As fire risk to residential properties increases—particularly in wildfire-prone regions and urban areas with high-density housing stock—so does the demand for more effective, less damaging, and easier-to-install fire suppression systems for homes.

In recent years, innovative companies have begun to challenge the century-old dominance of traditional ceiling-sprinkler systems. In this article, we cover two intriguing approaches coming from Sonic Fire Tech and Automist by Plumis: the former uses acoustic “infrasound” suppression, while the latter leverages high-pressure water-mist targeting.

Enclosed is an overview of how these systems work, why they matter, and what the future could hold for residential fire safety.

Table of Contents

Also see:

 

Why New Fire Suppression Solutions are Needed

For decades, conventional, overhead, ceiling mounted fire sprinkler systems have been the standard for suppressing residential fires.

Sonic Fire Tech tiny demo house in Pacific Palisades getting prepped for a live fire suppression demonstration

Sonic Fire Tech’s tiny demo house in Pacific Palisades prepped for a live fire suppression demonstration

But this approach has several persistent drawbacks:

  • High Water Usage: sprinklers often rely on large volumes of water to drown a fire, which can lead to serious water damage, especially in a home environment where water from every activated head floods rooms.
  • Installation and Retrofit Difficulties: traditional sprinklers often require space for pipework, water storage tanks (in some setups), or mains capable of heavy flow—sometimes impractical in older buildings, small homes, or remodels.
  • Collateral Damage Risks: water flooding, damage to sensitive equipment or possessions, structural soaking, and costly cleanup.
  • Lack of Water During Conflagrations: during multipoint firestorms, firefighting personnel often need to cutoff water to individual homes to conserve water for their prioritized efforts.
  • Problematic Durability & Reliability: sprinkler systems are prone to rusting and/or creating mold issues over time, causing many homeowners to opt for shutting off water to these systems.

Because of those challenges, many homes—especially in regions where sprinklers are not required—remain unprotected beyond smoke alarms and extinguishers. The result: in a fire event, even a modest blaze can quickly escalate into a total-loss catastrophe.

This gap has inspired innovators to rethink fire suppression from the ground up—focusing on:

  • Faster Detection
  • Targeted Response
  • Minimized Collateral Damage, and
  • Ease-of-Retrofit

 

Automist’s “Smart-Mist” Sprinkler Alternative

Automist is a modern fire suppression system designed as a more flexible, less invasive alternative to traditional fire sprinkler systems. Unlike ceiling-mounted sprinkler heads, Automist uses wall-mounted nozzles paired with a compact pump that draws from the normal domestic water supply—no big storage tanks or oversized mains required.

Automist mounted nozzle spraying a fine mist

A wall-mounted Automist nozzle spraying a fine mist.
Image courtesy of Plumis

When smoke or excessive heat is detected, the system triggers a high-pressure spray that emits a fine water-mist directly toward the fire source. Because the droplets are very small, they evaporate quickly, absorbing heat and reducing oxygen—extinguishing or significantly suppressing the fire with much less water than a fire sprinkler.

Automist Fire-Heat-Activation Curve Chart

Automist Fire-Heat-Early Activation Curve Chart, that uses EmberTrack AI™ for intelligent heat sensing and machine learning to assess how a fire is developing in real time.
Image courtesy of Plumis

Key benefits of Automist

  • Much Lower Water Usage: Automist only uses around 5.6 liters per minute—often ~90% less water than a conventional sprinkler system. This dramatically reduces the risk of post-fire water damage.
  • Targeted Suppression: Rather than flooding an entire room, the system aims mist directly at the fire, preserving unaffected areas.
  • Faster Activation and Response: Automist’s detection (heat/smoke alarm) and activation are faster than many older sprinkler systems, giving occupants more time to escape, while reducing fire growth.
  • Easier to Retrofit: Because there’s no need for bulky tanks or major plumbing upgrades, Automist can often be installed in existing homes or apartments where sprinklers are impractical.
  • Less Disruption & Aesthetic Fit: Wall-mounted spray heads can be discreet, blending more easily into modern interiors than conspicuous ceiling sprinklers.

Automist installed sensor-nozzles exhibited at WestEdge 2025

Automist installed sensor-nozzles exhibited at WestEdge 2025

Variants and Use Cases

Automist comes in several variants:

  • Automist Smartscan® / Smartscan Hydra®: Plumis’ most advanced system that uses multiple spray heads per pump, infrared targeting, and a “scan-then-spray” method for precise fire suppression.
  • Automist Fixed Wall-Mount: a simpler, lower-cost option better suited to small rooms or conversion layouts.

These systems are particularly appealing for residential homes, apartments, heritage buildings, or any living space where minimizing water damage, preserving aesthetics, and enabling open floor plans are desirable.

