is astonishing. We can only imagine the health issues we’ll be facing in 20 years’ time.”

“The World Health Organisation has declared vaping a public health emergency and has asked governments to act to safeguard children.”

He first became involved after a teacher friend asked him if he could find a vaping sensor his school could use.

“The only ones I could find were in North America and were £1,200 each. So I turned my hand to working out how they operated. I had no experience with hardware, so there was lots of reading up on it and watching YouTube videos.”

Simon used PhD students with environmental and science backgrounds to find out the specific ingredients used in vapes. He was then able to programme his sensor to be able to detect them.

“I spent a couple of months building one in my office. I then set up a website to see if I could sell some and the first order came in without any marketing at all. It turned out that schools were crying out for a solution.”

Once he had a working prototype, he found a factory in China to manufacture the sensors and began production. His first order was shipped towards the end of last year.

Pictured is Raj Sandhu, Simon Hassett, Jean Hassett and Sophie Barnes

Each sensor costs £219 plus VAT and can cover a 12ft x 12ft area. VapeGuardian is the first company in this country to manufacture them.

They are mains-powered and wifi-connected and alerts can be sent via SMS, email or push notification.

The software allows each user to have their own admin area, from which designated people are notified of vaping alerts, devices can be added and more rooms assigned.

As well as the sensors, Simon provides signage. He said: “Every sensor goes out with a wall sticker that says ‘No vaping in this area, smart sensors installed’. The idea is to act as a deterrent. We want to stop kids from vaping rather than catch them doing it.”

Vaping has been promoted as an alternative to smoking but Simon says it can be just as dangerous, especially for young children. He writes a blog on his website about the health risks of vaping and e-cigarettes.

He pointed out that the World Health Organisation has declared vaping a public health emergency and has asked governments to act to safeguard children.

Simon is concerned about the accessibility of vaping products online and in shops and how their use is seen as ‘cool’ by young people.

Close up of the VapeGuardian sensor

“Among teenagers there are issues of bullying around vaping. If you don’t do it, you can get picked on.”

He says cigarettes are kept behind the counter in shops, but vape juice is much more visible and is presented in colourful displays, with flavours such as candyfloss and pineapple.

He wants to see the government introduce stronger rules governing the promotion and sale of vaping products, as well as stiffer punishments for those who sell to under-18s.

“We are trying to get politicians involved to get more regulation around packaging. The vaping market is a bit like the Wild West at the moment.”

To try and combat the rise of e-cigarettes, VapeGuardian send up-to-date vaping information, posters, blog posts, videos and more on a regular basis to all customers via email.