How Do Vape Detectors Work In Schools? The Practice And Effectiveness

Vape detectors have been around for a few years now, but an air of mystery still surrounds how they work. 

These subtle-looking devices sit neatly on ceilings and walls, blending in with smoke alarms and fire alarms. Some may even mistake them for smoke alarms themselves. 

But vape detectors do a lot more than what they seem, and in particular, they’ve proven tremendously helpful to schools. 

In this guide, we take a deep dive into how vape detectors work in schools, what impact they can have, and whether or not they can be tampered with by plucky students. 

First, let’s look at why vape detectors are becoming more of an essential part of school technology.

Why Do Schools Need Vape Detectors?

Schools have experienced something of an epidemic of vaping on their premises. This isn’t just high schools, but middle schools too. 

Vape pens, while illegal to sell to minors, have invariably found their way into their hands. This is, in part, down to their attractive packaging and marketing materials, and their more accessible flavors, which can taste more appealing than nicotine. 

Given the peer pressure that exists in schools, if students aren’t educated on the risks, such as developing fatigue, hair loss, and acne, as well as more serious problems like reduced attention span, they could quickly develop a bad habit that disrupts every aspect of their lives. 

To give you an idea of the true extent of the issue of vaping in schools, let’s look at the latest statistics.

The Latest Statistics On Vaping In Schools

To give you a true idea of the scale of vaping in schools, it’s vital to explore the statistics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes data each year. Here’s a quick breakdown of the latest figures:

How Does A School Vape Detector Work?

So, how do vape detectors work in schools?

A vape detector is a remarkably simple device and takes a lot of inspiration from the classic smoke detector. 

These devices can be placed in hot spots for vaping in schools, like bathrooms and locker rooms. When vapor or THC is detected, they trigger an alert. Older models may sound an alarm, much like a classic smoke alarm.

Newer and more advanced models, such as the vape detectors we make here at Triton Sensors, do not sound an alarm, but rather trigger an alert. 

This alert is raised to school staff on their mobile devices. It informs them of a vaping incident and where it’s happening. This gives them a crucial opportunity to catch the perpetrators in the act. Identifying children with vape problems allows schools to make more meaningful interventions. 

Schools can help with counselling, provide extra support in school, and guide parents on tackling the problem outside of it. The schools we’ve worked with here at Triton have all reported these positive impacts, something we explore more below. 

What Does A Vape Detector Look Like?

Vape detectors come in all different shapes and sizes, but generally, they look much the same as smoke alarms.

These small, white, cylindrical devices can be attached to walls and ceilings. Some may have flashing lights to confirm it’s on and working. Other models, which tend to be older, may have a built-in speaker that sounds when vapor is detected. 

However, many newer models, as described above, are powered by Ethernet cables or, in some cases, batteries. These cables also connect them to the internet, meaning you don’t have to rely on WiFi.

Vape Detectors Can Also Track Noise Levels and Keywords

As well as detecting vapor, smoke and the likes of THC, modern vape detectors, such as our Triton 3D Sense, can also detect noise levels and can even pick up keywords. 

For example, you can set decibel threshold limits so that if noise levels reach a particularly high level, you can receive an alert. This may just be down to some excitement, or it could be the symptom of a fight breaking out.

The ability to detect keywords is also a useful function. You can set triggers for the likes of “vaping” and “smoking”, giving you the ability to intervene even before a child lifts a vape pen to their lips. 

What Impact Can Vape Detectors Have?

We’ve looked at how vape detectors work, and you may now be wondering what impact they can have, if any at all.

The key benefit that these simple devices offer is the ability to enforce a no-vaping policy. Without them, students can hide out in bathrooms and vape away. With them, staff can make proper interventions, offer counselling and guidance, and prevent children from harming themselves. 

This was what happened when we helped Phoenix Christian Preparatory School with their student vaping problem. After experiencing a surge in vaping incidents and without a reliable strategy to tackle the problem, the school decided to install vape detectors in their hot spots.

Within a few short weeks, our devices reduced vaping so much that the Dean of Students and Discipline said that it was “almost totally eliminated… on our campus.”

If you’d like to read more testimonials, head here. 

The Best Locations For School Vape Detectors

If installing vape detectors in schools, to make sure they work to the best of their ability, it’s important that they’re positioned in hot spots. These are locations where students commonly congregate to vape. Here’s a list of some of those popular locations:

If you want to know how vape detectors work in schools to the best of their ability, then remember that positioning is key. 

Can Students Avoid Vape Detectors?

One of the biggest concerns people have over investing money into a vape detection system for their school is whether or not the devices will be damaged or vandalized. It’s something we understand and appreciate; school budgets are tight after all. 

A report by Wired on the efficacy of vape detectors looked at the ways students manage to evade detection. They found that in some cases, staff are just too slow to respond, so by the time they get there, the kids have gone. Coupled with CCTV cameras outside of bathrooms, staff could track down students, but this requires time, and teachers are often too busy to work as private detectives, too. 

There have also been reports of students exhaling vapor into backpacks or inside jackets to let the chemicals dissipate first. Others have even been found to exhale into toilets and flush so the vacuum takes the vapor away.

The success of a no-vaping policy in schools doesn’t fall on the shoulders of the vape detector alone. Education, brochures and posters also contribute to rooting the problem out at the cause. 

Where Can You Buy Vape Detectors For Schools? 

If you’re an educator, teacher or member of school faculty staff, you may have read this guide and wish to try vape detectors in your own school.

If so, you’ll be pleased to learn that we offer a free demonstration kit, which you can order here. 

The device is quick and easy to install, and within a short space of time, you’ll be connected to your mobile device and have everything in place to start cutting out vaping in your school. 

We also offer free quotes on all orders, so you have nothing to lose in contacting us today to see how we can help you regain control over vaping. 

Key Takeaways