Sonic Fire Tech Develops Innovative Sound-Powered Fire Suppression System

Sonic Fire Tech has unveiled a groundbreaking sound-powered fire protection system that aims to extinguish fires within seconds while avoiding the property damage associated with traditional water and chemical methods. The Ohio-based startup announced on Monday that it has secured $15 million in funding led by the O.H.I.O. Fund, with participation from Khosla Ventures. This follows a $3.5 million seed round raised in October.

The new funding will enable Sonic Fire Tech to expand its team and conduct essential tests to obtain approval from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which sets model codes for fire departments across the United States. While NFPA approval generally takes around three years, co-founder and CEO Geoff Bruder expressed optimism, suggesting that Sonic Fire Tech’s timeline may be “significantly shorter than that.”

A key factor in Bruder’s optimism is that the acoustic fire suppression system is designed to leave no mess following an event, thereby potentially expediting the testing and approval process. Bruder stated, “they don’t have to do cleanup,” contrasting it with the lengthy restoration processes often faced by commercial kitchens after a fire, where around 75% do not reopen according to COO Remington Bixby Hotchkis.

The fire suppression system operates by using a sound generator to emit inaudible sound through PVC pipes in the ceiling. Upon detection of a fire, the system activates, sending infrasonic waves, approximately 20 Hz, to disrupt the flames. Hotchkis noted, “We are the only technology that creates its own suppressant without collateral damage,” and added that false alarms are less of a concern as deployment occurs within seconds.

This rapid response capability could be crucial in preventing extensive damage, which has caught the attention of the insurance industry. Sonic Fire Tech is exploring partnerships with insurers to determine if their system might qualify for premium discounts, which could facilitate broader adoption.

Additionally, the technology shows potential in addressing lithium-ion battery fires, regarded as particularly difficult to extinguish. Bruder shared that while the system does not extinguish these fires entirely, it can help contain them: “If we’re able to keep the outer casing from lighting fire, we can potentially stop cell-to-cell spread and limit the size of the fire.”

Sonic Fire Tech is also developing systems to protect both the interiors and exteriors of commercial buildings, homes, and kitchens, with plans for both new constructions and retrofits. There’s a separate initiative to protect residences in wildfire-prone areas, though progress on that front has been slower due to lab testing availability.

Currently, about 500 jurisdictions require indoor fire protection systems. Bruder emphasizes the high risk of kitchen fires, which account for 50% of home fires, whether from grease or electrical issues. He believes even a compact version of Sonic Fire Tech’s system concentrated in kitchens could significantly reduce the risk of severe house fires, potentially lowering insurance premiums. “Sprinklers that they’re putting in now can’t handle those fires,” Bruder remarked.