Sonic Fire Tech Secures $15M to Develop Sound-Wave Fire Suppression Technology
Ohio-based startup Sonic Fire Tech has secured $15 million in fresh funding to advance an acoustic fire suppression system designed to extinguish blazes in seconds using low-frequency sound waves rather than traditional water or chemical retardants.
What Happened
Sonic Fire Tech announced that it raised a $15 million investment round led by the O.H.I.O. Fund, alongside participation from Khosla Ventures. This round follows an earlier $3.5 million seed investment raised in October.
The company plans to deploy the capital to expand its workforce and complete extensive laboratory testing required for certification by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which develops model fire safety codes widely adopted across the United States. While NFPA certification typically spans roughly three years, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Bruder expressed confidence that the startup’s timeline will be shorter because acoustic suppression leaves no chemical residue or water damage, drastically cutting cleanup intervals between lab tests.
Key Highlights
- Funding Details: Secured $15 million in a round led by the O.H.I.O. Fund, joined by Khosla Ventures, building on a $3.5 million seed round.
- Acoustic Mechanism: Employs an acoustic generator that drives inaudible, low-frequency infrasound (approximately 20 Hz) through ceiling-mounted PVC pipes directly at flames once sensors detect a fire.
- No Collateral Damage: Extinguishes flames within seconds without water or chemical agents, mitigating the costly property destruction and prolonged downtime typically caused by traditional fire suppression.
- Lithium-Ion Fire Containment: In early testing, the acoustic waves have helped contain lithium-ion battery blazes by shielding outer casings from igniting, thereby limiting fire size and checking cell-to-cell propagation.
- Commercial and Residential Deployment: Systems are being designed for interiors of homes, commercial properties, and kitchens, with exterior wildfire defense systems also under early development.
Why This Matters
Traditional fire safety solutions have relied on water and chemicals for more than a century. Although effective at stopping total loss, these conventional methods frequently leave behind immense water and chemical destruction. According to Sonic Fire Tech Chief Operating Officer Remington Bixby Hotchkis, commercial kitchens often face months of rehabilitation following an event, and approximately 75 percent never reopen.
Additionally, approximately half of all residential fires originate in kitchens from grease or electrical faults, which Bruder noted modern ceiling sprinklers struggle to tackle. Eliminating cleanup requirements and deploying suppressants within seconds offers significant property restoration savings. These operational advantages have prompted active discussions with insurance providers regarding prospective premium discounts for properties utilizing the technology.
What to Watch Next
Sonic Fire Tech is focusing on passing laboratory evaluations to secure NFPA clearance and is continuing negotiations with insurers regarding premium incentives. Concurrently, the company is progressing development on interior retrofits and new builds, while seeking access to specialized testing facilities to advance its exterior wildfire defense system for residential structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Sonic Fire Tech extinguish flames?
When ceiling sensors detect a fire, a sound generator distributes inaudible infrasonic sound waves of roughly 20 Hz through PVC pipes, targeting and snuffing out flames in seconds without using water or chemical substances.
Can the acoustic system put out lithium-ion battery fires?
According to CEO Geoff Bruder, the system does not completely extinguish lithium-ion battery fires in tests conducted so far, but it contains them by preventing the outer casing from catching fire, which helps restrict cell-to-cell fire spread.
Why is NFPA approval significant for the startup?
The National Fire Protection Association writes model codes utilized by fire departments nationwide. Securing NFPA certification is essential for broad regulatory acceptance and commercial implementation.
Source: TechCrunch.