Automist, Fire Sprinkler Alternative: Insights from a Fire Chief, Insurer, and Installer

Automist, Fire Sprinkler Alternative: Insights from a Fire Chief, Insurer, and Installer

 

Sonic Fire Tech’s “Zero-Damage” Infrasound Suppression

By contrast, emerging innovators are exploring solutions that move beyond traditional fluid-based suppression altogether. One of the most striking directions shifts the focus from managing water distribution to preventing flame formation at its earliest stage. This next class of technologies aims to eliminate damage risk entirely by intervening before heat, smoke, or structural disruption can occur—setting the stage for a fundamentally different approach to residential fire protection. Enter Sonic Fire Tech.

Sonic Fire Tech Acoustic Copper piping on a test house

Sonic Fire Tech acoustic copper piping on a test house

 

What is Sonic Fire Tech?

Sonic Fire Tech—a startup founded by former aerospace/NASA acoustics engineers—is pioneering a radically different kind of fire suppression:

acoustic fire defense, using low-frequency infrasound

Rather than using water or chemicals, the system emits inaudible sound waves designed to neutralize embers and early ignition sources before a flame can fully develop.

Their flagship residential product is branded as Sonic Home Defense, which claims to provide 24/7 suppression capability without the need for water, foam, or chemicals—and with zero collateral damage even during activation.

In late 2025, Sonic Fire Tech announced a commercial rollout of this system, including installations in California’s wildfire-prone communities—a sign the technology is transitioning from concept to real-world deployment.

The company was also named an honoree in the Smart Home category of the CES 2026 Innovation Awards.

The video below shows two distinct demos—one held at Hope Ranch, CA, and the other in San Bernardino County, CA—which showcase Sonic Fire Tech’s Home Defense System and the prototype backpack unit for first responders in action.

Sonic Fire Tech - Demos

 

How Sonic Fire Tech Works and Why It’s Different

Close up view of the Optect IR3 flame detector used by the Sonic Fire Tech acoustic fire suppression system

Close up view of the Optect IR3 flame detector sensor used by the Sonic Fire Tech acoustic fire suppression system. Installed on their Santa Barbara test home

  • Detection & Early Response: The system uses state-of-the-art IR3 (Triple Infrared) sensors by Optect to detect embers and ignition threats in real time—before flames take hold. Traditional suppression systems are reactive, damaging, and difficult to deploy at scale.
  • Infrasound Suppression: When triggered, the system emits low-frequency sound waves that disrupt the combustion process—effectively depriving the fire of the conditions it needs to propagate (heat, oxygen, chain reaction)—without using water, foam, or chemicals.
  • No Collateral Damage: Because the system does not use any water or chemical spray, there’s no flooding, no residue, no risk to electronics or furnishings, and no cleanup. Homeowners don’t risk water damage or damaged interiors when the system activates—whether intentionally or accidentally.
  • Always Ready, Even Off-Grid: The system is designed to run autonomously, including with battery backup, providing constant protection even during power outages or water supply issues.
  • No Storage Necessary for Suppressants: instead of having dedicated sources of water or chemical spray solutions, only a moderately sized acoustic converter box is needed to generate acoustic waves that flow through the connected acoustic ducting system.

Sonic Fire Tech comparison table with other fire suppression systems

How Sonic Fire Tech compares its acoustic suppression method to other fire suppression systems
Image courtesy of Sonic Fire Tech

Optect Promo Video

Optect Promo Video

 

What Makes Sonic Fire Tech Significant Now

  • Wildfires and urban fire risk are growing—both in frequency and intensity—and traditional suppression systems were not designed with these challenging conditions in mind. Sonic Fire Tech argues acoustic suppression could offer Zone Zero Perimeter Defense, proactively preventing ember-driven ignition before it starts.
  • The system aligns with growing demand—from homeowners, insurers, and regulators—for non-toxic, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly fire suppression solutions. There’s no water waste, no PFAS or other chemical runoff, and minimal maintenance.
  • For homeowners in wildfire-prone or water-limited areas—such as parts of California—such a waterless, automatic system could become a real game-changer.

Sonic Fire Tech's acoustic converter box in their tiny demo home in Pacific Palisades

Sonic Fire Tech’s acoustic converter box in their tiny demo home in Pacific Palisades

 

Market Trends & the Bigger Picture

  • New analyses of the U.S. fire-protection market indicate growing interest in smart, efficient fire suppression systems for residential and multi-residential buildings. Demand is particularly increasing in states with high construction rates and wildfire risk (e.g., California, Texas).
  • The rollout of Automist to the U.S. market—via distribution partnerships (e.g., with major suppliers)—suggests water-mist residential suppression is becoming more accessible outside its initial UK/European market.
  • On the cutting edge, research continues into fire-retardant materials and novel suppression methods. For instance, a 2025 academic study described polymer-particle hydrogels that—under heat—expand into a porous, insulating barrier, offering passive fire retardancy and extended protection against wildfires or sustained heat exposure.
  • There is also growing interest in integrating smart detection and IoT into fire systems, using sensors to detect ignition early, automate suppression, and even supply remote alerts or integrate with home automation systems.

