Sonic Fire Tech Raises $15 Million to Advance Waterless Sound Firefighting
A startup is betting that invisible low-frequency waves could protect kitchens, buildings, and battery systems while avoiding the costly damage traditional sprinklers leave behind.
Ohio-based American startup Sonic Fire Tech has raised $15 million in a new funding round. The round was led by O.H.I.O. Fund, with participation from Khosla Ventures. The company develops sound-based fire suppression systems designed to stop fires without water, foam, or chemical agents.
Previously, Sonic Fire Tech raised $3.5 million in seed funding in October. The startup plans to use the funds to expand its team and conduct the testing required for approval by the National Fire Protection Association. This organization develops model fire safety standards for the United States.
Co-founder and CEO Geoff Bruder believes the certification process could take less than the usual three years. According to him, one advantage of the technology is that there is no need to deal with the aftermath of a test activation of the equipment.
How Sonic Fire Tech extinguishes fires with sound
Sonic Fire Tech’s fire suppression system uses sound waves that are inaudible to humans. PVC pipes are installed along ceilings indoors, while sensors are designed to detect the presence of fire. Once a fire is detected, a generator produces infrasound at a frequency of around 20 Hz, which affects the flames.
This approach could be useful for facilities where using water can cause as much damage as the fire itself. These include commercial spaces, kitchens, and homes, where the activation of traditional systems often requires repairs to equipment, furniture, and finishes.
We are the only technology that creates its own extinguishing agent without causing collateral damage. False alarms are less of a problem for us. We activate within seconds.
Sonic Fire Tech expects that the system’s rapid response will make it possible to contain a fire at an early stage – before it spreads through a building and causes major damage. Avoiding water and chemicals could also reduce restoration costs after an incident.
Protecting commercial kitchens and lithium-ion batteries
The company sees commercial kitchens as one of the main markets for its sound-based fire suppression technology. Remington Bixby Hotchkis noted that around 75% of such establishments do not resume operations after a fire and lengthy restoration work.
The startup is also testing the system to contain fires involving lithium-ion batteries. According to Geoff Bruder, during tests the technology did not completely extinguish a battery fire, but it helped contain it. This could reduce the risk of flames spreading from one battery cell to another.
We do not extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire, but we contain it. If we can prevent the outer casing from catching fire, we can potentially stop the spread between cells and limit the scale of the fire.
Insurance and installation in homes
Sonic Fire Tech is in talks with insurance companies about potentially reducing insurance premiums for owners of properties equipped with such systems. Support from insurers could become an important factor in the wider adoption of acoustic fire suppression.
The company is developing solutions for indoor spaces in commercial buildings, kitchens, and homes. The systems are planned for installation both in new construction and as upgrades to existing properties.
Sonic Fire Tech is also working on protecting the exterior parts of homes in areas at risk of wildfires. This direction is progressing more slowly because the company needs access to a specialized laboratory for testing.
Geoff Bruder estimates that about half of residential fires start in the kitchen, due to grease fires or electrical faults. The startup believes that compact sound-based systems for kitchens could help contain such fires, especially in homes where conventional sprinklers do not always deliver the desired results.
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