Startup Betting on Infrasound Raises $15 Million to Fight Fires Without Water

A sound-based suppression system that its makers say can halt flames almost instantly — and spare buildings from water and chemical damage — has attracted fresh capital. Sonic Fire Tech announced Monday it raised $15 million in a round led by The O.H.I.O. Fund, with Khosla Ventures also participating; the company had previously closed a $3.5 million seed round last year.

The cash will expand the Ohio company’s staff and bankroll extensive laboratory work required to win approval from the National Fire Protection Association, whose model codes guide fire departments nationwide. NFPA certification often stretches over roughly three years, but co‑founder and CEO Geoff Bruder told reporters he expects a faster timeline because the firm’s tests leave test sites intact, shortening turnaround between trials. Lab set‑ups that can take a day for traditional systems, Bruder said, take far less time when crews aren’t dealing with water or chemical cleanup.

Sonic Fire Tech’s device routes low-frequency sound through ceiling-mounted PVC conduits. When smoke or heat sensors detect a blaze, a sound generator emits infrasonic pulses near 20 hertz that the company says disrupt flames and stop fires from growing. The system is designed to activate almost immediately after detection, limiting damage before firefighters arrive. The firm’s chief operating officer, Remington Bixby Hotchkis, noted that quicker intervention can be especially valuable in foodservice settings, where fires often force long closures.

The stakes are high for restaurants: the company cites industry figures indicating roughly three out of four commercial kitchens do not reopen after a significant fire. That potential for lost revenue has drawn interest from insurers, which are in talks with the startup about whether customers could earn reduced premiums for installing the units. Broad insurer buy‑in, Sonic Fire Tech argues, would speed market uptake beyond early adopters.

Sonic Fire Tech has also tested the technology against lithium‑ion battery incidents, historically among the hardest blazes to control. Bruder said early trials didn’t fully extinguish burning cells, but did keep flames contained and stopped fire from spreading from one cell to another — a result that could limit how big such incidents become. The company is positioning systems for interiors of commercial properties, kitchens and residences, both for new builds and retrofits.

Work on an exterior system to protect homes in wildfire‑prone areas is underway but moving more slowly, the company said, because suitable outdoor testing facilities are harder to access. Independent experts say acoustic suppression is an intriguing concept but caution that widespread adoption will hinge on peer‑reviewed data, real‑world trials and integration with existing sprinkler and alarm standards. One fire protection researcher, speaking generally about novel suppression methods, said regulators will want to see consistent, reproducible results before changing codes.

If regulators and insurers sign off, the technology could offer an alternate approach where traditional sprinklers struggle, the company contends. Bruder argued current water‑based systems can’t always cope with certain kitchen and battery fires, and a compact acoustic module focused on high‑risk areas might prevent small incidents from becoming catastrophic — and expensive — losses.