Fire Protection Startup Utilizes Innovative Sound Technology to Raise $15 Million for Battling Catastrophic Fires

For over a century, fire protection has predominantly depended on water and chemical agents. While these conventional approaches can prevent catastrophic fires, the ensuing cleanup costs can be significantly high.

However, this situation may soon change. Sonic Fire Tech is developing a cutting-edge sound-based fire protection system intended to extinguish fires almost instantly, while avoiding the complex aftermath associated with water and chemical damage. The company announced on Monday that it has secured $15 million in funding, primarily from The O.H.I.O. Fund, along with additional backing from Khosla Ventures. Previously, the startup had raised $3.5 million during a seed funding round last October.

This recent funding will allow the Ohio-based firm to grow its team and conduct the rigorous testing necessary to obtain approval from the National Fire Protection Association, which establishes model codes that fire departments across the country utilize.

Though the approval process typically spans about three years, co-founder and CEO Geoff Bruder informed TechCrunch that Sonic Fire Tech’s timeline could be “significantly shorter.”

Bruder’s optimism is partly due to the unique advantages of Sonic Fire Tech’s system: it eliminates messy cleanup after a fire is put out, which could accelerate the approval process. While testing usually occurs in labs that require extensive preparation, with Sonic Fire Tech’s solution, “they don’t have to do cleanup,” he remarked.

This testing efficiency could be advantageous for real-world implementations. For instance, commercial kitchens often face lengthy restoration and cleanup periods following a fire, with nearly 75% never reopening, as highlighted by Remington Bixby Hotchkis, COO of Sonic Fire Tech, during his conversations with TechCrunch.

Sonic Fire Tech’s advanced fire suppression system incorporates a sound generator that emits inaudible frequencies through PVC tubing fixed in the ceiling. When flames are detected by sensors, the generator activates, releasing infrasonic waves at around 20 Hz to target the fire.

“We are the only technology that generates its own suppressant without causing collateral damage. False alarms are less concerning for us,” Hotchkis asserted. “We can deploy within seconds.”

Such swift response times could substantially reduce fire damage, stimulating interest from the insurance sector. The startup is currently collaborating with insurers to ascertain whether their system might qualify for premium discounts, which could accelerate the adoption of their technology.

The system also has the potential to tackle lithium-ion battery fires, which are notoriously challenging to extinguish. In preliminary tests, Bruder pointed out, “we don’t completely extinguish a lithium-ion fire, but we contain it.” He added, “If we can prevent the outer casing from igniting, we could limit cell-to-cell fire spread and reduce the overall fire size.”

Sonic Fire Tech is designing systems intended to protect the interiors of commercial buildings, kitchens, and homes, suitable for both new constructions and renovations. The company is also developing a solution aimed at safeguarding residences in wildfire-prone areas, although progress on this initiative has been slower due to delays in obtaining access to a suitable testing laboratory.

In addition to facilitating quicker fire suppression, Sonic Fire Tech’s system could also lower restoration costs when necessary.

Currently, around 500 jurisdictions mandate indoor fire protection systems. Bruder highlights that 50% of home fires originate in kitchens, whether due to grease or electrical issues. Even a compact Sonic Fire Tech system specially tailored for kitchen settings could significantly reduce the risk of destructive house fires and potentially help lower insurance premiums. “The current sprinklers are insufficient for addressing these types of fires,” Bruder confirmed.