New Custom Readings and a FIPS-Validated Sensor for Air Quality Sensors

Last year, we enhanced our air quality sensors offering with a new Heat Index reading and three pre-built integrations for third-party VMS systems. Building on these advancements, we’re excited to introduce additional sensor readings and expand our list of supported VMS systems. Additionally, to better meet the needs of our federal customers, we are also launching a FIPS-validated sensor.

Four New Custom Index Readings

Expanding on Heat Index

In November, we introduced a heat index reading, which combines our existing temperature and humidity readings and uses the National Weather Service’s heat index chart to calculate the reading value.

Now, customers have access to two additional sensor readings similarly derived from temperature and humidity: 

• Humidex: Similar to the heat index and commonly used in Canada, Humidex indicates how hot it feels to the average person. It is calculated using a formula developed by Canadian meteorologists.

• Dew Point: Dew point is the temperature at which air cools enough for water vapor to condense into dew or frost. Industries from transportation to agriculture often use this index to predict and mitigate risks from conditions like frost or fog. 

RESET® Viral Index

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have prioritized reducing the spread of airborne viruses indoors. To support these efforts, we are excited to introduce the RESET® Viral Index reading, a metric that evaluates infection risk based on factors like carbon dioxide, particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, and humidity. Verkada sensors are RESET® certified, and as part of the RESET® standard for sustainable and healthy buildings, this reading helps organizations proactively enhance indoor air quality and keep their building occupants safe and healthy.

Mold Risk Index

The Mold Risk Index assesses temperature and humidity levels and compares them to established thresholds associated with increased mold growth risk. This provides insight into when an environment may be at elevated risk for mold development. By tracking this metric, organizations can take proactive measures to help mitigate potential mold-related issues, such as preventing product damage in cold storage areas, protecting equipment and HVAC systems from operational failures, and promoting healthier indoor air quality for building occupants.

Overall, with these additional readings, organizations can receive richer insight into the health, safety, and comfort of their indoor spaces.  

Updates to our Third-Party VMS Integrations

Our third-party VMS integrations allow organizations to receive sensor event alerts within their VMS, gain immediate visual context, and take action. In September, we announced three pre-built integrations between Verkada and Milestone XProtect, Wisenet WAVE, and exacqVision. 

Now, we are adding i-Pro Video Insight to the list of supported systems. Like the other integrations, organizations can navigate to “Sensor Video Integrations” in Verkada Command to set up this integration in a few simple steps.

We have also updated our integrations to send more information back to the VMS systems. In addition to the sensor reading, organizations will now see the sensor name, reading value, threshold surpassed, and timestamp in their alerts (if supported by the VMS).

New FIPS-Validated Sensor

We are pleased to announce the availability of a FIPS-validated sensor, SV25-F, for our federal customers and partners. The SV25-F features all of the functionality of our SV25 sensor, with additional layers of security to support our government customers. To begin using this sensor, customers and partners using Command and Command in AWS GovCloud can simply plug in the SV25-F and claim it for their organization. The device will then run FIPS encryption-in-transit and encryption-at-rest by default, with no additional setup needed.

Availability:

The new index readings and updates to third-party VMS integrations will be available starting February 20, 2025. The FIPS-validated sensor will be available starting February 13, 2025. The Humidex, Dew Point, and Mold Risk Index readings will be available in the SV11 (discontinued), SV21, SV23, and SV25 sensor models, while the RESET® Viral Index reading will be available in the SV23 and SV25 sensor models.