Incident Safety Officer Complete Set Exam
Questions With 100% Correct Answers
Ch 5. 1.What are three things that need to be acquired to front-load for the ISO function?
1. NFPA 1021: standard on fire officer professional qualifications
2. Additional knowledge and skills
3. Certain attitude
Ch 5. 2.Discuss the concept of mastery and it's benefit to the ISO.
Mastery: 90/90 rule - 90% objective 90% of the time. Ability to perform with a certain unconscious
competence. ISO needs to address important issues with a wealth of knowledge.
Ch 5. 3.How are efficiency and effectiveness different?
Effectiveness: doing the right things. Learning part.
Efficiency: doing things right - performance part.
Ch 5. 4.What is the essential difference between learning and performance.
Learning: is the aquisition of knowledge, skills
Performance: demonstration of aquired knowlege and skills
Ch 5. 5.Describe the relationship among knowledge, skill, and attitude.
Knowledge: bring knowledge into application without supervision. Recognize situations
Skills: intellectual tasks such as hazard reduction, and problem solving. Determine, predict, implement
Attitude: gain knowledge and skills to shape an attitude that supports the reduction of injury and
death
Ch 5. 6.To check your attitude, what three questions can be asked of yourself?
1. What do I know about this?
2. How do I feel about it?
3. How should I handle it to show a concern for safety?
Ch 6. 1.What are the three ways loads are imposed on materials?
1. Axial load: on the beam
2. Eccentric load: middle of deck
3. Torsion load: sides of deck, take twisted torsion
Ch 6. 2.List three types of forces created when loads are imposed on materials.
1. Compression: push both sides on a beam
2. Tension: pulls on a structural member
3. Shear: load transferee to another structure member
Ch 6. 3.What is the definition of a beam?
A structural element that delivers loads perpendicularly to it's imposed load is called a beam.
Ch 6. 4.Explain the effects of fire on steel structural elements.
Cold drawn steel loses 55% at 800F
Extruded steel loses 50% at 1100F
At 1000F steel elongates 10 inches
,Ch 6. 5.How does a masonry wall achieve strength?
Compressive strength using motar. No tensil or shear strength.
Ch 6. 6.List and define the five common types of building construction.
Type 1: Fire-Resistive, approved noncombustable, concrete encased steel, monolithic poured cement,
steel spray on fire protection. Large multiple-story-hard to fight rely on no collapse.
Type 2: Noncombustible, less rating-steel not coated makes for collapse. Warehouses, small arenas,
newer churches. Building do not burn but heat causes collapse.
Type 3: Ordinary, load bearing walls noncombustable masonry with wood floors, ceilings, structure
members. Taxpayer, now strip malls. Spreaders-void spaces.
Type 4: Heavy Timber, masonary exterior walls with 8"" wood laminated beams for structure, floor,
roof. Warehouses, older churches, manufactoring.
Type 5: Wood frame, new homes, small business, chain hotels built with wood.
Ch 6. 7.What is a hybrid building? List several types.
Combine 2 types of construction. Expect rapid collapse due to low mass high surface to mass
exposure of structural elements.
Ch 6. 8.List in order, the five step analytical approach to predicting building collapse.
1. Classify the construction type
2. Determine structural involvement
3. Visualize and trace loads
4. Evaluate time
5. Predict and communicate collapse potential
Ch 6. 9.List several factors that accelerate the time that a structural element will fail under fire
conditions.
1. Lighter structural elements
2. Heavier imposed load
3. No time window for construction
4. Brown dark smoke light weight times up
5. Gravity and time are constant, resistance is not
Ch 7. 1.What is smoke?
The products of incomplete combustion that includes an aggregate of solids, areosols, and fire gases
that are toxic, flammable, and volatile.
Ch 7. 2.List common hostile fire events and their associated warning signs.
Flashover: turbulent smoke flow, rollover, autoignition outside.
Backdraft: yellowish gray smoke, bowing black stained windows, signs of extreme heat on outside.
Smoke explosion: smoke trapped above fire, signs of growing fire, pressurizing.
Rapid fire spread: increase in smoke spread, smoke flowing from hallways faster than firefighter can
move.
Ch 7. 3.What are the four attributes of smoke?
1. Volume: sets stage for offgassing in a given space.
2. Velocity: speed, means pressure. Heat or smoke volume. Box cannot absorb any more heat-
precussor to flashover.
, 3. Density: thickness, how much fuel laden in the smoke.
