Terms: A Flashcards
Abductive reasoning
the process of reasoning to the best explanations for a phenomenon.
Absolute temperature
a temperature measured in Kelvins (K) or Rankines (R).
Accelerant
a fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitable liquid, intentionally used to initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
Accident
an unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes causes injury or damage or a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an unexpected happening due to carelessness ignorance, and the like.
Accidental fire cause classification
accidental fires involve all those for which the proven cause does not involve an intentional human act to ignite or spread fire into an area where the fire should not be.
Adiabatic
the ideal conditions of equilibrium of temperature and pressure. The actual flame temperature of wood has been measured and reported as being some 500°C less (estimated to be 1040°C or 1900°F)
Adiabatic heating
the heating of a gas caused by its compression.
Adsorption
trapping of gaseous materials on the surface of a solid substrate.
Aliphatic
relating to or being an organic compound (such as an alkane) having an open-chain structure.
Alligatoring
rectangular patterns of char formed on burned wood.
Ambient
someone’s or something’s surroundings, especially as they pertain to the local environment; for example, ambient air and ambient temperature.
Ambient temperature
the temperature of the surrounding medium; usually used to refer to the temperature of the air in which a structure is situated or a device operated.
Ampacity
the maximum current, in amperes, that a conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating.
Ampere
the unit of electric current that is equivalent to a flow of one coulomb per second; one coulomb is defined as 6.24×10^18 electrons.
Annealing
loss of temper in metal caused by heating.
Anoxia
condition relating to an absence of oxygen.
Appliance
utilization equipment, generally other than industrial, that is normally built in standardized sizes or types and is installed or connected as a unit to perform one or more functions such as clothes washing, air-conditioning, food mixing, deep frying, and so forth.
Arc
a high-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation.
Arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)
a device intended to provide protection from the effects of arc faults by recognizing characteristics unique to arcing and by functioning to de-energize the circuit when an arc fault is detected.
Arc-fault mapping
the systematic evaluation of the electrical circuit configuration, spatial relationship of the circuit components, and identification of electrical arc sites to assist in the identification of the area of origin and analysis of the fire’s spread.
Arc site
the location on a conductor with localized damage that resulted from an electrical arc.
Arcing through char
arcing associated with a matrix or charred material (e.g., charred conductor insulation) that acts as a semi-conductive medium.
Arc tracking
a deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion.
Area of origin
a structure, part of a structure, or general geographic location within a fire scene, in which the “point of origin” of a fire or explosion is reasonably believed to be located.
