Terms C

Question 1

Calcination of gypsum

Answer 1

a fire effect realized in gypsum products, including wallboard, as a result of exposure to heat that drive off free and chemically bound water.

Question 2

Calorie

Answer 2

the amount of heat necessary to raise 1 gram of water 1°C at the pressure of 1 atmosphere and temperature of 15°C; a calorie is 4.184 joules, and there are 252.15 calories in a British thermal unit (Btu).

Question 3

Calorimetry

Answer 3

a test used to measure the total heat of combustion of fuels (as in ASTM D4809-13).

Question 4

Cause

Answer 4

the circumstances, conditions, or agencies that brought about or resulted in the fire or explosion incident, damage to property resulting from the fire or explosion incident, or bodily injury or loss of life resulting from the fire or explosion incident.

Question 5

Cause of death

Answer 5

the injury or disease that triggers the sequence of events leading to death.

Question 6

Ceiling jet

Answer 6

the relatively thin layer of flowing hot gases that develops under a horizontal surface (e.g., ceiling) as a result of plume impingement and the flowing gas being forced to move horizontally.

Question 7

Cellulosic

Answer 7

plant-based materials based on a natural polymer of sugars.

Question 8

Chair of evidence (chain of custody)

Answer 8

the chronological documentation of paper trail, showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence.

Question 9

Char

Answer 9

carbonaceous material that has been burned or pyrolyzed and has a blackened appearance.

Question 10

Char depth

Answer 10

the measurement of pyrolytic or combustion damage to a wood surface compared with its original surface height.

Question 11

Chromatography

Answer 11

chemical procedure that allows the separation of compounds based on differences in their chemical affinities for two materials in different physical states (e.g., gas/liquid, liquid/solid).

Question 12

Circuit breaker

Answer 12

a device designed to open and close a circuit by nonautomatic means and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined overcurrent without damage to itself when properly applied within its rating.

Question 13

Clean burn

Answer 13

a distinct and visible fire effect generally apparent on noncombustible surfaces and combustible layer(s) (such as soot, paint, and paper) have been burned away. The effect may also appear where soot has failed to be deposited because of high surface temperatures.

Question 14

Combustible

Answer 14

capable of undergoing combustion.

Question 15

Combustible liquid

Answer 15

a liquid that has a closed-cup flash point at or above 37.8°C (100°F).

Question 16

Combustion

Answer 16

a chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light in a form of either a glow or flame.

Question 17

Combustion efficiency

Answer 17

the ratio of a substance’s effective heat of combustion to the complete heat of combustion.

Question 18

Combustion products

Answer 18

the heat, gases, volatized liquids and solids, particulate matter, and ash generated by combustion.

Question 19

Competent ignition source

Answer 19

an ignition source that has sufficient energy and is capable of transferring that energy to the fuel long enough to raise the fuel to its ignition temperature.

Question 20

Conduction

Answer 20

heat transfer to another body or within a body by direct contact.

Question 21

Conductor

Answer 21

a material or object that allows an electric charge to flow easily through it. (1) bare – a conductor having no covering or electrical insulation whatsoever; (2) insulated – a conductor encased within material of composition and thickness that is recognized by this Code as electrical insulation; (3) covered – a conductor encased within material of composition or thickness that is not recognized by this Code as electrical insulation.

Question 22

Consumer fireworks

Answer 22

small fireworks devices containing restricted amount of pyrotechnic composition, designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, that comply with the construction, chemical composition, and labelling regulations of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), as set forth in CPSC 16 CFR 1500 and 1507, 49 CFR 172, and APA Standard 87-1, Standard for the Construction and Approval for Transportation of Fireworks, Novelties, and Theatrical Pyrotechnics.

Question 23

Convection

Answer 23

heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or a liquid.

Question 24

Corpus delicti

Answer 24

literally, the body of the crime. The fundamental facts necessary to prove the commission of a crime.

Question 25

Craze

Answer 25

the appearance of fine cracks in the surface of a helmet shell or other smooth surface of an ensemble element.

Question 26

Crazing

Answer 26

stress cracks in glass as the result of rapid cooling.

Question 27

Creep

Answer 27

the tendency of a material to move or deform permanently to relieve stress.

Question 28

Crime concealment (motive)

Answer 28

the category involves fire setting that is a secondary or a collateral criminal activity, perpetrated for the purpose of concealing the primary criminal activity. In some cases, however, the fire may actually be part of the intended crime, such as revenge. Many people erroneously believe that a fire will destroy all physical evidence at the crime scene. Categories for crime concealment fire setting include murder or burglary concealment and destruction of records or documents.

Question 29

Crowning

Answer 29

rapid extension of fire though the porous array of leaves, needles, and fine fuels above 2 m.

Question 30

Current

Answer 30

a flow of electric charge.