MODULE ǀ FIRE PROTECTION AND ARSON INVESTIGATION P age |1

MODULE 1
Lesson 1
BEHAVIOR AND TECHNOLOGY OF FIRE
INTRODUCTION
The evidence of fire on the Earth goes back
over 400 Million Years and has been a significant part
of the Earth system for 350 Million Years. The
occurrence of fire from the study of fossil charcoal has
allowed our understanding of the role fire plays on the
Earth to develop rapidly over the past 30 years. Fire,
often referred to as wildfire, has been and is an
important part of the Earth system. At times in Earth
history, fire has influenced the evolution of plants and terrestrial ecosystems and played a role in the
regulation of atmospheric oxygen. It is in a fire-rich world that hominins evolved and the unique ability
they developed was to create and use fire in myriad ways. Added to lightning as the main ignition source,
we now have the addition of human ignitions that have transformed our planet.

Fire behavior is the manner in which fuel ignites, flame develops and fire spreads. In wildland
fires, this behavior is influenced by how fuels (such as needles, leaves and twigs), weather and
topography interact.

❖ DEFINITION OF FIRE
✓ a rapid oxidation which produces heat and light.
✓ a series of chemical reaction; often defined as the visible active phase of combustion.

➢ Uses of Fire
• source of warmth and light
• enables man to cook food
• protection against enemy (in ancient times)
• helped much in shaping and developing the countries industries (used in technology)
• provides processes for modifying chemicals into medicines (used in technology)
• done its havoc in dwindling the economy
• claimed numerous lives and property

❖ HOW FIRE WAS DISCOVERED?

The ability of primitive people to use fire was crucial to their
development. Every human culture of the recent past is known to
have endless experience with fire; a site near Venice, France, had
yielded evidence that hominids used fire were assumed to be the
results of the natural effects (lightning, or volcano), the methods
originally used for deliberate fire making are not clearly known, it is
likely, thought that some means of generating heat by friction was
first used, many variations of these principles have been used.
The earliest use of fire was to keep warm. As
civilization advanced, people learned to use fire in many other ways. Prehistoric People using Fire
People learned to use fire to cook food, to shape weapons and tools, Photo Source: google.com
to change clay into pottery, and to furnish light. But early people had
extremely slow and quite unsatisfactory ways of kindling fires (World Book Encyclopedia, 1994).
Today, we have not only improved the methods of kindling fires, but we also use fire in
many more ways. Fire furnishes the energy to drive machines and keep industry running. It supplies the
power to drive machines and keep industry and it generates electricity. Fire also sometimes used to

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remove and destroy waste materials. In addition, fire is used to separating most metals of their ores, as
well as in forging and shaping metal into useful things.

➢Fire in Legend and Religion

Prehistoric people may have gained knowledge of fire from observing things in nature
such as lightning, the fire of volcanoes, and the heat from the sun. They also must have noticed that
sparks fly when stones are struck upon one another, or when the hoofs or claws of animals strike
some hard substance (World Book Encyclopedia, 1994).

In Persian literature, there is a story of the discovery of fire in a

fight of a dragon. One of the stones of the hero used as a weapon
missed the monster and truck a rock. Lights shone forth and human being
saw fire for the first time. The fire mythology of nearly all early people
contains some account of accidental or supernatural happenings that first
revealed fire to human beings. Early people regarded fire as a true gift of
gods.

In Persian literature, fire was first seen by humans through a dragon exhaling it.

Photo Source: google.com

Fire was considered sacred because it was so essential to the welfare of the people. Fire
worship and sun worship have existed since very early times. Because fire was so hard to produce, the
custom soon became common of keeping a public fire, which was never allowed to die out. These fires
kept in every village among the Egyptians, Persian, Greeks and Romans. They were often in the civic
center of the community.
Vesta (Greek:
Hestia) is the Zeus’
sister. She is a
The temple of Vesta in Rome was an virgin goddess. Her
symbol is the
outstanding example of the importance of fire Hearth. She
doesn’t have any
to Romans. Vesta was originally the goddess of specific roles in
myths, but is
the hearth (fire place) and her shine in every considered the
home. But when religion became an affair of most charitable
and honest of the
the state, a temple was created in which the Vesta
Olympians.

