Chapter 6 Flashcards
Fire is a combustion process that can be self sustaining reaction. This chemical process is ___ in that two fo the products of fire are heat and light.
Exothermic
Oxygen is found in normal breathing air in the atmosphere at a volume of ___%. The rest of the air is mostly nitrogen, an inert chemical.
21%
Heat and light are released an energy form we refer to as a ___ or ___.
Flame or fire
A more complete explanation of the fire process involves the fire tetrahedron. This concept was developed in the early ___ by ___.
1950’s by Walter Haessler
The fire tetrahedron joins a fourth component, an ___.
Uninhibited chain reaction
Walter Haessler was interested in finding out why the chemical ___ was so effective as a fire extinguishing agent.
Ammonium phosphate
Fire tetrahedron… The fourth component deals with ___.
Free chain reactions
Fire tetrahedron… The fuel is considered a ___.
Reducing agent
Fire tetrahedron… In the fire process known as ___, the tetrahedron better describes the reaction taking place.
Flaming combustion
Five classes of fire.
Class A - Ordinary Combustibles
Class B - Flammable petroleum products
Class C - Electrically energized equipment
Class D - Combustible metals, end in IUM
Class K - Combustible cooking fuels such as veg oil or animal oils or fats.
Class ___; similar to class B fuels but involve very high temps and require wet chemicals to extinguish.
Class K
This is an ___ reaction, meaning it absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings.
Endothermic
Class A fires burning produce ___, ___, and ___.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Water
Plastics are considered to be hydrocarbon based. They produce heavy black smoke and high levels of ___, ___, ___, and ___.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon dioxide
Hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen chloride
The most abundant gas produced at any fire is ___.
Carbon monoxide
Heat and gas carry CO in ___ throughout the structure.
Convection currents
CO poisoning is the cause of death in more than ___ of all fire fatalities.
50%
When fires involve natural and synthetic material that contain nitrogen, the materials release ___.
Hydrogen cyanide
___, a very potent irritant, is released from burning polyethylene.
Acrolein
___, a deadly gas released from polyvinyl chloride, is irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract.
Hydrogen chloride
The greater the supply of oxygen, the ___ gasses produced.
Fewer
4 phases of fire:
Incipient
Free-burning
Flashover
Smoldering decay
Fire growth depends on:
Type of fuel (combustible or flammable)
Physical property of the fuel (solid, liquid, vapor, or gas)
Surface to mass ratio (ex 4x4, wood shavings, or dust)
Arrangement of the fuel (tightly packed or spaces betwn)
Adequate ventilation (nat ventilation or airtight room)
Flame itself can produce a flame temp of ___ to ___, but the room temperature may not change significantly.
800°f to 1000°f