Every facility manager knows the headache: discreet smoking or vaping in hidden corners, particularly washrooms. It's a persistent nuisance, a fire hazard, and a breach of UK Law. When our long-standing customer, noticed ongoing evidence of smoking in their serviced office facilities, their Centre Manager reached out with a tough challenge: how do you catch "secret" smokers in the act?
Initial thoughts often turn to the existing fire alarm system. However, actively trying to trigger a full building fire alarm for localised smoking can contravene BS5839-1 standards and cause unnecessary disruptions.
We needed a smarter, dedicated solution.
The Technology: HKC Takex Vape Detector
Instead of tying into the main fire system, we recommended the newly released HKC Vape Sensor, jointly developed by HKC and the legendary Takex Europe.
Standard smoke detectors rely on photoelectric sensors that look for larger smoke particles. The VS-1000E uses a focused laser beam to detect the ultra-fine aerosol particles characteristic of e-cigarette vapor. When these microscopic particles break the laser’s path, light scatters into a highly sensitive receiver—delivering pinpoint accuracy where traditional detectors fail.
The Setup & Results
Our engineers paired the Takex VS-1000E detectors with the HKC 10270 panel. This setup ensures that if someone vapes or smokes:
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Instant App Alerts: Site management receives a notification within seconds via the HKC SecureComm App, pinpointing the exact cubicle.
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Local Sounders: A discreet local audible alarm warns the user immediately without disturbing the entire building.
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Rapid Control: The app allows staff to locate the issue and reset the system instantly, preventing full-scale false evacuations.
During testing across four toilet cubicles, every single test triggered a speedy, accurate response.
What our Customer Said
The entire system went from initial inquiry to fully operational in under two weeks. Less than 24 hours after installation, the system caught its first incident, allowing the management team to intervene immediately without triggering a building-wide alarm.
"Alex & George responded quickly, recommending and installing a new vape and smoke detection system that links directly to our intruder alarm and mobile app... Less than 24 hours after installation, the detector was activated by a client, allowing us to immediately identify the affected toilet and disarm the alarm via the app before a full building evacuation was triggered... The speed of the response, quality of the solution, and seamless installation once again demonstrated the excellent service we have come to expect from the team at Matter Integration." —Vicky, Building Manager
Facing a similar detection challenge in your facilities? Contact the team at Matter Integration to discuss smart, tailored detection solutions for your commercial space.
