STCW Basic Training Questions and
Answers
Ship Fire Prevention - ANSWER- Ship design and construction
-steel/fire retardant materials
-subdivisions
-fire protection systems
Good housekeeping practices important
Number 1 cause of fire - ANSWER- CARELESS SMOKING HABITS!!!
- DISPOSAL
- SMOKING IN BED
- DISREGARD FOR RESTRICTED AREAS
• POOR HOUSEKEEPING
- Dirty/oily machinery
- Clothes drier lint accumulation
- Improper, non-secured storage
Examples of poor housekeeping practices - ANSWER- -Complacency about fire safety
on the job
-careless disposal of smoking materials
-defective electrical components
-spillage of flammable materials
-careless work habits
Fire Triangle - ANSWER- fuel, oxygen, heat
All of these components are necessary for a fire to occur The removal of any one
component will cause the fire to be extinguished
Fire Tetrahedron - ANSWER- Heat, Fuel, Oxygen, Chemical Chain Reaction
All of these components are necessary for a fire to occur The removal of any one
component will cause the fire to be extinguished
Heat - ANSWER- Anything that produces the required temperature for ignition will
satisfy this leg of the triangle
- Sun
, - Open Flame
- Chemical Reaction
- Sparks
- Friction
- Static Electricity
- Biological Processes
Oxygen - ANSWER- The Earth's atmosphere consists of 21% oxygen
Because fire needs oxygen to burn, the amount of oxygen available to it controls the
rate at which it burns
Fuel - ANSWER- Only vapors burn
• Liquids & solids are too dense and must first be vaporized
• The tendency of a substance to vaporize is an indication of its ability to burn.
• Liquids vaporize more readily than solids
• Gases are already in a vapor state
Chain Reaction - ANSWER- You can have Oxygen - Heat - Fuel in the same place at
the same time and still not have a fire (explain)
• FUEL - OXYGEN relationship must be balanced, i.e., must be in the Flammable
Range
• Heat must be sufficient to bring fuel to its "Ignition Temperature"
To Stop a Fire - ANSWER- • remove the fuel
• remove the heat
• remove the oxygen
• interrupt chemical reaction
OR • do any combination of above
Classifications of Fires - ANSWER- Five classes of fire:
1. Class A - combustible solids (wood paper, rubber)
2. Class B - combustible and flammable liquids and gases (oil, gasoline)
3. Class C - energized electrical equipment (electrical equipment, wiring, appliances)
4. Class D - combustible metals (sodium, zinc, manganese)
5. Class K - cooking material (animal/vegetable fats)
Flash point - ANSWER- FLASH POINT (of a Liquid)
- The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off sufficient vapor to form an ignitable
mixture at the surface of the liquid
Answers
Ship Fire Prevention - ANSWER- Ship design and construction
-steel/fire retardant materials
-subdivisions
-fire protection systems
Good housekeeping practices important
Number 1 cause of fire - ANSWER- CARELESS SMOKING HABITS!!!
- DISPOSAL
- SMOKING IN BED
- DISREGARD FOR RESTRICTED AREAS
• POOR HOUSEKEEPING
- Dirty/oily machinery
- Clothes drier lint accumulation
- Improper, non-secured storage
Examples of poor housekeeping practices - ANSWER- -Complacency about fire safety
on the job
-careless disposal of smoking materials
-defective electrical components
-spillage of flammable materials
-careless work habits
Fire Triangle - ANSWER- fuel, oxygen, heat
All of these components are necessary for a fire to occur The removal of any one
component will cause the fire to be extinguished
Fire Tetrahedron - ANSWER- Heat, Fuel, Oxygen, Chemical Chain Reaction
All of these components are necessary for a fire to occur The removal of any one
component will cause the fire to be extinguished
Heat - ANSWER- Anything that produces the required temperature for ignition will
satisfy this leg of the triangle
- Sun
, - Open Flame
- Chemical Reaction
- Sparks
- Friction
- Static Electricity
- Biological Processes
Oxygen - ANSWER- The Earth's atmosphere consists of 21% oxygen
Because fire needs oxygen to burn, the amount of oxygen available to it controls the
rate at which it burns
Fuel - ANSWER- Only vapors burn
• Liquids & solids are too dense and must first be vaporized
• The tendency of a substance to vaporize is an indication of its ability to burn.
• Liquids vaporize more readily than solids
• Gases are already in a vapor state
Chain Reaction - ANSWER- You can have Oxygen - Heat - Fuel in the same place at
the same time and still not have a fire (explain)
• FUEL - OXYGEN relationship must be balanced, i.e., must be in the Flammable
Range
• Heat must be sufficient to bring fuel to its "Ignition Temperature"
To Stop a Fire - ANSWER- • remove the fuel
• remove the heat
• remove the oxygen
• interrupt chemical reaction
OR • do any combination of above
Classifications of Fires - ANSWER- Five classes of fire:
1. Class A - combustible solids (wood paper, rubber)
2. Class B - combustible and flammable liquids and gases (oil, gasoline)
3. Class C - energized electrical equipment (electrical equipment, wiring, appliances)
4. Class D - combustible metals (sodium, zinc, manganese)
5. Class K - cooking material (animal/vegetable fats)
Flash point - ANSWER- FLASH POINT (of a Liquid)
- The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off sufficient vapor to form an ignitable
mixture at the surface of the liquid
