Vape is an aerosol
An e-cigarette heats liquid into fine droplets and compounds that move through room air. The cloud can spread, mix with background air and thin out before it reaches a sensor.
Particle and chemical sensing
Particle sensors measure matter in size bands such as PM1 or PM2.5. Chemical sensors can react to volatile compounds in the air. Many products join several readings because one signal alone may also come from dust, spray, steam or cleaning work.
Baseline and pattern rules
The detector learns or receives a room baseline. Software looks for a rise and shape that matches the maker’s rules. Sensitivity and thresholds affect how fast it alerts, what it misses and how many nuisance alerts staff see.
From room to staff
When a reading matches, the unit can use Ethernet, Wi-Fi or cellular service to reach a cloud or local system. Products may then send SMS, email or app alerts and trigger a local light, sound, relay or linked camera view outside the private room.
What an alert cannot prove
An environmental alert does not identify a person. It may not identify the exact substance. Airflow and attempts to hide aerosol can slow or stop detection. Staff still need a fair response and physical evidence under school policy.