Fire Technology and Arson Investigation

Technology - What type of Chemical reaction is

fire? Oxidation Reduction
- It is the branch of knowledge that
- Oxidation – reaction when fuel and
deals with industrial art and sciences.
oxygen react together, and it produces
- It is the application of such
heat.
knowledge that is used to produce the
- -reduction of oxygen / reduction of
material necessity of society.
fuel (pyrolysis – chemical
- It could also mean the practical
decomposition of matter through the
application of knowledge especially in
action of heat)
a particular area.
- Ang fire pangyayare, ang apoy ay
- (cellphone, machinery) (fire truck, fire
flame
extinguisher, fire host, protective
alarm)
- Making, usage, and knowledge of
tools, techniques, crafts, system, or
Manifestation of Fire
methods of organization to resolve a 1. Flames
problem. - visible part of fire
Fire Technology - Glowing body of gases
- Incandescent gas
- It is the application of basic research
and engineering to the solution of
practical fire problems. 2. Smoke
- Application of the result of basic - Composed of gases and tiny solid
research and engineering principles particles
to the solution of practical fire
protection problem.
- Water is not always available (Fire 3. Light
extinguisher) portable. - Illumination made by the fire.
- Fire wall – para di na kumalat pa yung
apoy

Fire 4. Heat
- Energy generated by fire.
- It is an active chemical reaction that
takes place between fuel, heat, and Flames According to color
oxygen in the form of light and
noticeable heat. (nagcombine)
1. Luminous Flame
- Fire or combustion is a chemical
- Reddish orange
process caused by the combination of
- It deposits soot. (Nangingitim ang
one or more substances with oxygen.
ilalim ng kaldero)
- Phenomenon of combustion
- Low temperature
manifested in light, flame, smoke, and
- Product of incomplete combustion
heat.
-
 2. Non- Luminous Flame
- Bluish in color
- It does not deposit soot.
- High temperature
- Product of complete combustion
Flames According to Smoothness
1. Turbulent
- Unsteady or irregular ang paggalaw
(luminous)
2. Laminar
- Smooth flame (non-luminous)
Elements of Fire (Theory)
1. Fire Triangle Theory
- Three elements necessary to
create/produce fire in equal
proportion.
2. Fire Tetrahedron Theory
- William M. Haessler
- Fourth element of fire is known as
chemical chain reaction.
3. Life Cycle of Fire Theory
- Stages/ steps wherein fire is created.
Fire Triangle Theory
1. Fuel (Most Important element of fire)
- Any substances/materials which
reacts chemically to oxygen and
produces flames.
- Anything that will burn when heated
with sufficient oxygen.
- For a fire to start there must be
something to burn
Fuel Sources:
a. Solid Fuel
- Molecules are closely packed
together. (Wood, plastic, paper, coal.)
b. Liquid Fuel
- Molecules are loosely packed.
(Kerosene, gasoline, lacquer, alcohol.)
c. Gas Fuel
- Molecules are free to move. (Natural
gas, propane, & butane.)
2. Oxygen
- Colorless and odorless gas and one of
the compositions of air that support
fire.
- Aids in combustion that comes from
atmosphere we breath.
- Support life and combustion.
Oxygen Sources
I – Impurities – 1%
O – Oxygen – 21%
N – Nitrogen – 78 %
Oxygen Requirements
No Fire – 12%
Flash Point – 14 % (low temperature)
(minimum temperature that a liquid must
reach to produce vapor)
Fire Point – 21% (nagsimula ng sunog)
Note: 16% minimum percentage of oxygen
needed to sustain a fire.
3. Heat
- Source of ignition
- Product of combustion that caused
spread of fire.
- Form of energy that can be measured
in degree of temperature.
Sources of Heat Energy
1. Mechanical Heat Energy
- May produce by compression or by
frictional heat.
a. Frictional Heat – when two
objects are being rubbed together.
b. Heat of Compression – released
when gas is compressed.
c. Overheating – gathered from
rolling, friction, or sliding in
machinery.
2. Chemical Heat Energy
- Product of spark or exothermic
reaction
a. Heat of Combustion – quantity of
heat released during oxidation.
b. Spontaneous Heating – coal
(uling, tuloy-tuloy) process of
raising temperature by slow
oxidation.
c. Heat of Solution – heat when
substance is dissolved in water.
d. Heat of Decomposition –
released by decaying or rotting
compound.
3. Electrical Heat Energy
- Produced when electric current flows
through a conductor or when a spark
jumps on an air gap.
a. Lightning – released of an electric
charge on a cloud.
b. Arcing – product of interruption of
electrical circuit
4. Nuclear Heat Energy/Solar Heat
Energy
- Released in the form of pressure,
nuclear radiation, and heat.
- Sun – natural source of heat
a. Nuclear Fusion – reaction in
which two nuclei combine to
become nucleus.
b. Nuclear Fission – nucleus split
into two lighter nuclei.
- Nuclear war is prevented – kasi
malawak yung heat na ilalabas na
nakakapatay – 5 to 25 km, mass
destruction.
Method of Heat Transfer
1. Conduction
- It is transferred through solid
materials in which has a direct
contact.
-
2. Convection
- Heat is transferred in circulating
medium either gas/vapor or
liquid/fluid. Heat travel in upward
movement.
- Heat na nagttravel pataas
 - -yung gas na napproduce ay may heat - 55 131 Human skin receives a
second degree
at nattransfer pataas
- 62 140 A phase where burned
human tissue becomes numb
3. Radiation - 72 162 Human skin is instantly
- Through the motion of air vacuum or destroyed
- 100 212 Water boils and produces
the sun. steam
- Heat is transferred through - 140 284 Glass transition temperature of
electromagnetic wave. polycarbonate
- 230 446 Melting temperature of
polycarbonate
- 250 482 Charring of natural cotton
Fire Tetrahedron begins
- 300 572 Charring of modern
1. Oxidizing Agent (Oxygen) protective clothing fabrics begins
- 600 1112 Temperatures inside a
- Material/substance that yield or post-flashover room fire
provides oxygen or oxidizing gases
needed during the process of
chemical reaction. 4. Self-sustained Chemical Reaction
Common Oxidizing Agents: - Process necessary for continuous
combustion.
Bromates, Fluorine, Nitrites, Bromine, Iodine, - Kung gusto magkaroon ng continuous
Perchlorates, Chlorates, Nitrates, Chlorine, combustion kailangan magkaroon ng
Nitric Acid, and Peroxide continuous chemical reaction,
Cartridge – combustion of gun powder - Gun kailangan chemically mag react ang
powder (nitrates) – source of ignition – mga elements.
pagtama ng firing pin sa primer

