Vape Patrol Help Centre

Our product connects to your network using the 2.4GHz band which most schools use. However, if your network operates on the 5GHz band you have two options : Purchase a different vape detector which is 5GHz compatible but these cost between £800 and £1000 EACH. Invest in the VAPE PATROL detectors and change the closest access point to a dual-band one which we can provide for less than £150. These hubs simply replace an existing one and allow our detectors to connect to your network saving you money - one dual band access point can serve many detectors. If in doubt, please refer to your network or wifi provider.

The VAPE PATROL detectors are powered through a standard USB - C cable. We provide a 2m or 5m cable and adaptor to connect to the mains power supply. We recommend that if you have multiple detectors in a toilet area you consider putting in a switched spur to turn them off during holidays and weekends - whilst the units use very little power this will extend their life. The switch must be in a place not accessible to the students obviously!!

The detectors are controlled via the Smart Life app which operates on both Android and Apple products. Initially, the administrator (normally the Facilities Manager, School Business Manager or other member of the site team) will connect the detectors to your network and clearly name them as per their location. You can adjust their sensitivity (although they come with a recommended default setting) and decide how you want to notify staff when the detector is triggered. Your staff on break and playground duty can either download the app to their own phones or you can provide them with a basic programmed tablet (which we can provide - see the 'Accessories' section). A notification will tell staff which detector has been triggered by vaping, attempts to tamper with it, or having the power turned off.

The VAPE PATROL VP1 and VP2 detectors contain a battery for back-up use only - it will continue to function for up to 3 hours after the power is turned off. The VPX3 has a larger battery with up to 12 hours of back up. You can use them as battery operated for a short time if you want to temporarily place one somewhere that does not have mains power. We also offer a battery pack to extend the monitoring for up to 5 days. Please see the 'Accessories' section on the shop.

Your detector should come with its MAC address on the back and on the box. If you need to find the MAC address of a detector you will need to connect it to your network and add it to your Smart Life account. Steps : 1) From the home page choose the detector. 2) Click on the pen icon in the top right hand corner - see 3) On the next page, choose "Device Information" - 4) The MAC and IP addresses will be shown -

At Vape Patrol we understand the problems associated with young people vaping in school and we appreciate the challenges that the education sector faces including the huge budgetary constraints. As well as a selection of vape detectors and accessories, we also offer a free, no obligation service to advise you on where to install your units, how many you require and how best to use them. Our service provides a simple, low cost solution along with curriculum support and advice. We believe it is important to find out who is vaping so that they can be supported and educated rather than just punished.

Our detectors will alert you when and where a vape is being used allowing staff to identify the student/s, and confiscate the euipment. The students can then receive the appropriate punishment and, more importantly, education and support to understand the impact and dangers of vaping for young people. You can also choose to install detectors with audible alarms that will be set off as soon as e-cigarettes are detected. Some schools opt to have a selection of both type of detectors - silent and alarmed - and even move them around the school.

A 2023 Teacher Tapp survey showed that two thirds of teachers had found pupils vaping or with vape equipment and many schools have had pupils taken to hospital after vaping dangerous substances during the school day. Pupils are increasingly becoming addicted to the nicotine in e-cigarettes and bullying and anti-social behaviour is increasing in toilets at most Secondary schools. A survey of 4000 teachers in the UK conducted for the teachers’ union, the NASUWT, which was published in October 2023 found 85% of teachers believe vaping is a problem on school premises. If you are unsure whether vaping is a problem at your school we recommend installing one or two detectors and monitor the number of times they are activated. The Smart Life app will allow you to track when and where vaping is happening.

The required number depends on the type of toilets and layouts. We recommend sending to us floor plans and pictures of all of your toilets but a general rule is that each cubicle with a floor to ceiling door (eg. no gaps) will need a separate detector whilst those with large enough spaces between floors and ceilings can be covered with one or two sensors in the space. If you are unsure how many you need please call us for a free consultation on 077777777 or email floor plans and photos to .... We provide a free desktop consultancy service and can even visit your school to provide a detailed report and recommendations.

When a pupil vapes the detector senses the chemicals and sends an alert via an app notification (or text/email) to a staff member's phone, computer or dedicated tablet. It provides the specific location to whoever is on duty and they can attend the location. Our app is FREE to use unlike most other companies and is a simple platform that any staff member can understand. We can also provide detectors with a built-in siren alarm (VP2) that will go off when vaping is detected.

No! None of our sensors contain cameras or any recording equipment. They are designed to detect vaping and e-cigarettes along with other changes in air quality such as temperature and humidity only. We believe that other machines that may record key words or noises risk sending too many false alarms and notifications to staff, reducing their effectiveness significantly.

Unlike home smoke detectors which passively monitor an area, vape detectors actively monitor and constantly connect to your WiFi network, hence they cannot be battery powered for a long period. Our detectors contain a battery back-up that can provide power for up to 3 hours or up to 12 hours but if you are unable to connect to the mains OR would like a portable detector that can be temporarily placed in different locations for longer periods we can provide a battery pack that will power the detector for up to 5 days. See 'Accessories'.

The most popular detector is the Vape Patroller 1 which does not have an internal alarm, allowing you to identify the vaper and support them to give up their habit. If you would prefer to have an audible alarm triggered when vaping is detected please order the Vape Patroller 2. Both detectors send an alert to the Smart Home app notifying whoever is logged in where the vaping is occurring.