BC Ch.5 Defintions

Fire Dynamics and Behavior Terms

• Autoexposure: Refers to fire spreading vertically on exterior walls of multistory buildings from one floor to another.
• Autoignition: The spontaneous ignition of combustible materials without external flame or spark.
• Backdraft: An explosive ignition of heated gases when oxygen enters an oxygen-depleted fire environment.
• Bagasse: Low-density fiberboard made from sugar cane residue, often used in construction and insulation.
• Batt Insulation: Composed of fiberglass or rock wool, available in various thicknesses; sometimes has a paper covering.
• Bi-directional Flow: Describes cooler air entering a fire compartment from below while hot gases exit from above.
• Ceiling Layer: The layer of hot, buoyant gases that accumulates at the top of a room during a fire.
• Combustible Acoustical Tile: Fiberboard tiles with perforations used for soundproofing; may ignite at high temperatures.
• Conduction: Heat transfer occurring through direct contact between materials or within an object.
• Convection: Heat transfer due to circulation within gases or liquids, allowing heat to move throughout a medium.
• Entrainment: Process where oxygen is drawn into a fire, fueling combustion.
• Fire Plume: A column of flames, smoke, and hot gases rising from the fire's base, indicating fire intensity.
• Flameover: Known as rollover, where fires ignite gases at the ceiling level.
• Flashover: A critical phase where all exposed surfaces in a room ignite simultaneously, leading to total involvement.
• Fuel: Any material that can sustain combustion, essential for fire progression.
• Heat: Serves as energy necessary for ignition and further combustion processes.
• Low-Density Fiberboard: Made from bound wood particles, often used for decorative finishes in interiors.
• Matchboarding: A method of creating decorative finishes using embossed materials on walls.
• Neutral Plane: The interface between hot, rising gases at the ceiling and cooler air descending from below.
• Oxidizing Agent: Typically atmospheric oxygen that sustains combustion, can also include chemical oxidizers.
• Piloted Ignition: Occurs when a heated combustible material ignites upon exposure to a flame or spark.
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Toxic chemicals formerly found in electrical equipment that may become hazardous during fires.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Low-flammability electrical insulator often used in building and industrial applications.
• Radiation: Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves, independent of contact or material medium.
• Rigid-Foamed Polyurethane: A cellular foam used for interior finishes and insulation, not fireproof.
• Robertson Protected Metal: Asphalt-coated steel employed in construction, providing certain fire resistance.
• Smoke Composition: A mix of airborne solid, liquid particulates, and gases produced during combustion.
• Uninhibited Chemical Chain Reaction: Continuous oxidation producing excess heat, enabling unburned fuel to ignite.
• Backdraft Danger: Potential for explosive ignition when oxygen is introduced to smoldering gases.
• Smoke Barrier: Constructs designed to limit smoke movement and distribution in buildings.
• Fire Prevention Terminology: Understanding flashover and the neutral plane is crucial in fire dynamics for effective response.

Test your knowledge on important fire dynamics and behavior terminology. This quiz covers essential concepts like autoexposure, autoignition, and backdraft, along with the materials used in fire safety. Enhance your understanding of fire behavior in various environments.