FIR E P R OT E C T I ON A N D

ARS O N I NV E S T I G A TI ON
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• AT THE END OF THIS DISCUSSION THE STUDENT WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN
1. WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVES OF FIRE PROTECTION
2. KNOW WHAT IS FIRE
3. ELEMENTS OF FIRE
4. TYPES OF FLAMES
5. CLASSIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
6. KNOW THE HEAT PRODUCTION
RATIONALE
•FIRE IS THE OLDEST ENEMY AS WELL AS A FRIEND
OF MANKIND. FIRE OUT OF CONTROL IS
IMPERSONAL AND DIFFERENT AS TO WHAT IT
DESTROYS. FRIENDLY OR UNDER CONTROL FIRE
SUPPLIES HEAT, WARMTH, POWER, ENERGY TO
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS TO ENABLE TO
MANUFACTURE NECESSITIES OF LIFE.
OBJECTIVES OF FIRE PROTECTION
•TO PREVENT FIRE FIRES FROM STARTING
•TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY WHEN
FIRE STARTS
•TO CONFINE A FIRE TO THE PLACE WHERE IT
STARTED AND PUT OUT A FIRE
WHAT IS FIRE
• FIRE IS THE MANIFESTATION OF RAPID CHEMICAL REACTION
OCCURRING BETWEEN FUEL AND AN OXIDIZER- THE OXYGEN IN
THE AIR. SUCH RAPID CHEMICAL REACTION RELEASES ENERGY IN
THE FORM OF HEAT AND LIGHT.

• FIRE IS HEAT AND LIGHT RESULTING FROM THE RAPID

COMBINATION OF OXYGEN, OR IN SOME CASES GASEOUS
CHLORINE, WITH OTHER MATERIALS. THE LIGHTS IS IN THE FORM
OF A FLAME, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF GLOWING PARTICLES OF THE
BURNING MATERIAL AND CERTAIN GASEOUS PRODUCTS THAT ARE
LUMINOUS AT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE BURNING MATERIAL.
ELEMENTS OF FIRE (FIRE TRIANGLE)

• ELEMETS OF FIRE
• OXYGEN
• HEAT
• FUEL
FIRE TETRAHEDRON

• OXYGEN
• HEAT
• FUEL
• CHAIN REACTION
FIRE ELEMENTS
FUEL (COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS)
• FUEL IS A MATERIAL THAT PROVIDES USEFUL ENERGY.
FUELS ARE TO HEAT AND COOK FOOD, POWER ENGINES,
AND PRODUCED ELECTRICITY.
• SOME FUELS OCCUR NATURALLY AND OTHERS ARE
ARTIFICIALLY CREATED.
SOLID FUELS
TYPES OF FLAMMABLE SOLIDS

• PYROLYZABLE SOLID FUELS- INCLUDE MANY OF THE ORDINARY ACCEPTED

COMBUSTIBLES: WOOD, PAPER SAND SO ON. THE VAPORS RELEASED BY THEIR
CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION SUPPORT FLAMING COMBUSTION. THIS
EXEMPLIFIES A GAS-TO-GAS REACTION THE VAPORS RELEASED MIXED WITH
OXYGEN IN THE AIR TO PRODUCE A FLAME.

• NON- PYROLYZABLE SOLID FUELS- SOLID FUELS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO

IGNITE. A COMMON EXAMPLE IS CHARCOAL. 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 A GAS-TO-SOLID REACTION.
LIQUID FUELS
•LIQUID FUELS ARE MAINLY MADE FROM PETROLEUM,
BUT SOME SYNTHETIC LIQUIDS ARE ALSO PRODUCED.
PETROLEUM IS ALSO CALLED CRUDE OIL.
• THEY MAY BE REFINED TO PRODUCE GASOLINE,
DIESEL OIL, AND KEROSENE.
2 TYPES OF LIQUID FUELS
•FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS- THEY ARE LIQUIDS
HAVING A FLASHPOINT OF 37.8˚C (100˚F) AND A
VAPOR PRESSURE NOT EXCEEDING 40 PSIA
(2068.6 UM) AT 37.8˚C.
•COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS- THESE LIQUIDS HAVE
FLASH POINT AT OR ABOVE 37.8˚C (100˚F).
GAS FUELS
• GASEOUS FUELS ARE THOSE IN WHICH MOLECULES ARE
IN RAPID MOVEMENT AND RANDOM MOTION. THEY HAVE
NO DEFINITE SHAPE OR VOLUME, AND ASSUME THE
SHAPE AND VOLUME OF THEIR CONTAINER. GAS FUELS
FLOW EASILY THROUGH PIPES AND ARE USED TO PROVIDE
ENERGY FOR HOMES, BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRIES.
EXAMPLES OF GAS FUELS ARE ACETYLENE, PROPANE,
AND BUTANES.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIALS
• 1.CLASS A FUELS- THEY ARE ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIALS THAT ARE USUALLY MADE OF ORGANIC
SUBSTANCES SUCH AS WOOD AND WOOD-BASED
PRODUCTS. IT INCLUDES SOME SYNTHETIC OR
INORGANIC MATERIALS LIKE RUBBER, LEATHER, AND
PLASTIC PRODUCTS.
• 2.CLASS B FUELS- MATERIALS THAT ARE IN THE FORM OF
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS SUCH AS ALCOHOL, ACIDIC
SOLUTIONS, OIL, LIQUID PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, ETC.
• .CLASS C FUELS- THEY ARE NORMALLY FIRE-RESISTANT
MATERIALS SUCH AS MATERIALS USED ON ELECTRICAL
WIRING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
•4.CLASS D FUELS- THEY ARE COMBUSTIBLE METALLIC
SUBSTANCES SUCH AS MAGNESIUM, TITANIUM,
ZIRCONIUM, SODIUM AND POTASSIUM.
•CLASS K FUELS- COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS THAT INVOLVE
COOKING OILS AND FATS.
GENERAL CATEGORIES OF FUEL

