Chapter 14 Flashcards
______ _______is the planned, systematic, and coordinated introduction of air and removal of hot gases and smoke from a building.
Tactical Ventilation
If a window fails or a door is opened on the windward side of a structure, fire intensity and spread can increase significantly, creating a “_________” effect
Blowtorch
_______ and ________are two types of solar power systems that fire and emergency personnel are most likely to encounter.
Thermal and Photovoltaic
Type __ construction consists of framing materials that include wood 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 inch studs. Most structures built in cold climates mandate __-inch exterior wall cavities for increased insulation.
Type V
6 inch
Thermal or Chemical Decomposition of a solid material by heating, generally resulting in the lowered ignition temperature of the material;the Pre-ignition combustion phase of burning during which heat energy is absorbed by the fuel, which in-turn gives of flammable tars, pitches, and gases; often precedes combustion
Pyrolysis
In a compartment fire, _______ __ _____ ______ is one of the most fundamental Class A fuel characteristics influencing fire development.
Surface-to-mass ratio
Device used to secure a machine’s power switches, in order to prevent accidental re-start of the machine.
Lockout/Tagout device
Sudden, dangerously rapid increase in fireline intensity at a wildland fire; caused by any one or more of several factors, such as strong or erratic wind, steep uphill slopes, large open areas, and easily ignited fuels. (IFSTA)
Blow up
______ _____ construction is commonly found in churches, schools, mercantile buildings, and residential structures.
Type III
Home assembled on site consisting of constructed panels made of foam insulation sandwiched between sheets of plywood
Individual panels are normally __ feet wide by up to __ feet long
Panelized Home
8 feet wide by up to 40 feet long
May indicate that the fire is in the early stages of development. Watch the danger of high ceilings; they can hide the dangers of a fire that is in later stages. A _______ ______ _______can also indicate a fire above your level.
High Neutral Plane
structural members created from layers of composite plywood or OSB; these beams will ignite more easily and fail more quickly than wood members.
Laminate beams or trusses
Liquid Petroleum Gas, commonly called Propane, is stored in pressurized tanks on property where natural gas is unavailable. Propane, an odorless gas that is _____ than air, is transported by rail air and tanker truck.
Heavier
Treat the Solar power system and panels as a Class __ fire.
Class C
By reading smoke, the ISO can judge the ____ __ ____ or ____ involved and the progress of the fire
Types of fuel
Fuels
_____ __ construction typically features very few concealed spaces that contribute to fire spread.
Type IV
_____on the exterior of buildings often indicate installed reinforcements (tie rods and anchor plates) designed to reinforce weakened walls or bowstring trusses
Stars
_____ smoke is common in mid-stage heating as moisture mixes with gases and carbon as pyrolysis increases (It is also common in mid- to late-stage heating). Indication of unfinished wood burning. ________ colored smoke usually indicates Clean wood burning, such as a fire involving Structural wood members.
Brown
Carmel
Type of structural framing used in some single-story and multistory wood frame buildings; Studs are continuous from the foundation to the roof, and there may be no fire stops between the studs.
Balloon-Frame Construction
Only about ___ percent of all factory-built housing starts are modular homes.
6 percent
Cooling can extinguish solid fuels and liquid fuels with_____ ______ _____.
High Flash Points
Residential structures built after ____ burn hotter, faster, and produce more smoke with flammable properties than traditional or legacy construction.
1990
A ___ _____ can also make determining the extent of fire development more difficult.
High Ceiling
During this initial phase of fire development, radiant heat warms the adjacent fuel and continues the process of pyrolysis
Incipient Phase
Natural Gas is an odorless gas that is ______ than air. In order to detect the presence of natural gas, gas utilities use an additive called _________ to give it its distinctive rotten egg odor.
Lighter
Mercaptan
Mostly mortise and tenon, also called post and beam or brace frame.
Pre-20th Century
Standard on Manufactured Housing
NFPA 501
Rapid vaporization of a liquid stored under pressure upon release to the atmosphere following major failure
of its containing vessel. Failure is the result of over-pressurization caused by an external heat source, which causes the vessel to explode into two or more pieces when the temperature of the liquid is well above its boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure.
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
Stage of a fire at which all surfaces and objects with a space have been heated to their ignition temperature, and flame breaks out almost at once over the surface of all objects in the space
Flashover
Backdraft occurs in the ______ stage, in a space containing a high concentration of heated flammable gases that lack sufficient oxygen for flaming combustion.
Decay
Any ventilation that occurs outside of planned tactics such as ventilation from failed structural components, wind conditions, or firefighters acting outside of assigned tactics.
