Fire Behavior Flashcards

0
Q

Matter

A

Anything that occupies space and has mass

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1
Q

Define fire

A

Heat producing chemical reaction between some type of fuel and oxygen that burns, heat is generated faster than it can be dissipated and increases in temperature.

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2
Q

Physical change

A

Occurs when a substance remains chemically the same but changes in size, shape, or appearance

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3
Q

Chemical reaction

A

Occurs when a substance changes from one type of matter into another

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4
Q

Oxidation

A

Is a chemical reaction involving the combination of oxygen

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5
Q

An example of oxidation is …..

A

Metal to rust

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6
Q

Our atmospheres a composed of what percent oxygen?

A

21%

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7
Q

Exothermic heat reaction

A

Chemical reaction between two or more materials that changes the materials and produces heat, flames , and toxic smoke

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8
Q

Endothermic heat reaction

A

Chemical reaction in which a substance absorbs heat energy

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9
Q

Combustion

A

An Exothermic chemical reaction that is a self sub staining process of rapid oxidation of a fuel that produces heat and light
Fire is an example

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10
Q

Flaming combustion

A

Oxidation involves fuel in the gas phase

Heat of both liquid and solid fuels will give off vapors that mix with oxygen and can burn producing flames

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11
Q

Non flaming or smoldering combustion

A

Under oxidation at the surface that char but no flame is present
Example charcoal

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12
Q

Fire triangle

A

Oxygen
Heat
Fuel

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13
Q

Fire tetrahedron

A

Oxygen
Heat
Fuel
Self sustained chemical chain reaction

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14
Q

Heat

A

Is a source of energy that exists in two states potential and kinetic

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15
Q

Potential energy

A

Stored energy possessed by an object that can be released in the future to perform work

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16
Q

Kinetic energy

A

The energy possessed by a moving object

Chemical energy is converted into kinetic energy in the form of heat and light.

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17
Q

Temperature

A

Is the measurement of kinetic energy

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18
Q

(BTU)

British thermal unit

A

Is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit

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19
Q

What are the two most common ways of measuring temperature?

A

Celsius- metric system

Fahrenheit - customary system

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20
Q

Pyrolysis

A

The chemical decomposition of a substance through the action if heat.
Solid to vapor form during the burning process

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21
Q

Vaporization

A

Liquid to vapor form

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22
Q

What are two types of Ignition

A

Piloted ignition

Auto ignition

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23
Q

Piloted ignition

A

Occurs when a mixture of a fuel and oxygen encounters an external heat source that starts combustion

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24
Q

Auto ignition

A

Occurs without any external flame or spark to ignite the fuel. Surface is chemically heated to the point in which combustion occurs

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25
Q

(AIT)

Auto ignition temperature

A

Is the temperature to which the surface of a substance must be heated for ignition and self sustained combustion to occur

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26
Q

What is the most common source of heat in combustion reactions

A

Chemical heat energy

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27
Q

What occurs when a spontaneous heating forms a chemical heat energy and increases temperature without addition of external heat

A

Self- heating

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28
Q

Electrical heat energy

A

Can generate temperatures high enough to ignite any combustible material near the heated area

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29
Q

What are 4 types of electrical heating

A

Resistance
Over current or overload
Arcing
Sparking

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30
Q

Resistance heating

A

Electric current flows through a conductor and heat is produced

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31
Q

Over current or overload

A

Current flows through a conductor exceeds it’s design overheating presenting ignition

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32
Q

Arching

A

An arc is a high temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through a medium

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33
Q

Sparking

A

Arc occurs producing particles that spatter away from the point of arching

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34
Q

Mechanical heat energy

A

Is generated by friction or compression

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35
Q

Heat of friction

A

The movement of two surfaces against each other creating heat or sparks

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36
Q

Heat of compression

A

Is generated when gas is compressed

37
Q

Heat can be transferred in how many ways?

