The vaping problem has always had a surveillance problem: the places it happens are the places cameras can't go. Ubiquiti's answer is the UP-AirQuality — a palm-sized PoE sensor that detects vape aerosol in real time, tracks eight air-quality metrics, and sends instant alerts through UniFi Protect, with no camera and no microphone. Available in Australia from ARC IP Networks, an authorised Ubiquiti reseller — see the product page for stock.
What is the UP-AirQuality?
A discreet white puck — 93 mm across, 190 grams — that mounts to a ceiling, wall or desk and plugs into any PoE port on a UniFi switch, drawing just 2.2 watts. Inside, it continuously samples the air for the particulate and chemical signature of vaping alongside CO2, PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, VOC and an overall AQI, plus temperature and humidity. Detections and history live in UniFi Protect next to your cameras, and alerts land on staff phones the moment something is detected. A colour LED on the unit doubles as an at-a-glance air-quality indicator.
Who it's for
The privacy point that matters
What makes a vape sensor deployable where it's actually needed is what it doesn't have. The UP-AirQuality carries no camera and no microphone — it measures air, not people. That's why sensors of this type are commonly installed in school bathrooms and change rooms, hotel rooms and staff areas where video surveillance isn't appropriate. It's also tamper-resistant, because the first response to any bathroom sensor is a student with a roll of tape. As always, deployment in sensitive areas should follow your organisation's own policies.
Full specifications
What you need to run it
Two things: a PoE port — any UniFi PoE switch will do, it draws less than a phone charger — and a UniFi Protect console such as a UNVR or Dream Machine; our Protect console comparison covers the options. If you're pairing sensors with cameras in corridors and entries (the classic school deployment: sensors inside, cameras outside the door), the whole system runs from the one console.
Availability in Australia
ARC IP Networks — an authorised Ubiquiti reseller in Australia — supplies the UP-AirQuality as genuine Australian stock with the full manufacturer warranty, claimable locally. Schools and integrators can open a trade account for trade pricing, larger rollouts qualify for project pricing, and our price match policy applies as always.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UniFi Vape Detection & Air Quality Sensor?
The UP-AirQuality is a PoE-powered ceiling or wall sensor from Ubiquiti that detects vaping in real time and continuously monitors air quality — CO2, PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, VOC and AQI — plus temperature and humidity, sending instant alerts through UniFi Protect. It has no camera and no microphone.
How does a vape detector work in school bathrooms?
It senses the airborne particles and chemical signature of vape aerosol rather than recording anyone. Because the UP-AirQuality is camera-free and microphone-free, it can operate in privacy-sensitive areas like bathrooms and change rooms where cameras are not appropriate — staff simply receive an alert the moment vaping is detected. Always check your school's or organisation's own policies before deploying.
Does the UniFi vape sensor record video or audio?
No — it contains no camera and no microphone. It measures air, not people: vape aerosol, CO2, particulate matter, VOCs, temperature and humidity, with a colour LED showing air-quality status on the device.
What does the UP-AirQuality sensor need to run?
A single PoE cable from a switch (it draws just 2.2W) and a UniFi Protect console — such as a UNVR or a Dream Machine — where alerts and air-quality history live alongside your cameras.
Where can I buy the UniFi vape detection sensor in Australia?
From ARC IP Networks (arcip.com.au), an authorised Ubiquiti reseller in Australia — genuine Australian stock with the full manufacturer warranty, claimable locally. Schools, integrators and facility managers can also access trade and project pricing.