Security fog is an alarm-triggered system that fills a protected room with dense, harmless fog within seconds of a confirmed intrusion. The intruder can't see the shelves, the counter, the safe, or the way they came in. In most break-ins that is enough. They leave, usually empty-handed, before police or a patrol have even been dispatched.
It's a simple idea, and it fixes the one thing cameras and alarms can't. A camera gives you evidence tomorrow. An alarm tells someone what's happening now. Fog is the only layer that physically interrupts the theft while it's in progress, without harming anyone.
Why "record and report" isn't enough
Most commercial burglaries are over in a few minutes. Someone forces a door, grabs what's within reach, and is gone long before a police cruiser could reasonably arrive. A monitored alarm shortens the response, and a live operator using a talk-down speaker can make some intruders think twice. But a determined thief who knows they have three or four minutes will use them.
Fog takes those minutes away. Once visibility drops to near zero, there's nothing to grab and no easy way to find the exit. That's the whole point.
How a fog system works
A fog system has three parts: a fog generator, a supply of fog fluid, and a trigger.
The generator is a wall- or ceiling-mounted unit, roughly the size of a small heater, kept warm and ready at all times. When it's triggered, it vaporizes the fluid and discharges it at high speed, filling the room in seconds.
The trigger comes from your alarm system. At KingsGuard we integrate the Fog units with Verkada alarm panels: when a sensor or camera detects an intrusion while the site is armed, the alarm panel's relay output fires the fog unit. We can configure it to discharge instantly on alarm, or only after one of our monitoring operators has confirmed on video that the alarm is real.
The fog clears with normal ventilation and, according to the manufacturer, leaves no residue on stock, electronics, or surfaces.
What's in the fog?
This is the first question everyone asks. UR Fog states that its fog fluid has been assessed as not dangerous to people or animals and that it leaves no residue. For food and beverage environments, the manufacturer offers a food-grade fluid with food-contact certification. The fog is a visual barrier, not a chemical one. It doesn't harm the person standing in it; it just makes it impossible for them to see.
About UR Fog
UR Fog is made in Turin, Italy. The company describes itself as the world's first manufacturer of security fogging systems and says it exports to more than 80 countries. Its range runs from a compact unit that protects roughly 390 cubic metres, about the size of a typical retail store or stockroom, up to high-capacity systems covering 4,500 cubic metres for warehouses and large open floors. There's also a battery-powered model for locations without reliable power.
One detail matters more than it sounds: UR Fog units are insulated so they keep working for 1.5 to 3.5 hours after a power cut, according to the manufacturer. Cutting the power is often the first thing a burglar does. The fog still fires.
UR Fog reports that an alarm combined with security fog prevents theft in 97 percent of cases, compared with 17 percent for an alarm alone. That figure is the manufacturer's, but it matches what fog is designed to do.
Where security fog makes sense
Fog earns its keep anywhere high-value, easily carried stock sits in a defined space:
- Jewellery and watch retailers
- Cannabis retail
- Trading card, collectibles, and coin shops
- Pharmacies
- Cellphone and electronics stores
- ATMs, cash rooms, and cash-handling areas
- Warehouse cages holding high-value inventory
- Server rooms and records rooms
- Garages and showrooms
It's less useful in very large open spaces without a clear target, or anywhere people are present around the clock, since the system is armed only when the site is empty.
What KingsGuard handles
A fog system is only as good as its placement and its integration. We assess the site and size the unit for the room, position it so the fog blocks the path to the goods rather than trapping anyone, and wire it into your Verkada alarm. We coordinate with your fire alarm and monitoring station so a fog discharge is never mistaken for a fire, install signage, keep the fluid topped up, and test the system annually. For clients on our Ajax alarm platform, UR Fog's "Ajax Ready" units work there too.
Fog is one of those products people don't believe until they've seen it fill a room. Book a fog demonstration and we'll show you.
- Security Fog
- UR Fog
- Alarms
- Retail
- Ontario