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For over a century, fire protection has been limited to water and chemicals. And while they can prevent catastrophic fires, the cleanup bills can be significant.<\/p>\n
But maybe not for long. Sonic Fire Tech<\/a> is testing a sound-powered fire protection system, which it says snuffs out fires within seconds while also sparing properties from messy water and chemical damage. The company announced Monday that it has raised a $15 million round led by The O.H.I.O. Fund with participation from Khosla Ventures. The startup previously raised a $3.5 million seed<\/a> in October.<\/p>\n The fresh funding will help the Ohio-based startup hire more employees and run the battery of tests needed to earn approval from the National Fire Protection Association, which writes model codes adopted by fire departments around the country.<\/p>\n Approval typically takes about three years, but co-founder and CEO Geoff Bruder told TechCrunch he thinks that Sonic Fire Tech\u2019s process will be \u201csignificantly shorter than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Part of Bruder\u2019s optimism stems from the fact that Sonic Fire Tech\u2019s system doesn\u2019t leave a mess after a fire suppression event, which should speed up the process. The tests are conducted in a lab and preparation can take hours. With Sonic Fire Tech\u2019s system, \u201cthey don\u2019t have to do cleanup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n That advantage in the lab could pay dividends in the real world. Commercial kitchens, for example, can face months of cleanup and restoration following a fire. Some 75% of them don\u2019t reopen, Remington Bixby Hotchkis, Sonic Fire Tech\u2019s COO, told TechCrunch.<\/p>\n Sonic Fire Tech\u2019s acoustic fire suppression system uses a sound generator to pump inaudible sound through PVC pipes in the ceiling. When sensors in a room detect a fire, the generator kicks in and infrasonic waves, around 20 Hz, bombard the flames.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are the only technology that creates its own suppressant without collateral damage. False alarms are less of a concern for us,\u201d Hotchkis said. \u201cWe deploy within seconds.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n That speedy response could stop fires before they cause significant damage, which has the insurance industry interested. The startup is in talks with insurers about whether the system will qualify for premium discounts. The insurance industry\u2019s acceptance could speed adoption of the company\u2019s product.<\/p>\n The system also shows promise when applied to lithium-ion battery fires, which are among the most challenging to put out. In the few tests Sonic Fire Tech has run so far, \u201cwe don\u2019t put out a lithium-ion fire, but we contain it,\u201d Bruder said. \u201cIf we\u2019re able to keep the outer casing from lighting fire, we can potentially stop cell-to-cell spread and limit the size of the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Sonic Fire Tech is working on systems to protect the interiors of commercial buildings, kitchens, and homes, both for new construction and retrofits. The company has also been working on a system to safeguard the exterior of homes in wildfire country, though development of that has progressed more slowly as the startup waits for time at a suitable testing lab. <\/p>\n In addition to quicker fire suppression, Sonic Fire Tech\u2019s system promises to lower restoration costs, if any are needed.<\/p>\n Today, about 500 jurisdictions mandate interior fire protection systems. But Bruder points out that 50% of home fires start in the kitchen, whether they be grease or electrical fires. Even a small Sonic Fire Tech system, focused on the kitchen, could go a long way to minimizing the risk of catastrophic house fires, lowering premiums in the process. \u201cSprinklers that they\u2019re putting in now can\u2019t handle those fires,\u201d Bruder said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n