sacred fire was kept burning at all times. “Goddess of Fire”

Photo Source: google.com
Statue of Vesta of Rome
Photo Credits: wikisearch.com
In Greek mythology, Prometheus
Photo Source: google.com bestowed godlike powers when he stole fire from the
gods to give it to the humanity. Humans have always
worshiped fire for its awesome power in nature and its beneficence when
controlled. Fire has played a central role in religion. It has been personified as a
god (for example Indo-Iranian Agni) and recognized as a symbol of home and
family in many cultures. It has also been a symbol of purification and of
immortality and renewal, hence, the lighting of flames of remembrance and the
myth of POENIX (Grolier International Encyclopedia, 1998).
Prometheus

Photo Source: google.com

Another, Hephaestus (Roman: Vulcan) is the only god to be Physically ugly

and lame. As the god of blacksmiths, he is often seen with a smith’s hammer,
anvil and a pair of tongs. He made all the weapons for the gods in Olympus. He is
kind and loving to his wife Aphrodite. He is dubbed as the “god of fire and the
forge”.

Hephaestus
“God of Fire”

Photo Source: google.com

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➢ How does early human produce fire?

BOW DRILL RUBBING TWO STICKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibaMy_WvhE0 https://youtu.be/BKnMB-T5VFI

WEIGHTED BOW DRILL AND/OR CORD DRILL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEl-Y1NvBVI

HAND DRILL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpIuzWZsbJc

STRIKING FLINT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQylF_nvLHI

❖ FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTIGATION

➢ Investigation – is an inquiry of the facts.
➢ Criminal Investigation – it is an art of identifying the location of the offender and provides
evidence of his guilt through criminal proceedings.
➢ Fire Investigation – is conducted to determine the cause, origin and nature of fire.
➢ Arson Investigation – is conducted to establish the elements of the crime, identity of the
suspect/s and gather evidence to prove his guilt.
➢ Technical Investigation – it is an in-depth investigation to determine more specific details of
the cause and effects and to establish necessary corrective actions.

❖ RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES OF FIRE INVESTIGATION

The purpose of a fire investigation is to determine how the fire started and why the fire behaved
the way it did. Data collected through fire investigations is a key element in addressing a community's fire
problem. In order to close the loop in implementing and supporting a professional program, fire
investigations must play a significant role in our prevention efforts. Remember the basics of program
development; identify, plan, implement, and evaluate. Fire investigation is one of the most important
ways of identifying our targets. Without identifying the target, the rest of the program elements remain
idle and ineffective.

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The results of fire data must be utilized to assist the fire prevention division in the development of
a holistic fire prevention program. The primary purposes of a fire investigation is to establish the origin
(seat) of the fire, determine the likely cause, and thus conclude whether the incident was accidental,
natural or deliberate.
There are a number of benefits to collecting fire investigation data. Fire department collected fire
investigation data can be used for:

• Improving public awareness and education

• Implementing more aggressive inspections
• Providing input into fire fighting tactics and operations
• Modifying regulatory requirements for buildings and products
• Preventing or mitigating similar occurrences