•SOLID COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS-INCLUDES

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC, NATURAL OR
SYNTHETIC, AND METALLIC SOLID MATERIALS.
•2. LIQUID COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS- INCLUDES
ALL FLAMMABLE LIQUID FUELS AND CHEMICALS.
•3. GASEOUS SUBSTANCES- INCLUDES THOSE
TOXIC/HAZARDOUS GASES THAT ARE CAPABLE OF
IGNITION.
HEAT
• IT IS THE ENERGY POSSESSED BY A MATERIAL OR
SUBSTANCE DUE TO MOLECULAR ACTIVITY.
•IN PHYSICS, HEAT IS THE TRANSFER OF ENERGY
FROM ONE PART OF A SUBSTANCE TO ANOTHER OR
FROM ONE BODY TO ANOTHER BY VIRTUE OF A
DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE.
HEAT AND TEMPERATURE
• HEAT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH TEMPERATURE,
WHICH IS THE MEASUREMENT OF THE RELATIVE AMOUNT
OF HEAT ENERGY CONTAINED WITHIN A GIVEN
SUBSTANCE. TEMPERATURE IS AN INTENSITY
MEASUREMENT, WITH UNITS IN DEGREES ON THE CELSIUS
(CENTIGRADE), FAHRENHEIT, OR KELVIN SCALES. HEAT IS
THE MEASUREMENT OF QUANTITY AND IS GIVEN IN
BRITISH THERMAL UNITS (BTU).
•TEMPERATURE IS THE MEASUREMENT OF THE
DEGREE OF THERMAL AGITATION OF MOLECULES;
THE HOTNESS OR COLDNESS OF SOMETHING.
THERMOMETER IS THE INSTRUMENT USED TO
MEASURE TEMPERATURE AND COMMONLY
EXPRESSED IN ˚C, ˚F, AND ˚K.
HEAT PRODUCTION
THERE ARE FIVE WAYS TO PRODUCE HEAT:
• 1.
CHEMICAL- CHEMICALLY PRODUCED HEAT IS THE
RESULT OF RAPID OXIDATION.
• 2. MECHANICAL- MECHANICAL HEAT IS THE PRODUCT OF
FRICTION. THE RUBBING OF TWO STICKS TOGETHER TO
GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT IS AN EXAMPLE.
• 3.ELECTRICAL- ELECTRICAL HEAT IS THE PRODUCT OF
ARCING, SHORTING OR OTHER ELECTRICAL
MALFUNCTION. POOR WIRE CONNECTIONS, TOO MUCH
RESISTANCE, A LOOSE GROUND, AND TOO MUCH CURRENT
FLOWING THROUGH AN IMPROPERLY SIZED WIRE ARE
OTHER SOURCES OF ELECTRICAL HEAT.
• 4. COMPRESSED GAS- WHEN A GAS IS COMPRESSED, ITS
MOLECULAR ACTIVITY IS GREATLY INCREASED
PRODUCING HEAT.
•5. NUCLEAR- NUCLEAR ENERGY IS THE
PRODUCT OF THE SPLITTING OR FUSING OF
ATOMIC PARTICLES (FISSION OR FUSION
RESPECTIVELY). THE TREMENDOUS HEAT
ENERGY IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
PRODUCES STEAM TO TURN STEAM
TURBINES.
 HEAT TRANSFER
•THE PHYSICAL METHODS BY WHICH ENERGY IN
THE FORM OF HEAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED
BETWEEN BODIES ARE CONDUCTION AND
RADIATION. A THIRD METHOD, WHICH ALSO
INVOLVES THE MOTION OF MATTER, IS CALLED
CONVECTION.
CONDUCTION
• IT
IS THE TRANSFER HEAT BY MOLECULAR ACTIVITY WITHIN A
MATERIAL OR MEDIUM, USUALLY A SOLID. DIRECT CONTACT IS THE
UNDER LYING FACTOR IN CONDUCTION. EXAMPLE, IF YOU TOUCH A
HOT STOVE, THE PAIN YOU FEEL IS A FIRST RESULT OF CONDUCTED
HEAT PASSING FROM THE STOVE DIRECTLY TO YOUR HAND. IN A
STRUCTURAL FIRE, SUPERHEATED PIPES, STEEL GIRDERS, AND
OTHER STRUCTURAL MEMBERS SUCH AS WALLS AND FLOORS MAY
CONDUCT ENOUGH HEAT TO INITIATE FIRES IN OTHER AREAS OF
THE STRUCTURE.
 CONVECTION
• IT IS THE TRANSFER OF HEAT THROUGH A CIRCULATING MEDIUM, USUALLY
AIR LIQUID. HEAT TRANSFER BY CONVECTION IS CHIEFLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRE IN STRUCTURES. THE SUPER-HEATED GASES
EVOLVED FROM A FIRE ARE LIGHTER THAN AIR, AND CONSEQUENTLY RISE,
THEY CAN AND DO INITIATE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. IN LARGE FIRES, THE
HIGH FIREBALL THAT ACCOMPANIES THE INCIDENT IS REFERRED TO AS A
FIRESTORM AND IS AN EXAMPLE OF CONVICTED HEAT.
 RADIATION
• RADIATED HEAT MOVES IN WAVE AND RAYS MUCH LIKE SUNLIGHT.
RADIATED HEAT TRAVELS THE SPEED, AS DOES VISIBLE LIGHT: 186,000 MILES
PER SECOND. IT IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPOSURE HAZARDS
THAT DEVELOP AND EXIST DURING A FIRE. HEAT WAVES TRAVEL IN A DIRECT
OR STRAIGHT LINE FROM THEIR SOURCE UNTIL THEY STRIKE AN OBJECT.
THE HEAT THAT COLLECTS ON THE SURFACE OF THE OBJECT OR BUILDING IN
THE PATH OF THE HEAT WAVES IS SUBSEQUENTLY ABSORBED INTO ITS MASS
THROUGH CONDUCTION.
DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR OF FIRE
FIRE IS A FATAL WHEN THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS OCCURRED:
•BACKDRAFT
•FLASHOVER
•BITEBACK
•FLASHFIRE
THE THREE STAGES OF FIRE

