Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Essentials of Fire Fighting 6th Edition > Chapter 5: Fire Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 5: Fire Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Ambient Conditions

A

Common, prevailing, and uncontrolled atmospheric weather conditions. The term may refer to the conditions inside or outside of the structure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Autoignition

A

Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or flame. (NFPA 921)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Autoignition Temperature

A

The lowest temperature at which a combustible material ignites at which a combustible material ignites in air without a spark or flame. (NFPA 921)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Backdraft

A

The explosive burning of heated gases the occurs when O2 is introduced into a compartment that has a high concentration of flammable gases and a depleted supply of O2 due to an existing fire.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Buoyant

A

The tendency or capacity to remain afloat in a liquid or rise in air or gas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A

Colorless, odorless, heavier than air gas that neither supports combustion nor burns; used in portable fire extinguishers as an extinguishers as an extinguishing agent to extinguish Class B or C fires by smothering or displacing the oxygen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A

Colorless, odorless, dangerous gas (both toxic and flammable) formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon. It combines with hemoglobin more than 200 times faster than oxygen does, thus decreases the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Ceiling Jet

A

A relatively thin layer of flowing hot gases that develops under a horizontal surface (ceiling) as a result of plume impingement and the flowing gas being forced to move horizontally (NFPA 921).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Chemical Flame Inhibition

A

Extinguishment of a fire by interruption of the chemical chain reaction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Combustible Liquid

A

Liquid having a flash point at or above 100 degrees F and below 200 degrees F.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Combustion

A

A chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat an usually light in the form of either a glow or flame. (Reproduced with permission from NFPA 921-2011, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, Copyright 2011, NFPA).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Conduction

A

Transfer of heat through or between solids that are in direct contact.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Convection

A

Heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or a liquid. (NFPA 921)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Endothermic Reaction

A

Chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy or heat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Engergy

A

Capacity to perform work; occurs when a force is applied to an object over a distance, or when a chemical, biological, or physical transformation is made in substance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Exothermic Reaction

A

Chemical reaction that releases thermal energy or heat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Fire Point

A

Temperature at which a liquid fuel produces sufficient vapors to support combustion once the fuel is ignited. Fire point must exceed 5 seconds of burning duration during the test. The fire point is usually a few degrees above the flash point.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Fire

A

A rapid oxidation process, which is a chemical reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities. (NFPA 921)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Fire Tetrahedron

A

Model of the four elements/conditions required to have a fire. The four sides of the tetrahedron represent fuel, heat, oxygen, and self-sustaining chemical chain reaction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Fire Triangle

A

A model used to explain the elements/conditions necessary for combustion. The sides of the triangle represent heat, oxygen, and fuel.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Flame

A

Visible, luminous body of a burning gas emitting radiant energy including light of various colors given off by burning gases or vapors during the combustion process.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Flammable Liquid

A

Any liquid having a flash point below 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C) and a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psi absolute (276 kPa) {2.76 bar}.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Flammable (Explosive) Range

A

The range between the upper flammable limit and lower flammable limit in which a substance can be ignited.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Flashover

A

A rapid transition from the growth stage to the fully developed stage.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Flash Point

A

Minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable mixture with air near the liquid’s surface.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Fire Point

A

Temperature at which a liquid fuel produces sufficient vapors to support combustion once the fuel is ignited. Fire point must exceed 5 seconds of burning duration during the test. The fire point is usually a few degrees above the flash point.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Flow Path

A

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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Free Radicals

A

Molecular fragments that are highly reactive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Fuel

A

A material that will maintain combustion under specified environmental conditions. (NFPA 921)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Fuel-Controlled

A

A fire with adequate O2 in which the heat release rate and growth rate are determined by the characteristics of the fuel, such as quantity and geometry (NFPA 921).

31
Q

Fuel Load

A

The total quantity of combustible contents of a building, space, or fire area, including interior finish and trim, expressed in heat units of the equivalent weight in wood.

32
Q

Heat

A

A form of energy characterized by vibration of molecules and capable of initiating and supporting chemical changes and changes of state (NFPA 921).

33
Q

Heat Flux

A

The measure of the rate of heat transfer to a surface, expressed in kilowatts/meters squared, kilojoules/m squared x sec, or Btu/Ft squared x sec. (NPFA 921)

34
Q

Heat of Combustion

A

Total amount of thermal energy (heat) that could be generated by the combustion (oxidation) reaction if a fuel were completely burned. The heat of combustion is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per pound or Megajoules per kg.

35
Q

Heat Release Rate (HRR)

A

Total amount of heat released per unit time. The HRR is measured in kilowatts (kW) and megawatts (MW) of output.

36
Q

Hydrocarbon Fuel

A

Petroleum-based organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon.

37
Q

Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)

A

Colorless, toxic, and flammable liquid until it reaches 79 degrees F (26 degrees C). Above that temperature, it becomes a gas with a faint odor similar to bitter almonds; produced by the combustion of nitrogen-bearing substances.

38
Q

Ignition

A

The process of initiating self-sustained combustion. (NFPA 921)

39
Q

Incipient Stage

A

First stage of the burning process in a compartment in which the substance being oxidized is producing some heat, but the heat has not spread to other substances nearby. During this phase, the oxygen content of the air has not been significantly reduced and the temperature within the compartment is not significantly higher than ambient temperature.

