Startup Specializing in Fire Protection Raises $15 Million to Harness Innovative Sound Technology for Fighting Destructive Fires

For over a hundred years, fire safety protocols have predominantly depended on water and chemical treatments. Although these conventional methods are effective in tackling large blazes, they often result in significant cleanup expenses.

Nonetheless, this methodology is experiencing a shift. Sonic Fire Tech is pioneering a groundbreaking sound-based fire protection system designed to extinguish fires almost immediately while sidestepping the challenging cleanup issues associated with water and chemical solutions. On Monday, the company announced it had secured $15 million in funding, primarily from The O.H.I.O. Fund, with additional support from Khosla Ventures. Last October, the startup successfully raised $3.5 million in seed funding.

This new funding will enable the Ohio-based firm to expand its team and carry out necessary testing to gain approval from the National Fire Protection Association, which sets code standards for fire services across the country.

While the standard approval timeline is about three years, co-founder and CEO Geoff Bruder shared with TechCrunch that Sonic Fire Tech’s schedule could be “significantly shorter.”

Bruder’s optimism is, in part, based on the unique benefits of Sonic Fire Tech’s system: it substantially reduces the messy cleanup often tied to fire suppression, which could facilitate a faster approval process. He remarked, “there’s no need for cleanup” with their solution, unlike conventional methods requiring complex setups.

This efficiency in testing could lead to significant real-world benefits. For example, commercial kitchens often endure lengthy restoration and cleanup periods post-fire, with nearly 75% being unable to reopen, as highlighted by Remington Bixby Hotchkis, COO of Sonic Fire Tech, in discussions with TechCrunch.

Sonic Fire Tech’s innovative fire suppression system employs a sound generator that emits inaudible frequencies through PVC pipes installed in the ceiling. Upon detecting flames, the sensors trigger the generator, which emits infrasonic waves at around 20 Hz specifically aimed at the fire.

“We are the only technology that generates its own suppressant without causing collateral damage. False alarms are much less of a concern for us,” Hotchkis explained. “We can deploy in seconds.”

This quick-response capability could significantly reduce fire damage and has attracted interest from the insurance sector. The startup is currently in talks with insurers to explore whether their system might qualify for premium discounts, potentially speeding up the technology’s adoption.

The system also demonstrates effectiveness in tackling fires initiated by lithium-ion batteries, notorious for their extinguishment difficulties. In preliminary evaluations, Bruder noted, “we don’t fully extinguish a lithium-ion fire, but we can contain it.” He added, “If we can prevent the outer casing from igniting, we could limit the spread of the fire between cells and diminish the overall fire size.”

Sonic Fire Tech is developing systems designed to protect the interiors of commercial buildings, kitchens, and homes, making them applicable for both new builds and renovations. The company is also creating a solution to safeguard residences in areas prone to wildfires, although this project has encountered delays due to difficulties in securing an appropriate testing facility.

In addition to enabling quicker fire suppression, Sonic Fire Tech’s system may also help in reducing restoration costs when necessary.

Currently, around 500 jurisdictions mandate indoor fire protection systems. Bruder notes that 50% of residential fires originate in kitchens, usually due to grease or electrical issues. Even a small Sonic Fire Tech system tailored for kitchen spaces could greatly lower the risk of catastrophic house fires and potentially lead to reduced insurance premiums. “Traditional sprinklers are insufficient for handling these kinds of fires,” Bruder emphasized.