 

What This Means for Homeowners

  • If you’re building a new home or remodeling—especially in wildfire-risk zones—systems like Automist or the acoustic solution from Sonic Fire Tech could provide state-of-the-art fire safety without sacrificing design or interior aesthetics, while not imposing water supply constraints.
  • For older homes lacking sprinkler infrastructure, water-mist systems (like Automist) offer a retrofit-friendly option that avoids major plumbing work and reduces risk of water damage if triggered.
  • For high-risk homes—e.g., in areas subject to embers, wildfires, or limited water supply—infrasound-based, waterless suppression might offer a compelling future path, especially if regulatory, insurance, and safety certifications are fully adopted.
  • These systems also reflect a broader shift in fire safety thinking: from “spray everything” to smart, targeted, and minimally invasive protection—especially suitable for modern, open-plan, or electronics-heavy homes
  • We also expect to see applications of innovative fire suppression and detection technology, such as Sonic Fire Tech, to be incorporated within new or existing master planned communities. HOA communities will have incentive to take a holistic approach to creating well-defended neighborhoods, not just isolated residences.

 

Challenges & Uncertainties

That said, this new generation of innovative fire suppression systems also faces several hurdles:

  • Wider Certification and Regulation: Traditional sprinkler systems are backed by decades of standards, regulations, and certification regimes. Newer systems—especially infrasound-based or less-common water-mist solutions—may face uncertainty in regulatory acceptance, building codes, and insurance underwriting. For example, with their latest round of venture funding, Sonic Fire Tech will be seeking certification from major bodies, e.g.: FM Global; UL (Underwriters Laboratories); and public safety authorities).
  • Real-World US-Based Track Record: Water-mist systems such as Automist have a long history (especially in Europe), but in the U.S. their adoption is still limited—performance under American building codes, usage patterns, and home layouts may vary.
  • Cost and Installation Logistics: Even though Automist is marketed as retrofit-friendly, installing any suppression system involves some or all of the following: plumbing; wiring; detectors; and on-going maintenance. Acoustic systems may require custom design and sensor coverage to ensure full protection.
  • Inherent Unknowns for Emerging Technologies: For acoustic/infrasound suppression, while the claims are impressive (silent, waterless, prevention before ignition, etc.), long-term real-world data is still limited. Homes subject to extreme wildfire conditions, embers, variable winds, and complex ignition sources may still pose unanticipated challenges.
  • Public Awareness and Adoption Risk: Many homeowners and builders remain unfamiliar with non-traditional suppression tech—so uptake may lag until these systems become mainstream, tested, and widely offered.

 

What’s Next for Residential Fire Suppression?

  • Broader Deployment and Certification: As companies like Automist expand into the U.S. and firms like Sonic Fire Tech complete testing and approvals, we may soon see water-mist and acoustic suppression systems included in building codes or offered as standard upgrades—particularly in high-risk zones.
  • Hybrid Systems and Multi-layered Defense: Future homes may combine several fire-protection strategies: early detection sensors; water-mist or acoustic suppression; passive fire retardants (e.g., intumescent gels or coatings); aging in place/dementia-related solutions; and smart home integration.
  • Eco- and Resource-Conscious Design: Waterless or low-water suppression will be increasingly attractive in drought-prone or water-restricted regions, aligning fire safety with sustainability goals.
  • Resilience for Wildfires & climate-driven fire risk: With more frequent and intense wildfires—especially in states like California—suppression systems that can operate off-grid (battery backup, no water dependency) will become more valuable.
  • Smarter Detection and AI/IoT Integration: Future fire suppression will continue to incorporate AI-driven detection (smoke, ember, heat patterns), real-time alerts, remote monitoring, and automated suppression—minimizing human response time and maximizing safety.
  • Holistic Fire Resilience for Communities: The next generation of innovative master planned communities will also incorporate hybrid, multi-layered fire suppression solutions to protect neighborhoods as cohesive entities, not just a collection of individually resilient residences.

Here are more examples of innovative fire suppression technologies and solutions:

 

Closing Thoughts

The landscape of residential fire suppression is indeed undergoing the early stages of a paradigm shift, as executives from Sonic Fire Tech remind the industry. What was once a fairly static domain—chiefly ceiling-mounted sprinklers and fire extinguishers—is now evolving rapidly, driven by changing fire risk, evolving home design, and technological innovation.

Solutions like Automist and Sonic Fire Tech show that modern fire protection can be smarter, cleaner, less damaging, and more adaptable to contemporary living. For homeowners—especially in fire-prone areas, retrofit situations, or water-limited regions—these innovations offer a compelling alternative to traditional sprinklers.

While no system is a silver bullet, the goals of emerging fire suppression solutions are clear:

  • Early and accurate detection
  • Targeted suppression
  • Minimized collateral damage
  • Efficient use of suppressants and related resources
  • Seamless integration with home design
  • Creative openness to working within hybrid, multi-layered environments
  • Solutions for emerging fire challenges – e.g. lithium batteries (thermal runaway fires)

 

Resources

 

Recommended Home Safety Articles

 

Purgula is reader-supported. When you click on links to other sites from our website, we may earn affiliate commissions, at no cost to you. If you find our content to be helpful, this is an easy way for you to support our mission. Thanks! Learn more.