40
Q

Joules (J)

A

Joules are defined in terms of mechanical energy. It is equal to the energy expended in applying a force of one newton through a distance of one meter. However, it is more useful for FFs to think about the energy required to increase temperature. 4.2 joules are required to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius.

41
Q

Kinetic Energy

A

The energy possessed by a body because of its motion.

42
Q

Lower Flammable (Explosive) Limit (LFL)

A

Lower limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite and support combustion; below this limit the gas or vapor is too lean or thin to burn (lacks the proper quantity of fuel). Also known as Lower Explosive Limit (LEL).

43
Q

Matter

A

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

44
Q

Miscible

A

Materials that are capable of being mixed in all proportions.

45
Q

Neutral Plane

A

The 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.

46
Q

Oxidation

A

Chemical process that occurs when a substance combines with an oxidizer such as oxygen in the air; a common example is the formation of rust on metal.

47
Q

Oxidizer

A

Any material that readily yields oxygen or other oxidizing gas, or that readily reacts to promote or initiate combustion of combustible materials. (Reproduced with permission from NFPA 400-2010, Hazardous Materials Code, Copyright 2010, NFPA)

48
Q

Passive Agent

A

Materials that absorb heat but do not participate actively in the combustion process.

49
Q

Piloted Ignition

A

Moment when a mixture of fuel and oxygen encounters an external heat (ignition) source with sufficient heat or thermal energy to start the combustion reaction.

50
Q

Plume

A

The column of hot gases, flames, and smoke rising above a fire; also called convection column, thermal updraft, or thermal column.

51
Q

Polar Solvents

A

Flammable liquids that have an attraction for water, much like a positive magnetic pole attracts a negative pole; examples include alcohol, ketone, and lacquer.

52
Q

Potential Energy

A

Stored energy possessed by an object that can be released in the future to perform work once released.

53
Q

Products of Combustion

A

Materials produced and released during burning.

54
Q

Pyrolysis

A

The chemical decomposition of a solid material by heating. Pyrolysis often precedes combustion.

55
Q

Radiation

A

Heat transfer by way of electromagnetic energy (NFPA 921).

56
Q

Reducing Agent

A

The fuel that is being oxidized or burned during combustion.

57
Q

Rollover

A

A condition where 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.

58
Q

Self-Heating

A

The result of exothermic reactions, occurring spontaneously in some materials under certain conditions, whereby heat is generated at a rate sufficient to raise the temperature of the material (NFPA 921).

59
Q

Smoke Explosion

A

Form of fire gas ignition; the ignition of accumulated flammable products of combustion and air that are within their flammable range.

60
Q

Solubility

A

Degree to which a solid, liquid, or gas dissolves in a solvent (usually water).

61
Q

Specific Gravity

A

Mass (weight) of a substance compared to the mass of an equal volume of water at a given temperature. A specific gravity less than 1 indicates a substance lighter than water; a specific gravity greater than 1 indicates a substance heavier than water.

62
Q

Spontaneous Ignition

A

Initiation of combustion of a material by an internal chemical or biological reaction that has produced sufficient heat to ignite the material (NFPA 921).

63
Q

Tactical Ventilation

A

Planned, systematic, and coordinated removal of heated air, smoke, gases or other airborne contaminants from a structure, replacing them with cooler and/or fresher air to meet the incident priorities of life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation.

64
Q

Temperature

A

Measure of a material’s ability to transfer heat energy to other objects; the greater the energy, the higher the temperature. Measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample of matter, expressed in terms of units or degrees designated on a standard scale. See Celsius Scale and Fahrenheit Scale.

65
Q

Thermal Energy

A

The kinetic energy associated with the random motions of the molecules of a material or object

66
Q

Thermal Layering

A

Outcome of combustion in a confined space in which gases tend to form into layers, according to temperature, with the hottest gases found at the ceiling and the coolest gases at floor level.

67
Q

Upper Flammable (Explosive) Limit (UFL)

A

Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite; above this limit the gas or vapor is too rich to burn (lacks proper quantity of O2). Also known as Upper Explosive Limit (UEL).

68
Q

Upper Layer

A

Buoyant layer of hot gases and smoke produced by a fire in a compartment.

69
Q

Vapor Density

A

Weight of a given volume of pure vapor or gas compared to the weight of an equal volume of dry air at the same temperature and pressure. A vapor density less than 1 indicates a vapor lighter than air; a vapor density greater than 1 indicates a vapor heavier than air.

70
Q

Vapor Pressure

A

(1) Measure of the tendency of a substance to evaporate. (2) The pressure at which a vapor is in equilibrium with its liquid phase for a given temperature; liquids that have a greater tendency to evaporate have higher vapor pressures for a given temperature.

71
Q

Vaporization

A

Physical process that changes a liquid into a gaseous state; the rate of vaporization depends on the substance involved, heat, pressure, and exposed surface area.

72
Q

Ventilation-Controlled

A

A fire with limited ventilation in which the HRR or growth is limited by the amount of O2 available to the fire. (NFPA 921)

73
Q

Watt

A

A unit of measure of power or rate of work equal to one joule per second (J/s).

Essentials of Fire Fighting 6th Edition (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions