Definitions Flashcards
NFPA 1700 addresses fire control within a structure by establishing a basic understanding of fire science and fire dynamics.
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NFPA, Guide for Fire and Explosion investigations, served as a model for how to translate fire dynamics understanding in practicable, applicable ways
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The pressure of the weight of air on the surface of the earth, approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level.
Atmospheric pressure
A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion.
Backdraft
A building opening that serves as both an intake and exhaust vent of a flow path at the same time.
Bidirectional Vent
A coordinated fire attack from the exterior with a master stream (300+gpm).
Blitz Attack
The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1F at the pressure of 1 atmosphere and temperature of 60F.
British Thermal Unit
British thermal unit is equal to 1055 joules, 1.055 kilojoules, and 252.15 calories.
BTU
The amount of heat necessary to raise 1 gram of water 1C at the pressure of 1 atmosphere and temperature of 15C.
Calorie
A calorie is 4.184 joules, and there are 252.15 calories in a BTU.
Calorie
A relatively thin layer of flowing hot gases that develops under a horizontal surface as a result of plume impingement and the flowing gas being forced to move horizontally.
Ceiling Jet
A buoyant layer of hot gases and smoke produced by a fire in a compartment.
Ceiling Layer
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 flame.
Combustion
Heat transfer to another body or within a body by direct contact.
Conduction
Heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or liquid.
Convection
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
The initial phase of the decontamination process during which the amount of surface contaminant is significantly reduced by removing bulk contaminants and substances from the surface of the equipment or tools using some form of brushing, wetting agent, and or detergents.
Gross decontamination
Propagation of a combustion zone at a velocity that is less than the speed of sound in the unreacted medium.
Deflagration
The density of air is approximately 1.275 grams per cubic meter.
Density
Propagation of combustion zone at a velocity greater than the speed of sound in the unreacted medium.
Detonation
The difference between pressures at different points along flow path that creates a flow of gases or fluids from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure.
Differential Pressure
A gas, vapor, dust, particulate, aerosol, mist, fog, or hybrid mixture of these, suspended in the atmosphere, which is capable of being ignited and propagating a flame front.
Diffuse fuel