❖ BASIC TERMINOLOGIES
✓ Adiabatic flame temperature: theoretically, the highest temperature at which a fuel can burn
✓ Area of Origin: A structure, part of a structure, or general geographic location within a fire scene, in
which the “point of origin” of a fire or explosion is reasonably believed to be located.
✓ Arson: a criminal act of setting fire to a building or other property on purpose.
✓ Arson trail: the use of various types of materials such as cloth rags, newspapers, or wood that have
some type pf flammable liquid poured on the material by which the fire can travel along. This trail can
leave a distinct mark on the floor of a fire scene.
✓ Asbestos: a white or light-gray mineral, obtained primarily from actinolite and amphibole, occurring
in long slender needles or fibrous masses that may be woven or shaped into acid-resisting, non-
conducting, and fire proof articles.
✓ Auto-ignition temperature: the lowest temperature at which a gas or vapor air mixture will ignite
from its own heat source or a contacted heated surface without a spark or flame.
✓ Azeotrope: a mixture of two or more compounds that have a constant boiling point. These mixtures
cannot be separated by fractional distillation.
✓ Boiling point: refers to the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the atmospheric
pressure and the liquid becomes vapor.
✓ Burning: normal combustion in which the oxidant is molecular oxygen.
✓ Burning rate: the rate at which combustion proceeds across a fuel.
✓ Cause: 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.
✓ Evaporation: conversion of a liquid to the vapor state by the addition of latent heat.
✓ Explosion limit: Also known as flammability limit, it refers to the highest or lowest concentration of
a flammable gas or vapor in air that will explode or burn readily when ignited. This limit is usually
expressed as a volume percent of gas or vapor in air.
✓ Fire Analysis: the process of determining the origin, cause, development, and responsibility as well
as the failure analysis of a fire or explosion.
✓ Fire Dynamics: the detailed study of how chemistry, fire science, and the engineering disciplines of
fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact to influence fire behavior.
✓ Fire Scene Reconstruction: The process of recreating the physical scene during fire scene analysis
through the removal of debris and the replacement of contents or structural elements in their pre-fire
positions.
✓ Fire load: amount of material that can burn
✓ Fire point: the temperature generally a few degrees above the flash point at which burning is self-
sustaining after removal of an ignition source.
✓ Flame: a rapid gas phase combustion process characterized by self-propagation.
✓ Flammable Liquid: A liquid that has a closed-cup flash point that is below 37.8°C (100°F) and a
maximum vapor pressure of 2068 mm Hg (40 psia) at 37.8°C (100°F).
✓ Flash Point of a Liquid: The lowest temperature of a liquid, as determined by specific laboratory
tests, at which the liquid gives off vapors at a sufficient rate to support a momentary flame across its
surface.

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✓ Fuel Load: the total quantity of combustible contents of a building, space, or fire area, including
interior finish and trim, expressed in heat units or the equivalent weight in wood.
✓ Fume: gas, smoke or vapor that smells strongly or is dangerous to smell.
✓ Fume hood: an enclosed laboratory cabinet with a movable sash or fixed access port on the front,
connected to a ventilating system that may incorporate air scrubbing or filtering facilities. In
operation it draws in and then exhaust air from the lab to prevent or minimize the escape of air
contaminants. It enables employees to manipulate materials in the hood using only their hands and
arms.
✓ Heat of Ignition: The heat energy that brings about ignition.
✓ Hot zone: the area immediately surrounding a chemical hazard incident.
✓ Ignition: the means by which burning is started.
✓ Ignition temperature: the minimum temperature to which a fuel must be heated in order to initiate or
cause self-sustained combustion independent of another heat source.
✓ Ignition source: location of a flame, arc, spark or chemical reaction that provides sufficient heat
energy in the presence of a fuel and an oxidizer to initiate combustion.
✓ Incendiaries: substances or mixtures of substances consisting of a fuel and an oxidizer used to
initiate a fire.
✓ Incendiary fire: fire intentionally set by human hands often involving the use of an accelerant to
increase and spread the rate and intensity of burning.
✓ Ignitable Liquid: Any liquid or the liquid phase of any material that is capable of fueling a fire,
including a flammable liquid, combustible liquid, or any other material that can be liquefied and
burned.
✓ Ignition: The process of initiating self-sustained combustion.
✓ Point of Origin: The exact physical location within the area of origin where a heat source and the
fuel interact, resulting in a fire or explosion.
✓ Pyrolysis: A process in which material is decomposed, or broken down, into simpler molecular
compounds by the effect of heat alone; pyrolysis often precedes combustion.
✓ Radiant Heat: Heat energy carried by electromagnetic waves longer than light waves and shorter
than radio waves; radiant heat (electromagnetic radiation) increases the sensible temperature of any
substance capable of absorbing the radiation, especially solid and opaque objects.
✓ Radiation: Heat transfer by way of electromagnetic energy.
✓ Rekindle: A return to flaming combustion after apparent but incomplete extinguishment.
✓ Smoke: The airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases evolved when a material undergoes
pyrolysis or combustion, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the
mass.
✓ Spontaneous Heating: Process whereby a material increases in temperature without drawing heat
from its surroundings.
✓ Spontaneous Ignition: Initiation of combustion of a material by an internal chemical or biological
reaction that has produced sufficient heat to ignite the material.
✓ Vapor: The gas phase of a substance, particularly of those that are normally liquids or solids at
ordinary temperatures.
✓ Vapor density: the weight of a given volume of a vapor or a gas compare to the weight of an equal
volume of dry air, both measured at the same temperature and pressure.
✓ Vapor pressure: a measure of the tendency of a liquid to become a gas at a given temperature.
✓ Vaporization: the physical change of going from a solid or a liquid into a gaseous status.
✓ Vermiculite: a micaceous hydrated silicate mineral used as a planting medium and as insulation.
✓ Vestibule: is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building.
✓ Volatile: prone to rapid oxidation. Both combustible and non combustible materials may be volatile.

