Motion sensors pick up on physical movement – whether that’s a person, animal or object – in a given area and transform that information into an electric signal. Motion detection has been used in the security industry for years to alert businesses to intruders. They’re found in appliances we use every day, like automatic doors, toilet flushes and hand dryers. And they can also be used to automate building controls like heating and lighting depending on whether or not a space is occupied – helping to reduce both energy consumption and running costs.

Motion or occupancy sensors work by detecting infrared energy or by sending out ultrasonic waves or radio waves and measuring their reflection off a moving object. We currently supply under-desk passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors. This small, wireless device two slots made of a material that’s sensitive to infrared light. When the sensor is idle, both slots detect the same amount of ambient infrared radiation. When a person enters the sensor’s field of view, the movement reaches one half of the sensor before the other. It’s this change between the radiation detected by the two slots that tells the sensor someone is present.

While many applications are concerned with safety, the effects of poor air quality aren’t always severe, or even that easy to spot. In today’s well-insulated buildings, rising carbon dioxide levels can lead to stale, stuffy air and complaints like tiredness and headaches. It can affect people’s comfort and wellbeing as well as productivity. And seeing as employers have a responsibility to provide a healthy working environment, it’s not surprising more businesses are using 

For a range of reasons, including safety, security and energy efficiency, it’s useful to know what’s going on around your building at any one time. Building monitoring using contact sensors lets you see the live status of doors and windows around your building, including doors on cupboards, cabinets and fridges. You can automatically detect unlocked doors or cabinets, open or broken windows or a presence in a room, and automate building controls based on live occupancy.

These sensors work by detecting heat emitted by people. When a person enters a sensor’s field of view, the sensor detects motion and tells you someone is present within that space. The sensor continues to monitor the space and can send you regular occupancy updates. These types of sensor are GDPR and privacy-compliant solutions as no images or personal information is stored or transmitted. Our PIR sensors come in varying forms, some as units which stick to your walls or ceiling, others which are placed under desks. They are unobtrusive, easy to install, low maintenance and a great cost-effective option.