TB 145 Combustile Metals

Question 1

Burning metal material may be encountered in the form of ___, chips, and other small pieces.

Answer 1

recycled turnings

Question 2

If water is applied, the results can be a spontaneous, ___ that hurls molten metal hundreds of feet in the air, burning anything in its path.

Answer 2

bright explosion

Question 3

______, communication, teamwork, and proper tactical adjustments are critical first steps to ensuring a safe and successful outcome at these complicated incidents.

Answer 3

Recognition

Question 4

Most combustible metal fires produce extreme temperatures ranging from _____ degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer 4

5000 to 9000

Question 5

These temperatures are high enough to separate water into its basic elements: _____ and _____.

Answer 5

hydrogen / oxygen

Question 6

Fires involving combustible metals are designated as a class “___” fire.

Answer 6

D

Question 7

Metal fires burn at extreme temperatures ranging from 5,000 degrees F (____ times the temperatures of a typical structure fire) to 9,000 degrees F.

Answer 7

three

Question 8

Hydrogen becomes a _____ and oxygen acts as an ____ that accelerates the burning rate, fire spread, and temperature to the higher end of the range above.

Answer 8

free burning fuel / oxidizer

Question 9

_____ is a factor in determining ease of ignition, rate of burn, temperature generated, and the explosive potential of combustible metals.

Answer 9

Surface area

Question 10

Metal powders, dusts, turnings, chips, and other small pieces with greater surface area pose _____ hazard than large unprocessed billets, ingots, and processed blocks.

Answer 10

a much greater

Question 11

The smaller particles, when exposed to fire conditions, can result in an _____ as opposed to larger size pieces such as ingots, etc. that are very difficult to ignite and will self-extinguish when the heat source is removed.

Answer 11

explosion

Question 12

Combustible metals can be divided into ___ categories:

Alkali metals / Alkali Earth metals, Transitional metals, and Other Metals

Answer 12

two

Question 13

Recognition of inside or outside ____, _____ and scrubber systems, and recognition of unusual fire/smoke activity will assist companies in identifying the possible presence of combustible metals.

Answer 13

storage bins / dust collection

Question 14

The Department is in the process of surveying all businesses that utilize combustible metals and will require an NFPA Placard with a “____”. Full compliance is expected by January 2011.

Answer 14

W

Question 15

These metals (titanium, magnesium, zirconium, and aluminum) shall be indicated by an “____” in the fourth space.

Answer 15

M

Question 16

criteria for placarding (occupancies that exceed ____ of combustible metals as per Table 4-A of the Los Angeles Fire Code or that process or store 500 pounds or less of combustible metals that are in the form of dusts, chips, powders, turnings, or ribbons).

Answer 16

500 pounds

Question 17

If multiple hazards exist, the symbols (no more than two) shall be stacked with the most ____ indicated on top and the combustible metal symbol “M” (when applicable) always positioned at the bottom.

Answer 17

severe hazard

Question 18

Combustible metals present significant hazards:
____ burning temperature
____ reaction to water
Debris from water reactions being thrown through the air

Answer 18

High / Volatile

Question 19

Members of the LAFD working within _____ of a burning metal product are considered to be working in an IDLH (Immediate Dangerous to Life and Health) environment.

Answer 19

30 feet

Question 20

For the remainder of this Training Bulletin, a “Fully Encapsulated” Firefighter will be defined as a member wearing full protective personal equipment (PPEs) with gloves and a ______.

Answer 20

self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

Question 21

Extinguishment of combustible metal fires is accomplished through ____ of the burning material.

Answer 21

smothering

Question 22

If the fire is allowed to burn, this process will occur naturally as an ____ develops over and smothers the burning material beneath.

Answer 22

oxide crust

Question 23

Traditional firefighting methods utilizing water, foam, Purple “K”, or dry chemical extinguishing agents can ___ this process and actually make the fire ____.

Answer 23

disrupt / worse

Question 24

Dry powder, under the brand name “_____”, is the only approved product provided by the LAFD to extinguish combustible metal fires.

Answer 24

MET-L-X

Question 25

MET-L-X is a dry powder composed of a ____ with an added ____ for sealing and other additives to render it free-flowing and cause heat caking or crusting.

Answer 25

salt base / polymer

Question 26

Supply and Maintenance maintains approximately _____ of MET-L-X and has the ability to deliver it to the scene of the fire.

Answer 26

500 pounds

Question 27

MET-L-X is applied ___ through use of a shovel or by disbursing the product directly from the storage bucket.

Answer 27

manually

Question 28

The LAFD currently does ___ have a method to disburse mass amounts of MET-L-X over a large area.

Answer 28

not

Question 29

Per the manufacture’s recommendations, a ___ layer of MET-L-X is required to effectively smother a fire.

Answer 29

one-inch

Question 30

______ of product is required for every one square foot of fire.

Answer 30

Ten pounds

Question 31

The entire stock of MET-L-X maintained at Supply and Maintenance would only extinguish a ____ fire.

Answer 31

fifty square foot

Question 32

the LAFD is only capable of using Met-L-X to control small fires in the ____.

Answer 32

incipient stage

Question 33

If no extinguisher is available, ___, graphite powder, dry sodium, G1-R or Met-L-X powder may also be on site and can be used.

Answer 33

dry sand

Question 34

“Purple K” is not an effective extinguishing agent for _____.

Answer 34

combustible metal fires

Question 35

Purple K is appropriate for ______ fires only.

Answer 35

“A”, “B”, and “C”

Question 36

Purple K is a _____ agent as opposed to a dry powder extinguishing agent.

Answer 36

dry chemical extinguishing

Question 37

Dry chemical works by ___ the chemical fire process, which is counter productive in extinguishing a combustible metal fire.

Answer 37

interrupting

Question 38

Dry powder extinguishes combustible metal fires by ____ them.

Answer 38

smothering

Question 39

“Copious amounts of water in a coarse stream” can be effective on certain types of combustible metals in ___.

Answer 39

small quantities

Question 40

A small amount of product (approximately the size of a ____) that is in the incipient stage of burning may possibly be manually separated from exposures by a fully encapsulated Firefighter through use of a shovel or similar tool.

Answer 40

wastebasket

Question 41

Firefighters may have the ability to move a burning container such as a dumpster or a 55- gallon drum manually or by using on-site equipment like a ____, or other such machinery.

Answer 41

fork-lift, tractor

Question 42

If the burning combustible metal is isolated a safe distance from exposures, or if the fire is burning in a container (dumpster, 55-gallon drum, etc) with no exposures, the best course of action may be to let the fire _____.

Answer 42

burn out

Question 43

Traditional defensive methods of utilizing “water curtains” can increase the probability of a ___ reaction.

Answer 43

violent water