Sonic Fire Tech Develops Sound-Wave Fire Suppression

The Ohio company's system uses infrasound to disrupt flames without water or chemicals, with certification expected in 2027.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Financial Planning

Photograph of a cylindrical acoustic driver mounted on a concrete wall, with a metal duct running along the ceiling of a plain industrial room. — Sonic Fire Tech, an Ohio company, is developing a system that uses infrasound through building ducts to disrupt fires without water or chemicals, with certification expected in 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you pay about $30,000 for a sound-based fire system in your home?

Sonic Fire Tech is developing a fire-suppression system that uses low-frequency sound waves to fight flames. The system is designed to disrupt combustion around flames without spraying water or chemicals.

Why it matters

The technology could offer an alternative to traditional suppression methods for homeowners and building operators. Its effectiveness on larger fires and on lithium-ion battery fires has not been fully established.

An installation in a 3,500-square-foot home is estimated at about $30,000, or roughly $8.50 per square foot. Testing has not established whether the system can fully extinguish larger fires or lithium-ion battery fires.

The players

Sonic Fire Tech

Sonic Fire Tech is an Ohio-based company developing a sound-wave fire-suppression system.

Michael J. Gollner

Michael J. Gollner is a mechanical engineering professor at UC Berkeley who commented on the technology's performance against smaller fires at close range.

The details

The system connects an acoustic generator to ducts installed throughout a building. When sensors detect a fire, it sends out infrasound below the range people can hear, and the company says it can also tackle grease fires.

Sonic Fire Tech's first fire and safety certification is expected in 2027.

Financial Planning Context

Conventional water-based and chemical suppression systems remain the standard reference point for building fire protection costs. A sound-based system that avoids water and chemicals would add a new option that homeowners weigh against those established costs.

Homeowners considering a sound-based system would need to budget for installation at an estimated $8.50 per square foot, or about $30,000 for a 3,500-square-foot home. Buyers should wait for certification and independent testing before relying on the system for larger fires.

The takeaway

Homeowners comparing fire-protection options should weigh installation cost against proven performance, since this system's effectiveness on larger and battery fires is still unconfirmed.