Home Assistant Partners with Sensor Maker Heiman
The open-source home automation platform Home Assistant announced that security sensor manufacturer Heiman is its first official "Works With" partner for 2026. Heiman produces devices like smoke, water, and carbon monoxide alarms, including the first Matter-certified CO alarm. The partnership aims to provide more plug-and-play options for DIY smart home users.
- The "Works with Home Assistant" program, which certifies devices for seamless local operation, added 12 partners in 2025, more than in the two years since its launch in 2022. - Prior to this partnership, Heiman produced sensors using other protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave, which, like their new Matter devices, can operate locally without relying on cloud services. - Heiman's Matter-certified devices communicate over Thread, a low-power mesh network protocol, which enhances reliability and energy efficiency for battery-powered sensors. - The certification of Heiman's carbon monoxide alarm is significant as it's the first of its kind in the program, which previously only included one certified Zigbee smoke alarm. - The technical specifications for Matter 1.2, which these Heiman devices use, include specific support for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as a distinct device category. - The "Works with Home Assistant" program is managed by the non-profit Open Home Foundation, which took it over in August 2024 to emphasize its commitment to privacy, choice, and sustainability over commercial interests. - Nabu Casa, the for-profit entity started by the founders of Home Assistant, funds the Open Home Foundation and the partner program through sales of hardware and subscriptions to its Home Assistant Cloud service. - As part of the partnership, Heiman has committed to engaging with the Home Assistant community to gather feedback and collaborate with developers on new safety scenarios.
