Fire Behavior Flashcards
rapid chemical process that produces heat and usually light
Fire
is made up of atoms and molecules
Matter
In structure fires, the building and most of its contents are
Solids
will assume the shape of the container in which it is placed
liquid
a type of fluid the has neither independent shape nor independent volume, but rather tends to expand
gas
gases in air maintain a constant composition of what
21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, 1% other gases
form of energy
Fuels
energy created by a chemical reaction
chemical reaction
chemical reaction that produce heat
exothermic reaction
chemical reaction that absorb heat
endothermic reaction
prduced when ever oxygen combines with a combustable material
Heat
converted to heat when two materials rub against each other and create friction
mechanical energy
caused by electromagnetic waves packaged in discrete bundles called photons
light energy
created by splitting the nucleus of an atom
nuclear energy
energy cannot be created or destroyed by ordinary means. Energy how ever can be converted from one for to another.
The law of Conservation of energy
the three basic elements needed for combustion to occur
fuel, oxygen and heat. the fire triangle
maintaing the process of slamming combustion
fire tetrahedon
process in which oxygen combines chemically with another substance to create a new compound
oxidation
rapid chemical process in which the combination of a substances with oxygen produces heat and light
oxidation
when fires burn with out an adequate supply of oxygen, which results in incomplete combustion
smoke
a cylindrical area above a fire in which heated air and gasses rise and travel upwards
thermal column
when inert gas displaces oxygen
hypoxia
the process of transferring heat through matter by movement of the kinetic energy
conduction
the circulatory movement that occurs in a gas or fluid such as air or water
convection
a phenomenon that occurs when fire takes place in a confined area, as heat continues to produce flammable gas are heated above there ignition temps and oxygen is introduced, which creates an explosive force
back draft
a hot, high volume, high velocity, turbulent, ultra-dense black smoke that indicates an impending flashover or autoignition
black smoke
an explosion that occurs when a tank containing volatile liquids at the bottom and flammable gas at the top of the tank are heated to the point where the tank ruptures
boiling liquid/expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE)
a burning structure
a box
energy that is created or released by the combination or decomposition of chemical compounds
chemical energy
a fire in ordinary combustable materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and many plastics
Class A fire
a fire in flammable liquids, combustable petroleum gases, tars, oils, oil based paints, solvents, lacquers, and flammable gases
class B fire
a fire that involves energized electrical equipment
class C fire
a fire in combustable metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium
class D fires
a fire in a cooking appliance that involves combustable cooking media. (vegetable or animal oils, and fats)
class K fire
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
a space completely enclosed by walls and a ceiling
compartment
phase of fire development in which the fire has consumed either the available fuel or oxygen and is starting to die down
decay phase
the condition where unburned fuel (pyrolysate) from the originating fire has accumulated in the ceiling layer to sufficient concentration
flame over (rollover)
the lowest temp at which a substance releases enough vapors to ignite and sustain combustion
flame point (fire point)
the upper and lower concentration limits of a flammable gas or vapor in the air that can be ignited
flammability limits