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❖ ELEMENTS OF FIRE

The Fire Triangle Theory – is the graphical representation of the three elements of fire (oxygen, fuel,
heat). To further understand this theory, open this link: https://vimeo.com/67505680

Elements of Fire Fire Triangle Theory

1.Heat
2. Oxygen
Photo Credits:
3. Fuel https://www.cityfire.co.uk/

1. Heat - a form of energy measured in the degree of temperature, the product of combustion that
caused the spread of fire.
Example:
open flame hot surfaces
sparks and arcs friction-chemical action
electrical energy compression of gases

2. Oxygen - a colorless and odorless gas and one of the compositions of air that supports fire with
approximately 21% by volume. It needs approximately 16% of oxygen to produce fire.

3. Fuel - any substance or combustible which reacts chemically with oxygen and produces
flames.
Solid state:
coal, wood, paper, cloth, grease, etc.
Liquid state:
gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, alcohol, paint, varnish, lacquer, etc.
Gas state:
natural gas, propane, butane, hydrogen, etc.

Kinds of Matter
● SOLID – molecules that ●LIQUID – molecules are ●GAS – molecules are free to
are closely apart. loosely packed. move.
Example : book, paper, ice, Example: water, juice, soy Example: methane, hydrogen,
glass, door, table sauce, blood, vinegar helium,

Common Types of Solids Common Types of Liquids Common Types of Gases

Bulky gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, propane, butane,
coal, wood, wax, grease turpentine, alcohol, cod liver hydrogen, acetylene, carbon
Finely Divided oil, paint, varnish, lacquer, monoxide
Plastic, paper, cork, leather olive oil
Dust
saw dust, sugar, grains

Photo Source: google.com

Photo Source: google.com

Photo Source: google.com

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The Fire Tetrahedron Theory - the combustion reaction can be characterized by the four components:
the fuel, the oxidizing agent, the heat and an inhabited chemical chain reaction. These four components
have classically symbolized by a four-sided geometric form; the TETRAHEDRON. The fourth element
for the tetrahedron explanation is known as CHEMICAL REACTIVITY or CHEMICAL
REACTION. To further understand this theory, open this link: https://vimeo.com/67534747

Elements of Fire Tetrahedron

• Oxygen (oxidizing agent) Fire Tetrahedron Theory
• Fuel (reducing agent)
• Heat (temperature) Photo Credits:
• Self-Sustained Chemical Reaction https://www.pngkit.com/

Elements of Fire Tetrahedron

● Oxygen (Oxidizing agent) - material or substance that yield the oxygen or oxidizing gases during the
process of a chemical reaction.
...oxidizers are not combustibles themselves but they support combustion...
● Fuel (reducing agent) - material or substance being burned in the combustion process.
... most common fuels contain along with the combination of hydrogen and oxygen...
● Heat (temperature) - the energy component of the fire tetrahedron. It is a form of energy generated by
the transmission of some forms of energy, as in COMBUSTION or BURNING.
● Self Sustain Chemical Reaction - the series of event that occur in the sequence with the results of each
individual reaction being added to the rest.

