Portable Wireless Intercom System
Rapidly deployable hazmat suit communications for temporary hazardous operations.
Full-duplex hazmat suit communications
FIELD COMMAND MONITORING
INTEROPERABLE INCIDENT COMMUNICATION
clear communications for temporary hazardous operations
The Portable Wireless Intercom System (WIS) enables teams operating in Level A and Level B protective equipment to maintain clear voice communication during hazardous operations.
Designed specifically for encapsulated PPE environments, Portable WIS establishes communication between personnel inside protective suits and supervisory teams outside the hazard zone.
Unlike general-purpose wireless radios or temporary communication systems, WIS supports continuous hands-free communication, enabling personnel to focus on hazardous tasks while maintaining constant coordination.
Portable WIS deployments are commonly used during:
- temporary hazardous work zones
- industrial shutdowns and maintenance outages
- hydrazine fueling operations
- emergency hazmat response incidents
Communication coverage can be established rapidly, allowing hazardous operations to begin with clear voice coordination and continuous situational awareness.
Portable Deployment for Hazardous Work Zones
Hazardous operations rarely allow time for complex communications setup. Portable WIS is designed so teams can establish HAZMAT suit communications quickly and get to work safely
A typical deployment includes:
- portable repeater with integrated antennas
- C-AT VHF radios worn by suit personnel
- Vocal-cord vibration microphone (accelerometer-based)
- Headset for high-noise environments
- Optional large push-to-talk “Big Button” for half-duplex operation
- optional distributed antennas for expanded coverage
The repeater is placed within the operational area and the integrated antennas are raised. Suit personnel attach the throat microphone, headset, and radio as part of the normal suit-up process.
Communication is rapidly operational for hazardous work with clear voice coordination between suit personnel and operational oversight.
When larger work zones require additional coverage, distributed antennas can be deployed to extend communications across the operational area.
The system is built for fast, straightforward deployment, enabling hazardous operations teams to establish communications in minutes without complex configuration or network setup.
Scalable Communication for Hazardous Work Teams
Each WIS repeater supports up to six suit personnel operating on the same communication channel.
Multiple Portable WIS systems can be deployed to support additional work teams operating in separate hazardous zones.
Operational configurations may include:
- Independent teams operating on separate WIS systems in different work zones
- coordinated teams operating on a shared communication channel
Extending Communications Beyond the Work Site
Portable WIS systems can operate independently within a hazardous work zone, but they can also integrate with broader incident communication networks when operations require extended coordination.
Using the C-AT Incident Commanders’ Radio Interface (ICRI), WIS communications can be bridged to other radio systems, command centers, additional HAZMAT sites or remote coordination locations without requiring teams to replace their existing equipment.
The ICRI gives the ability to extend WIS communications beyond the immediate work site via satellite transport such as Starlink or other Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks, enabling voice coordination between suit personnel, field supervisors, remote teams and remote operational oversight.
When a Portable WIS repeater is connected to an ICRI gateway, the system can link hazardous work teams to each other and with command elements or technical specialists outside the operational area.
This architecture enables hazardous operations teams to maintain coordination across multiple operational zones, incident command locations, and remote support teams when mission requirements demand extended communications.
Operational Scenarios Where Extended Communications May Be Required
Extended communications can be critical during high-risk operations where hazardous work teams must coordinate with remote command centers, technical specialists, or multi-agency response organizations.
Examples may include:
- Hydrazine or hypergolic fueling operations, where suit personnel must coordinate with mission control or remote safety engineers.
- Large industrial shutdowns, where multiple hazardous work zones are established across a facility during maintenance or outage procedures.
- Chemical incident response, where hazmat teams in protective suits must remain connected with regional emergency operations centers.
- Multi-site critical infrastructure incidents, where hazardous operations teams working at separate facilities must coordinate with centralized command authorities.
- Remote hazardous operations, where technical specialists or safety authorities are located offsite but must monitor operations in real time.
- National-level emergency response operations, where incident command may require real-time communication with personnel operating inside encapsulated protective equipment.
In these scenarios, bridging WIS communications through the C-AT Incident Commanders’ Radio Interface (ICRI) allows suit personnel, operational supervisors, and remote command elements to maintain coordinated voice communications during hazardous procedures.
This capability supports PACE communication planning and COOP continuity operations during emergency or degraded infrastructure scenarios.
Flexible Communication Modes
Portable WIS systems support multiple communication modes depending on operational requirements.
Full Duplex (Hands-Free):
Continuous voice communication typically used by personnel operating inside hazardous work zones.
Half Duplex (Big Button Push-to-Talk):
Large push-to-talk controls designed for use with protective gloves, commonly used in airlock areas, staging zones, or support positions.
Operators select the communication mode before entering the suit, allowing facilities to configure communications based on operational procedures or the radios connected to the system.
This flexibility enables Portable WIS systems to support both continuous team coordination and traditional radio-style communication during hazardous operations.
Procurement and Acquisition
Portable WIS supports multiple acquisition paths for Government, Industrial, and Integrator-led deployments.
View full procurement and acquisition options on the main WIS page.
Engineering and Deployment Consultation
Every Hazardous Environment presents unique Structural, Operational, and Communication challenges.
Portable WIS provides a deployable communication system engineered specifically for personnel operating inside encapsulated protective equipment.
By enabling continuous voice communication between suit personnel and supervisory teams, Portable WIS improves coordination, situational awareness, and operational safety during hazardous procedures.
The system architecture supports rapid deployment, flexible communication modes, and integration with broader incident communication systems.
Deploy Hazmat Suit Communications Anywhere
Establish communication coverage for hazardous operations when permanent infrastructure is unavailable or insufficient.