Unplanned Ventilation
Total amount of heat produced or released, to the atmosphere from the convective-lift phase of a fire, per unit mass of fuel consumed per unit time, expressed in Kilowatts or British Thermal Units (BtU)
Heat Release Rate
Lightweight truss design noted by the bow shape, or curve, of the top chord
Bowstring Truss
The lower fire resistive rating of lighter weight materials used in this construction makes these buildings more prone to collapse.
Type II
Best practices for backing apparatus:
Preposition lights to illuminate the area where the spotter will stand (approximately __ -__ feet
8-10 feet
Flames in the hot gas layer that indicate the hot gas later is within its flammable range and has begun to ignite; often observed immediately before a flashover.
Isolated Flames
________ ______ events at emergency incidents are a leading cause of firefighter illness and death.
Cardiac-Related
Buildings that are classified as _____ ___, noncombustible or limited combustible, construction are composed of materials that will not contribute to fire development or spread.
Type II
Ability of a structure or a material to provide a predetermined degree of fire resistance;
.
Fire Resistive
Construction type in which exterior walls, bearing walls, floors, roofs, and supports are made completely or partially of wood or other approved materials of smaller dimensions than those used in Type IV construction.
Type V
Thermal properties of a compartment include:
Maintains temperature by slowly absorbing and releasing large amounts of heat
Retention
Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for members during Emergency Operations and Training Excercises
NFPA 1584
It is estimated that more than __ percent of roof systems are constructed using a truss system.
60 percent.
Winds as slow as ____ mph can be deadly if personnel are not alert to the rapidly changing conditions.
10 mph
Structures comprised primarily of composite materials such as laminate beams or oriented strand board (OSB) and lightweight steel or wood components. Structural components are often installed prefabricated and may be secured with adhesives.
Engineered Construction
Generally, wind speeds greater than ___ mph will reduce aerial ladder load capacity.
20 mph
The ________ _______ of gases, sometimes referred to as Heat Stratification and Thermal Balance, is the tendency of gases to form into layers according to temperature.
Thermal Layering
__________ represents a transition from the growth stage to the fully developed stage.
Flashover
Description of the process of a solid beginning to emit gases due to heat exposure
Pyrolize
Thermal properties of a compartment include:
Increases fire spread through the transfer of radiant heat from wall surfaces to adjacent fuel sources
Heat Reflectivity
Ratio of the surface area of the fuel to the mass of the fuel.
Surface to Mass ratio
Building ___________ and _________ ______ have a profound effect on fire behavior and development.
Construction
Construction materials
_______structures are often incorrectly referred to as being fireproof.
Type 1
Instantaneous explosion or rapid burning of superheated gases that occurs when oxygen is introduced into an oxygen- depleted confined space. The stalled combustion resumes with explosive force; may occur because of inadequate or improper ventilation procedures.
Backdraft
_____ smoke contains high quantities of carbon particles and is an indicator of the amount of ventilation available at the seat of fire. The thicker the smoke, the less clean burning and the less oxygen available as smoldering fires produce massive amounts of _____smoke
Black
______ ______ can cause smoke to remain close to the ground, obscuring visibility of the building.
High Humidity
use of Romex® wiring containing one strand of copper and one of aluminum became prevalent; the use of two dissimilar metals in wiring resulted in electrical fires in receptacles and switch boxes
1960’s Construction
Thermal properties of a compartment include:
Contains heat within the compartment, causing a localized increase in the temperature and fire growth.
Insulation
________ is a possible and significant indicator of flashover
Rollover
A _______ ____ connects heat through the ceiling, which in turn radiates heat back down toward the room some distance away.
Ceiling Jet
Mostly Platform Frame Construction
Post World War II (1950 and Newer)
Wooden structural panel formed by gluing and compressing wood strands together under pressure. This material has replaced plywood and planking in the majority of construction applications. Roof decks, walls, and subfloors are all commonly made of _____.
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
The type of fuel involved in combustion affects the ____ _____ _____.
Heat Release Rate
Rating assigned to a material or assembly after standardized testing by an independent testing organization; identifies the amount of time a material or assembly will resist a typical fire, as measured on a standard time-temperature curve.
Fire Resistive Rating
Smoke explosions are violent because they involve _______ ____ and ______. This process is similar to ignition of propane and air within its flammable range. The smoke is generally cool, less than ______°F (600°C), and located in void spaces connected to the fire or in uninvolved areas remote to the fire.