Combustion Reaction- causes PYROLYSIS or vaporization of solid and liquid fuels and the production
of ignitable vapors or gases.

Pyrolysis – is the chemical decomposition of matter through the action of heat.

❖ STAGES OF FIRE DEVELOPMENT

Factors to be considered in determining phases of burning:

a. the amount of time the fire has burned.
b. the ventilation characteristics of the confining structure
c. the amount and type of combustible present

1.Incipient / Beginning Phase – occurs when heat, fuel and oxygen Incipient Phase
come together and generate more heat that dissipated.
- No need for additional heat sources (can self-sustain if
fuel/oxygen is sufficient)
- is the initial stage base on the factors:
Characteristics: Photo credits:
Jones and Barlette Learning
a. normal room temperature
b. oxygen plentiful
c. thermal updraft rise accumulates at higher point
d. Flame temperature of 1000 ˚F
e. producing pyrolysis products

2. Free-Burning phase - the second phase of burning in which materials or structures are burning in the
presence of adequate oxygen.
Characteristics: Free-Burning Phase
a. fire has involved more fuel
b. oxygen is depleted
Photo credits:
c. Heat accumulates at upper area Jones and Barlette Learning
d. temperature exceeds 1,300 ˚F
e. area is fully involved

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3. Flashover Phase - the transition in which room temperature reaches

a point at which all surfaces ignite.
- When flashover occurs, burning gases will push out
openings in the compartment (such as a door leading to
another room) at a substantial velocity. When outdoors, it
is determined by fuel supply
Photo credits:
Flashover Phase Jones and Barlette Learning

Smoldering Phase
4. Smoldering Phase - the final phase of burning wherein flame ceases but
dense smoke and heat completely fill the confined room.
Characteristics:
a. intense heat will vaporize lighter fuel components increasing the hazards
b. temperature throughout the building is very high and normal breathing is
not possible
c. oxygen deficiency may cause backdraft
Backdraft – an explosion resulting from the sudden introduction of air
(oxygen) into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient superheated
Photo credits:
Jones and Barlette Learning
products of incomplete combustion.

❖ BASIC MODES OF FIRE

Classification of Fire
1. Class A Fire - this is the fire involving ordinary combustible materials.
Example: wood, rubber, cloth, plastic, paper

Photo Source: google.com

2. Class B Fire - It involves flammable and combustible liquids, greases

and gas.
Example: gasoline, paints, mineral spirits, lacquers, alcohol
Photo Source: google.com

3. Class C Fire - this fire involves energized electrical equipment.

Example: fire caused by octopus wiring, sparking of electrical outlet

Photo Source: google.com

4. Class D Fire - it involves combustible metals.
Example: aluminum, sodium, magnesium, calcium, titanium, zinc,
zirconium, potassium

Photo Source: google.com

5. Class K Fire - these are fires found mostly at the kitchen such as
cooking oils and greases like animal and vegetable fats. These are hybrid
oils and passed during 1998 as the new class of fire.
Example: cooking oil left in a pan under fire
Photo Source: google.com

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INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE

A B C D K

❖ TRANSMISSION OF HEAT

Heat Transfer - a member of the natural laws of physics is involved in the transmission of heat. One is
called the LAW OF HEAT FLOW which specifies that heat tends to flow from a hot substance to a cold
substance.
Conduction
1.Conduction - the transfer of the heat from a region of higher
temperature to a region of lower temperature by increased kinetic energy.
On the other hand, Insulators are poor conductors of heat.

Photo credits:
Jones and Barlette Learning

Convection

2. Convection - Is the transfer of heat through a circulating medium,

usually air or liquid. This is cheaply responsible for the spread of
fire in the structure.

