Fire & Combustion Flashcards
What is fire?
A chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation of a material which produces heat (and often light).
What happens when a material is heated?
It breaks down chemically and generates gases (pyrolysis)
Flaming combustions can only occur when?
Sufficient oxygen is present.
What components are required for material to burn?
Fuel, Oxygen and Heat
What kind of reaction is fire?
Exothermic
How can heat transfer?
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
What is conduction?
Heat transfer along or through a solid material.
What is convection?
Heat transfer from a moving gas or liquid to an adjacent space.
What is radiation?
Heat transfer due to emission of electromagnetic waves.
What is flaming combustion?
Sustained combustions producing heat and visible flames.
What is smouldering combustion?
Sustained combustion producing heat but not flame (slow flame may occur)
What is glowing combustion?
Smouldering of a solid fuel where air flow is enhanced.
What are the stages of fire development?
Initiation
Growth period
Flashover
Post-flashover
Decay
What gases are produced during combustion?
Soot
Water vapour
Carbon monoxide
Carbon dioxide
Toxic or irritant gases
What can fire plumes leave?
Residual patterns from smoke or heat on walls, ceilings and floors.