• 1. INCIPIENT PHASE (INITIAL STAGE)-UNDER THIS STAGE,

THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS ARE OBSERVED:
• NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURE
• THE TEMPERATURE AT THE BASE OF THE FIRE IS 400-800 ˚F
• CEILING TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 200˚F\
• THE PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS ARE MOSTLY WATER VAPOR
AND CARBON DIOXIDE, SMALL QUANTITIES OF CARBON
MONOXIDE AND SULFIDES MAYBE PRESENT.
• 2. FREE BURNING PHASE-IT HAS THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:
• ACCELERATED PYROLYSIS PROCESS TAKES PLACE
• DEVELOPMENT OF CONVECTION CURRENT: FORMATION OF THERMAL
COLUMNS AS HEAT RISES
• TEMPERATURE IS 800-1000˚F AT THE BASE OF FIRE, 1200-1600˚F AT
CEILING
• PYROLYTIC DECOMPOSITION MOVES UPWARD ON THE WALLS
(CRAWLING OF THE FLAME) LEAVING BURNT PATTERNS (FIRE
FINGERPRINTS
• OCCURRENCE OF FLASHOVER
• 3. SMOLDERING PHASE-THIS STAGE HAS THE FOLLOWING
CHARACTERISTICS:

• OXYGEN CONTENT DROPS TO 13% OR BELOW CAUSING THE FLAME TO VANISH

AND HEAT TO DEVELOP IN LAYERS.

• PRODUCTS OF INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION INCREASE IN VOLUME,

PARTICULARLY CARBON MONOXIDE WITH IGNITION TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT
1125˚F,

• CEILING TEMPERATURE IS 1000-1300˚F,

• HEAT AND PRESSURE IN THE ROOM BUILDS UP,
• BUILDING/ROOM CONTAINS LARGE QUANTITIES OF SUPERHEATED FUEL
UNDER PRESSURE BUT LITTLE OXYGEN,

• WHEN SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF OXYGEN IS INTRODUCED, BACKDRAFT OCCURS.