Photo credits:
Jones and Barlette Learning
Radiation

3. Radiation - Is the process of heat transfer by means of infrared

radiation, a form of electromagnetic wave. In early 1900s, a German
physicist Max Planck formulated this form of heat transfer. He wrote that
all substances emit radiant energy simply because they have positive
absolute temperature. Photo credits:
Jones and Barlette Learning

Planck’s radiation law, a mathematical relationship formulated in 1900 by German

physicist Max Planck to explain the spectral-energy distribution of radiation emitted by
a blackbody (a hypothetical body that completely absorbs all radiant energy falling upon it,
reaches some equilibrium temperature, and then reemits that energy as quickly as it absorbs
it). Planck assumed that the sources of radiation are atoms in a state of oscillation and that
the vibrational energy of each oscillator may have any of a series of discrete values but never
any value between.

Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck

23 April 1858 – 4 October 1947

Photo Credits: britannica.com

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❖ SOURCES OF IGNITION

Fuel is any material or any substance capable of burning. It may be solid, liquid or gas.
A. Solid Fuels- the principal component is carbon.
B. Liquid Fuels- the principal component is hydrocarbon.
C. Gaseous Fuels- the principal component is hydrocarbon.

1. SOLID FUEL
A. Wood and wood-based products - is a very versatile material which is commonly used for
construction, furniture and interior decoration among others.
FACTORS AFFECTING IGNITION AND BURNING OF WOOD
1. Physical Form – the ratio surface area to the volume (mass) increases. The smaller the size, the
easier it will ignite.
2. Moisture Content – the moisture content of the material also influences the rate of burning.
3. Heat of Conductivity – measures the rate in which absorbed heat will flow through the mass
material.
4. Rate and Period of Heating – it influences the susceptibility of wood and wood products to the
ignition.
5. Rate of Combustion – is markedly influenced by physical form of combustible, the air supply
present, the moisture content and other factors.
6. Ignition Temperature – specific ignition temperature of wood is difficult to determine because of
some variables concerned.
B. Fibers and textiles - almost all textile fibers are combustibles.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE BURNING OF TEXTILES

1. Chemical Composition - The composition of fibers depends on the geographic location where the
plants are grown up. The peculiarity is the fact that all the fibers have the same constituents, but
with different composition, which makes the fibers to behave differently.

A. Natural Fibers - The major constituent ( > 90%) of cotton is cellulose (C6H1005)x along
with some protein, wax, ash and organic acids. Other plant fibres such as Jute, Flax (linen), and
Hemp are also predominantly cellulose (60%-80%) and gum (20%-40%) with some water, fat, wax
and ash. All plant fibres are combustible (ignition temperature of cotton fibre -400 0 C) and once
ignited produce heat, smoke, carbon dioxide/monoxide and water, without melting.
Unlike plant fibres, animal derivative fibres consist of complex protein molecules containing high
percentages of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and possibly sulphur with small amounts of wax, fat
and salts. Two examples are wool [(C42H157015N5S)x with approximately 50 0/oc, 24 0/00, 1 6%N, and
3%Sl and silk [80%(C 15 H 23 N s O 6) and 20%(C 15 H 25 N 5 O 8 Wool supports combustion with
difficulty, is much more difficult to ignite (ignition temperature —600 0 C), burns more slowly and is
much easier to extinguish than cotton.

B. Synthetic or Artificial Fibers - Synthetic textiles such as Rayon, Nylon, Polyester

(dacron), Acrylic and Spandex (lycra) have created new and difficult problems in evaluating fire
hazard properties of textiles due to the tendency to suffer from shrinkage and/or melting and/or
dripping along with burning when they are subjected to heat. Conversely, synthetics offer
considerable hope of virtually eliminating all fire problems associated with fabrics due possibly to
space-age technological advances and the modernization of natural fibres by novel durable chemical
finishes.
* Note.
There are noncombustible textiles which include those made entirely from inorganic materials.
Unfortunately, the inherent properties of brittleness and/or weight of the noncombustible fibres limits
their practical uses as textiles and almost Figure 3 Noncombustible certainly prohibits their use as
clothing materials.