Premixed Fuel and Oxygen
1,112
Structure consisting of the elements of both modular design and panelized construction. Core modular units are assembled first and panels are added to complete the structure.
Hybrid Modular Structure
Fire fighting tactic intended to reduce available oxygen to a fire and create a controlled
flow path in a structure for tactical ventilation, firefighter survivability, and occupant survivability.
Door Control
As an estimate, ___GPM of water adds __ ton(s) of weight per minute to the structure.
250 GPM
1 TON
The Propane Industry uses an additive called_____ _____ to give the gas a distinctive odor
Ethyl Mercaptan
The total quantity of combustible contents of a building, space, or fire area is referred to as the _____ ______
Fuel Load
Short-lived, high intensity fire in a small area at a wildland fire.
Flaring
Type IV, As a general rule, these structural members will be greater than __inches in dimension with a fire resistance rating of ___hours. The dimensions of all structural elements, including columns, beams, joists, and girders, must adhere to minimum dimension sizing. Any Other materials used in construction and not composed of wood must have a fire resistance rating of at least __ hour.
8 inches
2 hours
1 hour
Most fires that develop beyond the incipient stage become _________ ________.
Ventilation Controlled.
Wind-driven conditions can occur in any type of structure. Wind speeds as low as ___ MPH can create wind-driven conditions.
10 MPH
_______ ______ is the quantity of smoke visible.
Smoke Volume
Construction type in which exterior walls and structural members are made of noncombustible or limited combustible materials, but interior structural members, including walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs, are completely or partially constructed of wood.
Type III
A construction method in which a floor assembly creates an individual platform that rests on the foundation. Wall assemblies the height of one story are placed on this platform and a second platform rests on top of the wall unit. Each platform creates fire stops at each floor level restricting the spread of fire within the wall cavity.
Platform Frame Construction
Heavy timber construction in which interior and exterior walls and their associated structural members are made of noncombustible or limited combustible material; interior structural framing consists of heavy timber with minimum dimensions larger than those used in Type III construction.
Type IV
During flashover, the volume of the fire can increase from approximately ___ to ____ of the room’s upper volume to filling the entire volume of the room and potentially extending out of any openings in the room.
1/4 to 1/2
Construction type in which structural members, including walls, columns, beam, floors, and roofs, are made of noncombustible
or limited combustible materials and have a Specified degree of fire resistance.
Type 1 Construction
Indicated by speed which can be turbulent (bubbling, boiling, or active) or laminar (smooth straight). Fast, turbulent, or active smoke means there is a serious working fire and/or an imminent flashover. Turbulent black smoke has lots of particles and, indicative of vent-controlled smoke, has heat. It pushes from openings, rolling up a structure’s sides as more smoke pushes out into it. ________/______ _______ smoke that is thin and fast-moving is heat-pushed, not under ventilated, and is exiting from openings near active flaming fire. (IFSTA)
IFSTA. Fire and Emergency Services Safety Officer, 2nd Edition. Fire Protection Publications, 11/2015. VitalBook file.
Heat Pushed
Laminar/Straight Line
Composed of at least one inlet opening, one exhaust opening, and the connecting volume between the openings.
The direction of the flow is determined by difference in pressure; heat and smoke in a high pressure area will flow toward areas of lower pressure.
Flow Path
Dwelling that is the assembly of four major components: the chassis and the floor, wall, and roof systems; although they
are constructed of steel, wood, plywood, aluminum, gypsum wallboard, and other materials, they
are basically frame construction
Manufactured Home
A fire with adequate oxygen in which the heat release and growth rate are determined by the characteristics of the fuel, such as quantity and geometry.
Fuel Controlled
Now, fires involving synthetics, plastic, resins, polymers and products made from hydrocarbon derivatives will give off large quantities of _____ smoke.
Black
When released, natural gas is ________ and can be explosive under the right conditions.
Flammable
Once the area fills up with smoke, the speed with which it exits is a significant indicator. Fast exiting smoke indicates a large fire and/or a high rate of fire spread. Slower smoke exits in slow rolls that are not turbulent or active.
Volume Pushed Smoke Conditions
structures, especially private residences, are more frequently constructed using engineered materials and systems. Engineered materials allow for more open floor plans and wider variety in room arrangement, but these materials also fail more quickly when exposed to heat. These construction components may be referred to as engineered systems, integrated hybrid systems, or composite engineered systems
2000 to the present
Rapid transition from the growth stage to the fully developed stage is known as ________
Flashover
______ smoke is the same temperature as the air around it and is often found in air-conditioned buildings or fires that are sprinkler-controlled.
_______ or ______ smoke will move according to air currents and indicates a small, early stage fire, mostly containing moisture from the first stage of pyrolysis. It could also mean a deep-seated fire in a large building, but the smoke is cooling off as it travels.
Floating
Floating or hanging
High noise levels can also lead to a condition called ______ _______. ______ ______ can cause people to concentrate so closely on one task that they lose their sense of situational awareness.
Tunnel Hearing
Fire with limited ventilation in which the heat released rate or growth is limited by the amount of oxygen available to the fire.
Ventilation Controlled
____ ______smoke indicates that pyrolysis (chemical change by heat) is occurring in areas adjacent to the main body of fire. Indicates moisture and gases are being released from the product. _____ smoke has lost particles because the particles have cooled from travel, water, and the addition of cold air.
Light White
White
Could indicate that the compartment has not ventilated yet and that flashover is approaching.
.
Mid-level Neutral plane
Mostly Balloon Frame Construction
Early 20th Century (1900 to 1950)
Manufactured homes built before ____have less fire resistance than those of current construction
1976
As this plume reaches the ceiling, hot gases begin to spread horizontally across the ceiling in what firefighters have historically call Mushrooming. However, in scientific or engineering terms, it is referred to as a _______ ____
Ceiling Jet
Pyrolysis Zones: Stage 1:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Stage 2:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Stage 3:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Stage 4:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Less than 392 degrees
392-536 degrees
536-932 degreee
Greater than 932 degrees
Current estimates indicate that manufactured homes make up ___ percent of all housing sales in the U.S.
25 percent
May indicate that the fire is reaching backdraft conditions. This occurrence could also mean a fire is below you.
Very Low-level Neutral plane
Modern trusses are generally spaced __ inches apart, and this spacing can contribute to early roof failure and provide large openings that firefighters can fall through
24 inches
The boundary between wildland areas and residential growth has become known as a _______ ______ _______.
Wildland Urban Interface
Building assembled at the factory in two or more all inclusive sections. All utilities and mill work are also installed at the factory, and connected when the building is delivered to a site.
Modular Building
_________controlled fires will sometimes pulse smoke out of openings in a closed structure.
Ventilation
In 10 minutes, a master stream delivering 250 gallons per minute (1 000 L/min) can add approximately __ tons of weight to the structural components.
10 tons
________ _____ has a high surface-to-mass ratio and will continue to burn after it has liquified.
Polyurethane Foam
Condition in which the unburned fire gases that have accumulated at the top of a compartment ignite and flames propagate through the hot-gas layer
or across the ceiling.
Rollover
____smoke indicates a combination of Mixing Smoke Colors. It can indicate mid-stage heating with white, brown, or black, or it can occur when different smoke areas combine. It may also indicate changes in smoke production as the fire’s heat increases from mid-stage to high.
Gray (gray area of mixing smoke colors)
Form of fire gas ignition; the ignition of accumulated flammable products of combustion and air that are within their flammable range.
Smoke Explosion
_____ smoke indicates that the heat release rate has risen, combustion has begun and carbon has begun to mix with released moisture.
Brown
Cold temperatures can cause snake to appear _____ and give a false impression of the interior conditions based upon the color of smoke.
White
Almost 1 million residential roof structures were constructed utilizing fire retardant plywood sheathing; these roofs disintegrate rapidly and only had a maximum 10-year lifespan. Although most of these roofs have been replaced, some may still be found.
1980s and 1990s Construction
Level at a compartment opening where the difference in pressure exerted by expansion and buoyancy of hot smoke flowing out of the opening and the inward pressure of cooler, ambient temperature air flowing in through the opening is equal.
Neutral Plane
When the fire becomes Ventilation controlled, the fires heat released rate will _______
Decrease
As the fire moves through the growth stage and becomes ventilation-controlled, _______ ________ may be observed moving through the hot gas layer.
Isolated Flames
Common, prevailing, and uncontrolled atmospheric weather conditions. The term may refer to the conditions inside or outside of the structure.
Ambient Conditions
OSHA defines a pressurized vessel as one which operates above ___ pounds per square inch gauge
15 pounds
_____ _____is the movement of fresh air toward the base of a fire and the movement of smoke and heated gases out of a structure
Flow path
While no exact temperature is associated with flashover, it typically occurs at ______°F (approximately 590°C) ceiling temperature.
1,100
Fire can grow and spread rapidly through the upper portions of trees in what are known as _______ ______
Crowning Fires
When a compartment fire enters the decay stage due to a lack of oxygen, the rate of heat release also _______.
Declines