4. Color: distance to a fire, white new, black hot unburned.
Ch 7. 4.How do the four smoke attributes contribute to the understanding of fire behavior within a
building?
Determine the location, stage, and spread potential of a fire.
Ch 7. 5. What is meant by the term "Black Fire?"
Describe smoke that is high volume, turbulent velocity, ultra dense, and deep black. Charring, heat
damage to steel, content destruction, victim death. Over 1000F. No FF should be near it. Vent and
Cool.
Ch 7. 6. Explain how influencing factors can affect smoke attributes.
Weather: temperature, humidity, wind change
Thermal Balance: sucking, puffing and breathing smoke into the building indicate rapid fire with
increased air.
Container size: Light, thin smoke showing from more than one opening of a very large building is a
significant observation.
Firefighting efforts:Color of smoke should change with efforts, if not you're not getting the job done.
PPV - if smoke become blacker and thicker it is making conditions worse.
Ch 7. 7.List the three steps of the reading smoke process.
1. View the Volume: velocity, density, color of smoke - compare from where smoke is emitting,
indicates fire size, location, spread potential.
2. Analyze the contributing factors: affect volume, velocity, density, color - should refine and or
confirm your read.
3. Rate of change of each attribute: measured in seconds, you got a problem.
Ch 8. 1.Describe the difference between Dangerous and Risky.
From the community perspective we believe firefighting to be inherently dangereous. From the fire
service perspective the risks of many specific dangers are well known.
Ch 8. 2. List the three influences on risk-taking values.
Community Expectations: the community sees firefighters risking their lives and expect similar
response in their emergencies.
Fire Service Standards: NFPA 1500, 1561, 1521 - risk a life to save a known life, Perform in a
predictable, practiced manner to save valued property, take no risk to save what's lost, default to
defensive when conditions deteriorate quickly.
Department Values and Skills: The ISO should recognize when crews are attempting to perform a skill
for which they have never prepared.
Ch 8. 3.List the risk management concepts out-lined in NFPA standards.
Risk a life to save a known life.
Perform in a predictable, practiced manner to save valued property.
Take no risk to save what's lost.
Default to defensive when conditions deteriorate quickly.
Ch 8. 4.What is "valued property?"
Physical property whose loss will cause harm to the community.
Questions With 100% Correct Answers
Ch 5. 1.What are three things that need to be acquired to front-load for the ISO function?
1. NFPA 1021: standard on fire officer professional qualifications
2. Additional knowledge and skills
3. Certain attitude
Ch 5. 2.Discuss the concept of mastery and it's benefit to the ISO.
Mastery: 90/90 rule - 90% objective 90% of the time. Ability to perform with a certain unconscious
competence. ISO needs to address important issues with a wealth of knowledge.
Ch 5. 3.How are efficiency and effectiveness different?
Effectiveness: doing the right things. Learning part.
Efficiency: doing things right - performance part.
Ch 5. 4.What is the essential difference between learning and performance.
Learning: is the aquisition of knowledge, skills
Performance: demonstration of aquired knowlege and skills
Ch 5. 5.Describe the relationship among knowledge, skill, and attitude.
Knowledge: bring knowledge into application without supervision. Recognize situations
Skills: intellectual tasks such as hazard reduction, and problem solving. Determine, predict, implement
Attitude: gain knowledge and skills to shape an attitude that supports the reduction of injury and
death
Ch 5. 6.To check your attitude, what three questions can be asked of yourself?
1. What do I know about this?
2. How do I feel about it?
3. How should I handle it to show a concern for safety?
Ch 6. 1.What are the three ways loads are imposed on materials?
1. Axial load: on the beam
2. Eccentric load: middle of deck
3. Torsion load: sides of deck, take twisted torsion
Ch 6. 2.List three types of forces created when loads are imposed on materials.
1. Compression: push both sides on a beam
2. Tension: pulls on a structural member
3. Shear: load transferee to another structure member
Ch 6. 3.What is the definition of a beam?
A structural element that delivers loads perpendicularly to it's imposed load is called a beam.
Ch 6. 4.Explain the effects of fire on steel structural elements.
Cold drawn steel loses 55% at 800F
Extruded steel loses 50% at 1100F
At 1000F steel elongates 10 inches
,Ch 6. 5.How does a masonry wall achieve strength?
Compressive strength using motar. No tensil or shear strength.
Ch 6. 6.List and define the five common types of building construction.
