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Fire > Chapter 6 Fire Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 6 Fire Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Fire

A

Is a rapid chemical process that produces heat and usually light. It is neither a liquid or solid, but rather is the by product of combustible vapors being consumed by a chemical process.

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2
Q

Matter

A

Is made up of atoms and molecules. It exists in three states: solid, liquid, or gas

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3
Q

Solid

A

It has a definite shape and size. Cold makes solids more brittle while heat makes them more flexible

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4
Q

Liquid

A

It will assume the shape of the container in which it is placed. Most liquids will expand when heated and turn into a gas when sufficiently heated. A liquid has no definite shape but it does have definite volume

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5
Q

Gas

A

It is a type of fluid that has neither independent shape nor independent volume but rather tends to expand indefinitely.

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6
Q

What percentages make up the mixture of gases in air?

A

21% oxygen
78% nitrogen
1% other gases such as carbon dioxide

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7
Q

Chemical Energy

A

It is Energy created by a chemical reaction.

Most chemical reactions occur because bonds are established between two substances or bonds are broken as two substances are chemically separated

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8
Q

Mechanical Energy

A

Is converted to heat when two materials rub against each other and create friction

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9
Q

Electrical Energy

A

Heat that is produced by electricity

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10
Q

Exothermic

A

Reactions that result in the release of energy in the form of heat

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11
Q

Endothermic

A

Reactions that absorb heat or require heat to be added.

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12
Q

Ignition Temperature

A

Minimum temperature a substance should attain to ignite under specific test conditions

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13
Q

Nuclear Energy

A

It is created by splitting the nucleus of an atom into two much smaller nuclear (fission) or by combining two small nuclei into one large nucleus (fusion). Nuclear reactions release large amounts of energy in the form of heat

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14
Q

Conservation of Energy

A

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created of destroyed by ordinary means. Energy can however be converted from one form to another

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15
Q

What are the three basic elements for combustion to occur?

A

Fuel
Oxygen
Heat

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16
Q

What are the three components that make up a fire triangle?

A

Fuel
Heat
Oxygen

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17
Q

Atom

A

The smallest unit of matter

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18
Q

Oxidation

A

Is the process in which oxygen combines chemically with another substance to create a new compound

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19
Q

Combustion

A

Is a rapid chemical process in which the combustion of a substance with oxygen produces heat and light

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20
Q

Pyrolysis

A

Is the decomposition of a material brought about by heat in the absence of oxygen

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21
Q

Incomplete Combustion

A

When a fire burns without an adequate supply of oxygen and produces a variety of toxic by products

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22
Q

Smoke

A

It includes three major components:

Particles - solids
Vapors - finely suspended liquids
Gases

23
Q

Thermal column

A

A cylindrical area above a fire in which heated air and gases rise and travel upward

24
Q

What are the primary methods that fire can grow and spread?

A

Direct Contact
Convection
Conduction
Radiation

25
Q

Conduction

A

Is the process of transferring heat through matter by movement of kinetic energy from one particle to another.

It transfers energy directly from one molecule to another, much as a billiard ball transfer energy from one Billard ball to the next

26
Q

Which method does fire rarely spread?

A

Conduction

The important fact to remember about conductivity and fire spread is that poor conductor may ignite more easily but, once ignited, do not spread fire through conduction. Materials that are good conductors are rarely the primary means of spreading a fire.

27
Q

Fire Tetrahedron

A

A geometric shape used to depict the four components required for a fire to occur: Fuel, oxygen, heat and chemical chain reactions

28
Q

Convection

A

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

29
Q

Considering Convection, what are components that can influence its movement?

A

Layout of a building
Air flow
Speed and Direction of the wind entering a structure

30
Q

Plume

A

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

31
Q

Thermal Radiation

A

It can travel in all directions. The effect of thermal radiation however is not seen or felt until the radiation strikes an object and heats the surface of the object

32
Q

Radiation

A

It is the transfer of heat through the emission of energy in the form of invisible waves

33
Q

List the four basic methods to extinguish a fire

A
  1. Cool the burning material
  2. Exclude oxygen from the fire
  3. Remove fuel from the fire
  4. Interrupt the chemical reaction with a flame inhibitor
34
Q

Fires are categorized in one of five classes. List them

A

Class fires A, B, C, D, K

35
Q

Class A fires

A

Involve ordinary solid combustible materials such as wood, paper and cloth. Natural vegetation as the grass that burns in brush fires are also considered to be apart of class A

36
Q

Class B Fires

A

Involves flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and motor oil. Propane and natural gases are also classified and Class B fires

37
Q

Class C Fires

A

Involve Energized electrical equipment

38
Q

Class D Fires

A

Involve combustible metals such as sodium, magnesium and titanium.

These fires are assigned to a special class because the application of water to fires involving these metals will result in violent explosions

39
Q

Class K Fires

A

Involve combustible cooking oils and fats in kitchens.

40
Q

Why do metal fires explode when water is applied?

A

When water applied to certain heated metals, the water (H2O) reacts with the heated metal and produces hydrogen (H2) which burns with an explosive force

41
Q

Ignition phase

A

The phase of fire development in which the fire is limited to the immediate point of origin

42
Q

Growth phase

A

The phase of fire development in which the fire is spreading beyond the point of origin and beginning to involve other fuels in the immediate area

43
Q

Decay Phase

A

The phase of fire development in which the fire has consume either the available fuel or oxygen and is starting to die down

44
Q

Flashover

A

The temperature in the room reaches a point where the combustible contents of the room ignite all at once. Flashover is the final state in the process of fire growth

45
Q

What is the critical temperature for flashover to occur?

A

Approx. 1000F (540C)

46
Q

What are percentages of oxygen that will create a burn?

A

16-21% fire will typically burn
Less than 16% open flame will decrease
Less than 5% burning will stop

47
Q

Thermal Layering

A

Is the tendency of gases in an enclosed space to form in layers according to their temperature.

48
Q

Flameover

A

Also known as roll over is the spontaneous ignition of hot gases in the upper levels of a room or compartment

49
Q

Flashover

A

It is the near simultaneous ignition of most of the exposed combustible material in an enclosed area or room.

50
Q

Backdraft

A

It is caused by the introduction of oxygen into an enclosure where the superheated gases and contents are already hot enough for ignition but do not have sufficient oxygen to combust.

51
Q

In a structure fire, what are components that influence the speed and direction of fire speed?

A

The structure layout
The structure construction
Structure Contends
Amount of oxygen available In the structure

52
Q

What three conditions must be present for vapor and air to ignite?

A
  1. The fuel and air must be present at a concentration within a flammable range
  2. There must be an ignition source with enough energy to start ignition
  3. The ignition source and the fuel mixture must take contact for long enough to transfer the energy to make air-fuel mixture.
53
Q

Volatility

A

The ability of a substance to produce combustible vapors

Fire (4 decks)

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