Chapter 5 Flashcards
The smallest particle of an element, which can exist alone or in combination.
Atom
A deflagration (explosion) resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion.
Backdraft
A hot, high-volume, high-velocity, turbulent, ultra-dense black smoke that indicates an impending flashover or autoignition.
Black fire
The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
Boiling point
An explosion that occurs when pressurized liquefied materials (e.g., propane or butane) inside a closed vessel are exposed to a source of high heat.
Boiling liquid/expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE)
A colorless, odorless, electrically nonconductive inert gas that is a suitable medium for extinguishing Class B and Class C fires.
Carbon dioxide
A toxic gas produced through incomplete combustion.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Energy that is created or released by the combination or decomposition of chemical compounds.
Chemical energy
A fire in ordinary combustible materials, such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.
Class A fire
A fire in flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and flammable gases.
Class B fire
A fire that involves energized electrical equipment.
Class C fire
A fire in combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
Class D fire
A fire in a cooking appliance that involves combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats).
Class K fire
A space completely enclosed by walls and a ceiling. Each wall in the compartment is permitted to have openings to an adjoining space if the openings have a minimum lintel depth of 8 in. (200 mm) from the ceiling and total width of the openings in each wall does not exceed 8 ft (2.4 m). A single opening of 36 in. (900 mm) or less in width without a lintel is permitted when there are no other openings to adjoining spaces.
Compartment
A chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or a flame.
Combustion
Heat transfer to another body or within a body by direct contact.
Conduction
The stage of fire development within a structure characterized by either a decrease in the fuel load or available oxygen to support combustion, resulting in lower temperatures and lower pressure in the fire area.
Decay stage
Heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or a liquid.
Convection
Heat that is produced by electricity.
Electrical energy
Reactions that absorb heat or require heat to be added.
Endothermic
The lowest temperature at which a liquid will ignite and achieve sustained burning when exposed to a test flame in accordance with ASTM 92
Fire point
A geometric shape used to depict the four components required for a fire to occur: fuel, oxygen, heat, and chemical chain reactions.
Fire tetrahedron
A rapid, persistent chemical reaction that releases both heat and light.
Fire
Reactions that result in the release of energy in the form of heat.
Exothermic
The range in concentration between the lower and upper flammable limits.
Flammable range (explosive limits)
A geometric shape used to depict the three components of which a fire is composed: fuel, oxygen, and heat.
Fire triangle
The minimum temperature at which a liquid or a solid emits vapor sufficient to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid or the solid.
Flash point
A transition phase in the development of a compartment fire in which surfaces exposed to thermal radiation reach ignition temperature more or less simultaneously, and fire spreads rapidly throughout the space, resulting in full room involvement or total involvement of the compartment or enclosed space.
Flashover