UL certifies MetroStar, ActionStreamer IRIS respirator intrinsically safe

MetroStar recently announced its Integrated Respirator Information System (IRIS), developed in partnership with ActionStreamer, was certified intrinsically safe by UL.

Developed to enhance mission-critical operations in hazardous environments, IRIS is currently being rolled out by ActionStreamer - under MetroStar’s guidance - to U.S. Air Force (USAF) fuel tank maintenance teams working on KC-135 and C-130 aircraft, two vital airframes in the U.S. military’s global mobility fleet.

The companies said this certification clears a path for expanded deployment across the USAF and Department of Defense (DoD).

“With UL certification now in hand, IRIS stands as a true force multiplier for sustainment teams working in hazardous environments,” said Bob Lento, ActionStreamer CEO. “This milestone reflects years of collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and validates our commitment to delivering purpose-built technology that improves safety, readiness, and mission effectiveness.”

Football livestream led to partnership

The original idea for IRIS came to USAF maintainers while watching Monday Night Football.

ActionStreamer builds enterprise-grade live streaming infrastructure and wearable video systems for confined spaces, hazardous zones, and mission-critical environments to connect front-line workers with real-time visibility and smarter decision-making tools.

These include industrial maintenance and defense operations, as well as livestreaming for NFL helmets.

MetroStar, which provides AI-enabled systems to U.S. government agencies, teamed up with ActionStreamer to develop IRIS.

Developed to address longstanding USAF safety challenges

Designed specifically for aircraft maintainers operating in confined, hazardous environments, IRIS combines full-face respirators, POV video cameras, and secure connectivity to deliver real-time visibility and two-way communication during fuel tank inspections.

IRIS was originally conceived by the USAF fuel maintenance community to address longstanding safety and efficiency challenges during confined space inspections and maintenance.

The system was battle-tested through the USAF Spark Tank innovation program, sponsored by USAF Logistics Innovation Tesseract team, and is now fully mission ready, moving from concept to wide-scale implementation across the DoD.

IRIS projected to save 35,000 labor hours, $15 million annually

Certified by UL as intrinsically safe, IRIS meets the highest global standards for operation in explosive atmospheres - an essential requirement for aircraft maintenance work in fuel vapor environments. The certification validates IRIS as a trusted, field-ready system for one of the most demanding sustainment tasks in the USAF.

In a recent USAF evaluation, the IRIS system was projected to save over 35,000 labor hours annually, reduce sustainment costs by $15 million, and increase aircraft availability by more than 7,000 mission-ready days.

The companies said these outcomes highlight the operational value of integrating wearable video systems with cloud-based, AI-enabled collaboration tools in aircraft sustainment operations.

“As the former logistic leader, I know firsthand the challenges our maintainers face in confined, high-risk environments,” said Cedric George, Major General (Ret.), MetroStar VP of DAF strategy and growth, and former USAF director of logistics. “The deployment of IRIS is a game changer for safety and communication and for driving measurable gains in aircraft availability and mission readiness. At MetroStar, we’re honored to help bring this innovation to the field and support the Air Force’s transformation toward smarter, AI-enabled sustainment.”

With its planned deployment across KC-135 and C-130 maintenance teams, IRIS is helping sustainment leaders increase fleet availability, reduce safety risks to our valued service members, and streamline workflows without compromising mission readiness.