Midterm Flashcards
Combustion
A chemical reaction in which a combustible material and an oxidizing agent produce heat or energy and other products that promote a self-sustaining process.
Fire
Is a chemical reaction that produces energy in the form of heat, light, and flame that is rapid and self-sustaining.
Spontaneous combustion
A fire that starts without a known external heat source applied to the material.
Fire triangle
- Oxygen
- Heat
- Fuel
Smoldering
No flame in smothering but there is still heat.
Ex. of smoldering: charcoal, burning ashtray
Stages of fire
- Incipient stage
- Free burning stage
- Flashover stage
- Smoldering/Decay stage
Incipient stage
- The start of the fire.
- The stage of a fire at which the heat source, fuel, and oxygen come together to generate more heat than is dissipated to promote an uninhibited chain reaction.
Free burning stage
The stage of a fire at which the energy level begins to grow by consuming the air and materials necessary to generate a flammable gas and sustain combustion.
Flashover stage
The stage of a fire at which the combustible contents of a compartment are totally in flame.
Smoldering/Decay stage
The point at which the available fuel of a fire is exhausted or the oxygen level has dropped below 16 percent.
BTU
British thermal Unit, the quantity of heat energy necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Conduction
The transfer of heat from one body of material to another by direct contact.
Convection
The transfer of heat from one body of material to another through a medium such as a liquid or gas.
Oxidation
The process of combining a substance or material with oxygen.
Radiation
The transfer of heat through electro magnetic energy, such as light.
Ignition
The energy formed when a heat source, fuel, and oxygen come together to generate more heat than dissipated, promoting an uninhibited chain reaction.
Adopt
The process of officially accepting and putting something into action.
Automatic fire sprinkler system
A network of underground and overhead piping designed to supply water from one or more sprinkler heads.
Code
A system of rules, regulations, or laws usually developed by government that has statutory authority to be enforced.
ICC
International Code Council - a nonprofit member-supported organization that develops and maintains CONSTRUCTION codes which are made available to government agencies adoption.
Model code
A system of rules, guidelines, methods, and regulations typically developed through the consensus process by private, not-for-profit organizations.
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association- a nonprofit member-supported organization that develops and maintains over 300 codes and standards for use by any organization.
Air sampling smoke detector
A type of smoke detector designed to draw air from the protected area into a detection chamber for analysis.
Annunciation panel
A device that uses indicating lamps, alphanumeric displays, or other means to provide first responders with status, condition, and location information concerning fire alarm system components and devices.
Candela (cd)
A measurement of luminance or light intensity in a given direction.
Fixed temperature heat detector
A type of fire detector that activates when the sensing element reaches a predetermined temperature.
Ionization smoke detector
A type of smoke detector that uses a small amount of radioactive material.
Line detector
A type of detection device that uses a tube or wires running in different directions as the sensing element to provide a coverage over a wide area.
Radiant energy detector
A detector that looks for specific portions of the visible and invisible light spectrum produced by flames, sparks, or embers.
Rate compensation heat detector
Type of detector that responds to predetermined air temperatures.
Rate-of-rise heat detector
A type of heat detector that senses how much temperature change takes place over a fixed amount of time.
Spot detector
A type of detection device that provides coverage in a specific area where the sensing element is in a fixed location.