TCFP Fire Investigator Questions and Answers

Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard? It is the Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations What are the six steps of the scientific method? Recognize the need Define the problem Collect the data Analyze the data Develop a hypothesis Test the hypothesis What step of the scientific method is inductive reasoning? Analyze the data What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning? Test the hypothesis What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron? Fuel (reducing agent) Heat Oxidizing agent Uninhibited chemical chain reactionWhat kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic reaction? Endothermic What is heat transfer by direct contact called? Conduction What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called? Convection What is heat transfer by microwave energy called? Radiation What is a fuel controlled fire? A fire that is limited by the amount of combustibles. What is a ventilation controlled fire? A fire that is limited by the amount of oxygen. What are the stages of fire growth? Ignition Growth Flashover Fully Developed Decay What is a flashover? The transition phase from growth to fully developed, where all surfaces reach ignition temperature almost simultaneously.What is ignition of the underside of the hot gas layer called? Flameover or rollover What factors influence flashover conditions? Size of the compartment Height of ceiling Ventilation Amount of fuel Layout of fuel Location of fire in the compartment What are fire patterns? The physical manifestation of the affects of fire on materials. What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling? Plume Generated patterns (often V shaped) Ventilation generated patterns Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation) What is spalling? The separation of chunks of concrete with explosive force caused by the expansion of water (moisture) trapped in the concrete as it turns to steam What is char? Pyrolized carbonaceous material What is oxidation? Physical change in appearance of a material resulting from the combination of oxygen.What is alloying? Mixing two metals heated then cooled to change their properties. Often melts at a lower temperature. What is a clean burn? When there was enough heat to burn away all carbon deposits (soot) on a surface leaving a "clean" surface. Occurs on non-combustible surfaces. What is soot? Elemental carbon produced during incomplete combustion. What is calcination? When chemically bound water is driven out of gypsum walls by the heat of the fire. Does a 25 Watt light bulb expand towards the fire or pull inward away from it? Bulbs 25 watts or less pull away. Bulbs greater than 25 watts will expand towards the fire. What causes heat shadowing? An object blocking the travel of radiated heat. What is a dead load? The weight of things attached to the building, like flooring, cloumns, and roof coverings.