Type 1: Fire-Resistive, approved noncombustable, concrete encased steel, monolithic poured cement,
steel spray on fire protection. Large multiple-story-hard to fight rely on no collapse.
Type 2: Noncombustible, less rating-steel not coated makes for collapse. Warehouses, small arenas,
newer churches. Building do not burn but heat causes collapse.
Type 3: Ordinary, load bearing walls noncombustable masonry with wood floors, ceilings, structure
members. Taxpayer, now strip malls. Spreaders-void spaces.
Type 4: Heavy Timber, masonary exterior walls with 8"" wood laminated beams for structure, floor,
roof. Warehouses, older churches, manufactoring.
Type 5: Wood frame, new homes, small business, chain hotels built with wood.
Ch 6. 7.What is a hybrid building? List several types.
Combine 2 types of construction. Expect rapid collapse due to low mass high surface to mass
exposure of structural elements.
Ch 6. 8.List in order, the five step analytical approach to predicting building collapse.
1. Classify the construction type
2. Determine structural involvement
3. Visualize and trace loads
4. Evaluate time
5. Predict and communicate collapse potential
Ch 6. 9.List several factors that accelerate the time that a structural element will fail under fire
conditions.
1. Lighter structural elements
2. Heavier imposed load
3. No time window for construction
4. Brown dark smoke light weight times up
5. Gravity and time are constant, resistance is not
Ch 7. 1.What is smoke?
The products of incomplete combustion that includes an aggregate of solids, areosols, and fire gases
that are toxic, flammable, and volatile.
Ch 7. 2.List common hostile fire events and their associated warning signs.
Flashover: turbulent smoke flow, rollover, autoignition outside.
Backdraft: yellowish gray smoke, bowing black stained windows, signs of extreme heat on outside.
Smoke explosion: smoke trapped above fire, signs of growing fire, pressurizing.
Rapid fire spread: increase in smoke spread, smoke flowing from hallways faster than firefighter can
move.
Ch 7. 3.What are the four attributes of smoke?
1. Volume: sets stage for offgassing in a given space.
2. Velocity: speed, means pressure. Heat or smoke volume. Box cannot absorb any more heat-
precussor to flashover.
, 3. Density: thickness, how much fuel laden in the smoke.
4. Color: distance to a fire, white new, black hot unburned.
Ch 7. 4.How do the four smoke attributes contribute to the understanding of fire behavior within a
building?
Determine the location, stage, and spread potential of a fire.
Ch 7. 5. What is meant by the term "Black Fire?"
Describe smoke that is high volume, turbulent velocity, ultra dense, and deep black. Charring, heat
damage to steel, content destruction, victim death. Over 1000F. No FF should be near it. Vent and
Cool.
Ch 7. 6. Explain how influencing factors can affect smoke attributes.
Weather: temperature, humidity, wind change
Thermal Balance: sucking, puffing and breathing smoke into the building indicate rapid fire with
increased air.
Container size: Light, thin smoke showing from more than one opening of a very large building is a
significant observation.
Firefighting efforts:Color of smoke should change with efforts, if not you're not getting the job done.
PPV - if smoke become blacker and thicker it is making conditions worse.
Ch 7. 7.List the three steps of the reading smoke process.
1. View the Volume: velocity, density, color of smoke - compare from where smoke is emitting,
indicates fire size, location, spread potential.
2. Analyze the contributing factors: affect volume, velocity, density, color - should refine and or
confirm your read.
3. Rate of change of each attribute: measured in seconds, you got a problem.
Ch 8. 1.Describe the difference between Dangerous and Risky.
From the community perspective we believe firefighting to be inherently dangereous. From the fire
service perspective the risks of many specific dangers are well known.
Ch 8. 2. List the three influences on risk-taking values.
Community Expectations: the community sees firefighters risking their lives and expect similar
response in their emergencies.
Fire Service Standards: NFPA 1500, 1561, 1521 - risk a life to save a known life, Perform in a
predictable, practiced manner to save valued property, take no risk to save what's lost, default to
defensive when conditions deteriorate quickly.
Department Values and Skills: The ISO should recognize when crews are attempting to perform a skill
for which they have never prepared.
Ch 8. 3.List the risk management concepts out-lined in NFPA standards.
Risk a life to save a known life.
Perform in a predictable, practiced manner to save valued property.
Take no risk to save what's lost.
Default to defensive when conditions deteriorate quickly.
Ch 8. 4.What is "valued property?"
Physical property whose loss will cause harm to the community.