Life Cycle of the Fire Theory

2. Reducing Agent (Fuel)
- Material/substances being burned in
the combustion process. Combustion (Fire)
(Exothermic Reaction)
3. Temperature (Heat) |
- The energy component of the fire Fuel and Air Mixed (oxidation)
tetrahedron (Fire Point)
- Measurement of the thermal agitation |
of molecules Vapor Produced
(Flash Point)
- ºC º F Response |
- 37 98.6 Normal human oral/body
temperature
Temperature of Material Increase
- 44 111’;Human skin begins to feel pain (Endothermic Reaction)
- 48 118 Human skin receives a first |
degree burn Ignition Source

Properties of Fire
Chemical Properties:
1. Endothermic Reactions
- Are changes whereby energy (heat) is
absorbed or is added before the
reaction takes place.
- (The temperature of the material
increases.)
- -
Physical Properties
• Boiling Point
- Is the constant temperature at which
the vapor pressure of the liquid is
equal to the atmospheric pressure.
• Ignition Temperature or Kindling
Temperature
- Is the minimum temperature to which
the substance in the air must be
heated in order to initiate combustion
without the addition of heat from
outside sources. 2
• Fire Point
- Is the lowest temperature at which a
flammable liquid in an open container
at which vapors are evolved fast
enough to support continuous
combustion. 3
• Flash Point
- Is the temperature at which a
flammable liquid forms a vapor air
mixture that ignites. The minimum
and maximum temperature are
referred to the lower and upper flash
point in air respectively. 1
2. Exothermic Reactions
- Are those releases or gives off energy
thus, they produced substances with
less energy than the reactants.
Stages of Fire Development
1. Overheating, Incipient, or Initial
Stage
Four elements of fire tetrahedron
comes together and begin
combustion.
- It is the beginning of fire.
• Characteristics:
- Plenty of oxygen, temperature is
slightly over 18-degree Celsius, little
heat and smoke, fire is small.
2. Flaming, Free-burning or Growth
Phase
- Highest peak of fire
- Highest peak of intensity
(pinakamainit na tempereratura)
-
- Bursting into flames, (rollover)
(extension of fire flumes or
tongues/eruption of flame)
- Everything is burning (flashover)
(simultaneous burning of all fuel)
• Characteristics:
- Fire has involved more fuel, oxygen
supply is depleted, heat accumulate
at upper area, and temperature
exceed 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Smoldering Stage
- Presence of smoke and smolders
- Oxygen drops at 13%
 - Carbon monoxide is produced.
(poisonous gas)
- Backdraft may occur.

Backdraft

- Occurs when there is sudden

introduction of oxygen that can cause
explosion. `