A

3
Conduction
Convention
Radiation

38
Q

Conduction

A

Is the transfer of heat within a body or to another body by direct contact
The flow of energy between two solids

39
Q

Convection

A

Transfer of heat by movement of heated fluids or gases

Hot air/ liquids rise as cold falls

40
Q

Radiation

A

Transmission or transfer of energy of heat energy from one body to another at a lower temp through intervening space by electromagnetic waves
Such as the sun or a microwave

41
Q

Thermal radiation

A

Results from temperature

42
Q

Passive agents

A

Are materials that absorb heat but don’t participate actively in the combustion reaction

43
Q

Fuel

A

Is the material or substance being oxidized or burned in the combustion process

44
Q

The fuel in a combustion reaction is known as

A

A reducing agent

45
Q

Organic fuels

A

Contain carbon

46
Q

Cellulose based

A

Produces ash

47
Q

Hydrocarbon based fuels

A

Gasoline, oils, plastics

48
Q

Define the composition of Gaseous fuels

A

Have a mass but no Definite shake or volume

49
Q

Vapor density

A

Describes the density of gases in relation to air. Air is assigned 1.0 gases with a vapor less than 1.0 will rise as those more than 1.0 will sink

50
Q

Liquids are

A

A mass and volume with no definite shape

51
Q

Specific gravity

A

Is the ratio of the mass of a given volume of liquid compared with the mass (weight) of an equal volume of water at the same temp
Water is assigned 1.0 lighter will float heavier will sink

52
Q

Vaporization

A

Transformation of a liquid to vapor or gaseous state

53
Q

Flash point

A

Is the temperature at which vapors ignite but not enough to sustain combustion

54
Q

Fire point

A

Is the temp at which sufficient vapors are being generating to sustain combustion.

55
Q

Solubility

A

Describes the extent to which a substance will mix with water

56
Q

Miscible

A

Means it will mix with water in any proportion

57
Q

Pyrolysis

A

Chemical decomposition of a substance through a action of heat
Solid when heated decomposes to a vapor state

58
Q

What is the primary consideration surface area of the fuel proportion to the mass

A

Surface to mass ratio

59
Q

The solid fuel relative to the source of heat affects the way it burns by

A

Proximity

60
Q

Materials can support combustion until the oxygen concentration drops below what percent

A

14%

61
Q

Fires in oxygen enriched atmospheres present what danger

A

Fires burn intensely and ignite or rapidly

62
Q

Flammable range

A

The range between the upper flammable limit and lower I’m which a substance can ignite

63
Q

Too lean

A

Not enough oxygen to cause combustion

64
Q

Too rich

A

To much vapors

65
Q

Flaming combustion

A

An example of a chemical chain reaction or fire

66
Q

Self sustained chemical reactions

A

Rapid growth the separate flames and combustion is to slow causing oxidation such as rust

67
Q

A fire is

A

energy in the form of heat and light

68
Q

Carbon monoxide

A

Is a byproduct of the incomplete combustion of organic materials
Most common in structure fires

69
Q

How many classifications of fires are there?

A
5 
Alpha 
Bravo 
Charlie 
Delta 
Kilo
70
Q

Alpha fires

A

Combustible materials that produce ash

71
Q

Bravo fires

A

Combustible liquids

72
Q

Charlie fires

A

Energized electrical fires

73
Q

Delta fires

A

Combustible metals

74
Q

Kilo fires

A

Oils and greases

75
Q

Compartment

A

Is an enclosed room or space within a building.

76
Q

How many steps to fire development

A
4
Incipient 
Growth 
Fully developed 
Decay
77
Q

Inciting stage

A

Starts with ignition describes the point of the combustion process

78
Q

What is the process of hot gasses and flames rising from the heat source and seeking colder air

A

Plume

79
Q

When plumes start reaching across the ceiling horizontally is known as

A

Mushrooming

80
Q

Growth stage

A

Increasing heat, fuel and oxygen virtually limitless

Begins to influence the environment within the compartment

81
Q

Thermal layering

A

Tendency of gases to form layers avoids on to temperatures

82
Q

Thermal balance

A

Hottest gasses tend to rise as the cold form the lower layer

83
Q

Roll over

A

Condition where the Unburned fire gases accumulate at the top of the compartment ignite and propagate through the layers of gases

84
Q

Flash over

A

Rapid transition between the growth and fully developed stages
Thermal layers are equal in temp throughout the compartment

85
Q

Fully developed stage

A

All combustible materials in the compartment are burning producing large volumes of gas

86
Q

Decay

A

Fuel is consumed or oxygen concentration falls below 14% making combustion no longer possible

87
Q

Backdraft

A

Sudden increase in ventilation resulting in deflagration or rapid combustion

88
Q

Common signs for possible backdraft include

A
Smoke leaving I'm puffs 
Little or no visible flames 
Drawn smoke or sucking 
Excessive heat in windows and stained 
Smoke exiting small openings 
Black or gray smoke to orange smoke variations
89
Q

Factors that influence fore development include

A
Fuel type
Additional fuels  
Compartment layout 
Ventilation 
Thermal properties 
Ambient conditions