Innotech Control Systems has been an industry leader in the design and manufacture of quality HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) controls for 20 years, and is now leveraging its reputation and expertise to expand and diversify into a new and challenging field – research and development of a system to improve existing communication and safety in hostile-environment situations such as fire fighting.

The result of this research and development is a product now known as the Innotech Guardian Safety System. Developed with Innotech-patented technology, the Guardian Safety System consists of three separate components which are available as individual units or as a complete integrated system.

The first product in the system, Innotech Guardian-Comms, has been in the production stage since early 2005. Fire fighting professionals have been heavily involved with the testing of Guardian-Comms to ensure the product not only meets Innotech’s stringent criteria, but more importantly that it will meet the requirements of the operational fire fighter.

After extended operational trials, feedback from end users has been exceedingly positive, with an overwhelming majority of those who have tested the gear displaying enthusiasm about the product’s comfort, performance and ease of use. As a result of these successful evaluations, Innotech has received orders for a significant number of Guardian-Comms equipment.

It is expected that Guardian Safety Systems products will improve existing communication and safety in hostile environment situations such as fire fighting. The System will be marketed globally, with research indicating that broader applications exist in other hostile environments in industries such as mining, construction, forestry, and aviation.

Our History

In Australia, facing death or serious injury is a normal part of life for the
250,000 fire fighters responsible for serving the safety of the community.
In 1994, two of these brave fire fighters met their deaths at what later
became known as the Southport Honda Fire. Recommendations following a coronial inquiry into this incident referred specifically to the inadequacy of existing communications systems and incident command practices.

These findings prompted two fire fighters to approach Innotech Controls' Managing Director, Steve Miranda, in July 2001 with a proposal to design and develop systems to improve existing fire-ground communication and accountability.

Thus Innotech embarked on a two and a half year, $2.3 million project to
develop the Innotech Guardian Safety System.
Innotech contributed 50% of the funding to this project, with the Australian Commonwealth Government contributing the remaining 50% of funds through AusIndustry’s R&D Start program.