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2. Fabric Weight - Loosely woven fabrics are more flammable than firmly woven fabrics as they present
an increased surface area to the flames/heat. Lightweight fabrics will burn faster than the same fabric but
in a heavier weight due to the decreased density. Fabrics with a brushed/piled surface can alight very
easily and burn very rapidly as the brushed surface has a lighter (comparative) weight and a more loose
weave than the main body of the fabric.

3. Tightness of Weave - The amount of air that is accessible to the fibres will determine a textiles rate of
burning. An obvious area of concern will be the clothing industry where any loose-fitting garments will
be acting much as a household chimney will, sucking air up the inside, presenting more fuel to the rapidly
advancing flames.

4. Flame Retardant Treatment - Just about all fibres will burn. Cotton and Rayon catch fire easily
and burn quickly. Most synthetic fabrics ignite more slowly, but melt as they burn. If mixed or
accompanied with cotton or rayon they can burn fiercely, melt and stick causing deep skin burns (if in
personal contact). Wool is one fabric that is both difficult to ignite and slow to burn.

C. Plastics - other than cellulose nitrates, are classified as ordinary combustibles. They comprise a group
of material consisting mainly of organic substances or high molecular weight substances. They are solid
in the finish state although at some state of manufacture plastics can be made to flow into a desired shape,
usually through the application of heat or pressure or both.

Pyrolyzable and Nonpyrolyzable Solids

Pyrolysis- is the chemical decomposition of matter through the action of heat this decomposition
may take place in the absence of oxygen, and the vapors released may include both combustible and non-
combustible gases.

Pyrolyzable Solids - fuels include many of the ordinarily accepted solid combustibles; wood
paper, and so on. The vapor released via their chemical decomposition support flaming combustion. This
exemplifies a gas to gas reaction: the vapors released mix with oxygen in the air to produce flame.

Nonpyrolyzable Solids – fuels that are difficult to ignite. Chemical decomposition does not occur
because there are no pyrolyzable elements present. No vapors are released the glowing combustion that
results is an example of gas to solid reaction.

2. LIQUID FUEL Flammable Liquids

Classification of Liquid Fuels

1. Flammable Liquid – refers to any liquid having a

flashpoint below 37.8˚C.
Example: gasoline, acetone, toluene, alcohol, diethyl Photo Source: google.com
ether

Combustible Liquids 2. Combustible Liquid – refers to any liquid having a flashpoint at or

above 37.8˚C.
Example: Diesel fuel, Acetic Acid, Fuel Oil, Engine oil

Note:
Burning Characteristics of Liquid Fuel - pound by pound flammable
liquid produced about 2.5 times more heat than wood. This heat is
liberated 3 to 10 times faster than liquid than from wood.

Photo Source: google.com

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3. GASEOUS FUELS - are either natural or manufactured flammable gases. Their properties include
compressibility, expandability, permeability and diffusion.

Classification of Gases According to Physical Properties

a. Compressed Gas – is one at which at all normal atmospheric temperature inside its container, exist
solely in the gaseous state under pressure.
Example: propane, nitrogen, chlorine, helium, oxygen

b. Liquefied Gas – is one which, at normal atmospheric temperature inside its container, exists partly in
liquid state and partly in gaseous state.
Example: Anhydrous ammonia, chlorine, propane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide

c. Cryogenic Gases – is a liquefied gas which exist in its container at temperature far below normal
atmospheric temperature.
Example: hydrogen, methane and liquefied natural gas

CLASSIFICATION OF GASES ACCORDING TO USAGE

a. Fuel Gases – this is customary used for burning with air to produce heat, which in turn utilized as
power, light and process.
Example: Coal gas, Water gas, Producer gas, Syngas, Wood gas, Biogas, Blast furnace gas

b. Industrial Gases – used for industrial processes are those in welding and cutting.
Example: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, hydrogen, acetylene, helium

c. Medical Gases - this is used for treatment and respiratory therapy.

Example: oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, entonox, carbon dioxide, heliox

HAZARDS OF GASES
1. Hazards of Confinement
2. Hazards of gas when released from their container

Fire Protection and Arson Investigation University of Antique