The frient Air Quality Sensor (AQSZB-110) is a Zigbee 3.0 battery-powered indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity sensor. The device measures the concentration of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, in the air and reports an air quality status to the connected Zigbee system based on the measured value.
VOC detection is used to monitor changes in organic gases originating from various indoor sources. These substances may be released into the air when using cleaning products, paints, adhesives, furniture, or other household products. Ventilation notifications or automations can be configured based on the measurement data.
In addition to VOC levels, the built-in sensors also measure room temperature and relative humidity. These three measurements can be used together to monitor the indoor environment, for example to detect high humidity, dry air, or deteriorating air quality.
The device operates with two replaceable AA batteries. According to the manufacturer, the expected battery life is approximately two years with reporting every five minutes. Through Zigbee 3.0, it can be integrated with systems including Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, SmartThings, and Homey. Available data and settings depend on the device support provided by the Zigbee hub being used.
About frient
frient is a Denmark-based company that develops and manufactures Zigbee-based smart home devices. Its product range includes door and window sensors, motion sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, air quality sensors, water leak detectors, vibration sensors, smoke and heat alarms, smart plugs, energy meters, and other smart home accessories.
frient products use the standard Zigbee 3.0 protocol, making them compatible with a wide range of Zigbee gateways. They are supported by Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA, SmartThings, Homey, and many other Zigbee-based systems. Available features may vary depending on the gateway and its device support.
Key Product Features
- Three measurement functions: The device measures VOC levels, ambient temperature, and relative humidity.
- VOC measurement: Monitors the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the air.
- Air quality status: Converts the measured VOC value into a multi-level text-based air quality category.
- Temperature measurement: Measures room temperature between 0 and +50 °C.
- Humidity measurement: Monitors relative humidity across a range of 0–100% RH.
- Five-minute reporting: During normal operation, the device transmits measured data every five minutes.
- Battery operation: Uses two replaceable AA batteries.
- Compact design: The 70 × 70 × 21 mm enclosure can be mounted on a wall or another suitable indoor surface.
Smart Home Protocols and Platform Compatibility
- Zigbee 3.0: Uses low-power wireless communication. A compatible Zigbee gateway or coordinator is required.
- Home Assistant: The frient Air Quality Sensor is supported under the Works with Home Assistant programme. It can be used in a local system with a compatible Zigbee adapter.
- Zigbee2MQTT: Supported as model AQSZB-110. VOC concentration, air quality category, temperature, humidity, battery level, battery voltage, and low battery status are available.
- MQTT integration: When Zigbee2MQTT is used, measurement data can be transmitted to connected systems through MQTT messages.
- ZHA: Can be used through the Home Assistant Zigbee Home Automation integration. The entities created depend on the integration version and current device support.
- Samsung SmartThings: Can be used with a compatible SmartThings Zigbee hub. The range of displayed measurement data depends on platform support.
- Homey: VOC, temperature, and humidity data can be used in flows and notifications through the frient integration.
- Local operation: When used with Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, or ZHA and a local Zigbee coordinator, measurement data can be processed without an internet connection.
Smart Features
- VOC concentration: In supported integrations, the measured volatile organic compound concentration can be displayed as a numerical value.
- Air quality category: In Zigbee2MQTT, air quality may be displayed as excellent, good, moderate, poor, or unhealthy.
- Temperature display: The measured temperature can be displayed, logged, and shown in charts.
- Humidity display: Relative humidity history can be stored and displayed by the selected platform.
- Ventilation notification: A notification or automation can be triggered when the VOC level or air quality category exceeds a configured value.
- Ventilation control: Measurement data can be used as a condition for controlling a fan, ventilation system, window actuator, or another compatible device.
- Humidity-based automation: A dehumidifier, humidifier, or ventilation system can be activated when humidity is too high or too low.
- VOC calibration: In Zigbee2MQTT, an absolute correction can be applied to the measured VOC value.
- Temperature calibration: When Zigbee2MQTT is used, the temperature value can be corrected in software.
- Humidity calibration: In Zigbee2MQTT, the relative humidity value can be corrected.
- Battery level: Supported systems can display the remaining battery capacity as a percentage.
- Battery voltage: When Zigbee2MQTT is used, battery voltage is also available in millivolts.
- Low battery status: The need for battery replacement can be used as a separate notification condition.
- OTA firmware update: Wireless firmware updates are supported through Zigbee2MQTT.
Technical Specifications
- Product name: Air Quality Sensor
- Model: AQSZB-110
- Product type: Zigbee indoor air quality, temperature, and humidity sensor
- Wireless protocol: Zigbee 3.0
- Power supply: 2 × replaceable AA batteries
- Expected battery life: Approximately 2 years with reporting every 5 minutes
- Battery voltage resolution: 0.1 V
- Receiver sensitivity: -92 dBm
- Radio transmit power: Typically +4 dBm
- VOC measurement range: 0–60,000 ppb
- VOC resolution: 1–32 ppb
- Temperature measurement range: 0 to +50 °C
- Temperature resolution: 0.1 °C
- Typical temperature accuracy: ±0.2 °C
- Temperature sampling interval: 30 seconds
- Humidity measurement range: 0–100% RH
- Humidity resolution: 1% RH
- Typical humidity accuracy: ±2% RH within the 20–80% RH range
- Protection rating: IP20
- Operating temperature: 0 to +50 °C
- Dimensions: 70 × 70 × 21 mm
- Colour: White
- Compliance: CE, RoHS, and REACH
Additional Features
- Placement: Suitable for indoor residential or working spaces where free airflow around the device can be maintained.
- Installation height: For measuring the general room environment, it should preferably be installed near the normal occupied zone.
- Airflow: Free air movement must be maintained around the device so that room air can reach the sensor openings.
- Distance from heat sources: Placement near a radiator, oven, direct sunlight, or another heat source may cause the measured temperature to differ from the room average.
- Distance from moisture sources: Placement directly beside a shower, humidifier, or cooking surface may result in local humidity readings that differ significantly from values measured elsewhere in the room.
- VOC detection: Measurement values may be affected by cleaning products, perfumes, paints, adhesives, solvents, new furniture, and other materials that release organic gases.
- Zigbee range: Walls, ceilings, metal structures, and radio interference may reduce communication range.
- Platform-dependent features: Availability of calibration, battery voltage, air quality categories, and OTA updates depends on the Zigbee integration being used.
