LoRaWAN Sensors in Schools: What CF25 Means for Your Specification
If you're deploying LoRaWAN sensors into a school project under the DfE's Condition Factor 25 (CF25) framework, you've likely hit a wall: the spec excludes battery-powered devices.
It's a reasonable requirement. A school with 40 wireless sensors distributed across three floors creates a real maintenance burden if every device needs batteries replaced on a different cycle. The DfE wants systems that work long after the project team has left site — and batteries don't always cooperate.
The problem is that most LoRaWAN sensors ship battery-powered by default. So here's an honest look at what your four main options actually are — across the four sensor families we distribute.
Milesight AM102L / AM103L
The most widely specified environmental sensors in the BMS market right now. Excellent range, reliable BACnet output via the UG65 gateway, well-documented Niagara integration.
Power: Battery only (2x AA). No mains or USB-C power option on these models.
CF25 verdict: ❌ Not directly compliant as shipped. If Milesight is your preferred platform, the conversation needs to happen at spec stage — either a different product or a wired alternative for this project type.
MClimate CO2 Display lite
This is the one that changes the conversation. The CO2 Display lite is solar-powered via an organic indoor solar panel — no battery, no mains cable, no maintenance cycle. It measures CO2, temperature, humidity, and light, and displays readings on an e-ink screen. It also supports USB-C for initial charging or supplementary power in low-light spaces.
CF25 verdict: ✅ Compliant. No battery. Works in standard indoor lighting conditions. If the space has reasonable ambient light, this device runs indefinitely without intervention.
One honest caveat: very dark spaces — windowless storerooms, internal corridors with no daylight — may need USB-C supplementary power. Worth checking the lux level before specifying.
Tektelic HARMONY
The HARMONY is Tektelic's LoRaWAN smart thermostat. Notably, it runs on continuous wired mains power — no battery at all. It delivers thermostat functionality with BMS integration via LoRaWAN, making it one of the few actively controlled LoRaWAN devices that passes a strict no-battery requirement.
CF25 verdict: ✅ Compliant. Wired power, no battery dependency. If your application is zone temperature control rather than pure monitoring, HARMONY is worth specifying.
Note: The Tektelic BREEZE and BREEZE-V sensors (IAQ + CO2 + occupancy) run on 2x AA batteries with 4–9 year life. Long-life, but still battery-powered — they don't pass a strict no-battery spec.
Enless Wireless
Enless sensors are almost entirely battery-powered — that's by design, and the battery life is excellent (5–10 years depending on model). The TX CO2 T&H AMB runs on a D-type battery with up to 5 years autonomy.
CF25 verdict: ❌ Not directly compliant. Enless is the right answer for a lot of applications — particularly where you need ruggedised sensors, PT1000 probe temperature, ATEX certification, or BACnet/Modbus native output without a separate gateway. But if battery exclusion is a hard requirement on a CF25 project, Enless isn't the path for that specific job.
The honest summary
| Vendor | Sensor | CF25 Power Compliant? |
|---|---|---|
| Milesight | AM102L / AM103L | ❌ Battery only |
| MClimate | CO2 Display lite | ✅ Solar / USB-C |
| MClimate | HT Sensor, CO2 Notifier | ❌ Battery only |
| Tektelic | HARMONY | ✅ Wired mains |
| Tektelic | BREEZE / BREEZE-V | ❌ Battery (long life) |
| Enless | Full range | ❌ Battery only |
For a CF25 school project requiring environmental monitoring, the MClimate CO2 Display lite is currently the strongest compliant option. For zone temperature control, the Tektelic HARMONY fills the gap.
Mix them with a Milesight UG65 gateway and a Niagara integration, and you have a complete, CF25-compliant LoRaWAN deployment.
Before you spec, talk to us
INNON® distributes all four of these sensor families. We don't have a preference — we have a responsibility to make sure you're specifying the right device for the right application. If a sensor won't pass your funding spec, we'd rather tell you now than let you find out on site.
If you're working on a CF25 project and want to sense-check your specification before it goes to procurement, book a free consultation.