IAAI – FIT TEST VOCAB 2025
Approved - ANSWER acceptable
Absolute Temperature - ANSWER a temperature reading in Kelvin (K) or
Rankines (R)
Accelerant - ANSWER fuel or oxidizer function used to ignite a fire or
intensify its spread
Accidental Fire - ANSWER an unplanned fire or a chance occurrence caused
by accidental conditions
Active Fire Protection System - ANSWER an electric or mechanical system
which functions during fire conditions (ex. detectors and sprinklers)
Ambient - ANSWER the surrounding environment of something/someone
Ampacity - ANSWER the maximum current in amperes that a conductor can
continuously carry without exceeding it's maximum temperature rating
Ampere - ANSWER a unit of electric current equal to 1 coulomb (6.24x1018
electrons) per second
Arc - ANSWER a hot, glowing electric particle (spark) released across a circuit
gap or through a fuel
Arc Mapping - ANSWER examining circuit configurations for clues as to what
might have ignited the fire
Arc Site - ANSWER the spot on a conductor that is arcing-damaged
, Arcing through char - ANSWER when arcing is conducted through char
Area of Origin - ANSWER the geographical location of a fire scene where the
point of origin exists
Arrow Pattern - ANSWER a mark of fire on the cross-section of charred wood
structural members, has the shape of a triangle with the base most burned out
and the apex least burned out
Arson - ANSWER the criminal act of knowingly or willfully igniting a fire or
explosion
Autoignition - ANSWER heated combustion without a spark or flame
Autoignition Temperature - ANSWER lowest temperature at which a material
will start to ignite spontaneously
Backdraft/Smoke Explosion - ANSWER a deflagration explosion caused by
bringing oxidation into an oxygen deficient fire
Bead - ANSWER a globule of re-solidified metal melted by arcing at the end of
circuit conductor residue
Blast Pressure Front - ANSWER the front edge of high pressure explosion that
does damage by displacing and pushing away the normal ambient pressure
BLEVE - ANSWER Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Bonding - ANSWER permanent joining of metal parts that creates a conductive
and unbroken (safe) path for electrical currents
British Thermal Unit (BTU) - ANSWER a measurement of energy, 1055 joules
of energy
Approved - ANSWER acceptable
Absolute Temperature - ANSWER a temperature reading in Kelvin (K) or
Rankines (R)
Accelerant - ANSWER fuel or oxidizer function used to ignite a fire or
intensify its spread
Accidental Fire - ANSWER an unplanned fire or a chance occurrence caused
by accidental conditions
Active Fire Protection System - ANSWER an electric or mechanical system
which functions during fire conditions (ex. detectors and sprinklers)
Ambient - ANSWER the surrounding environment of something/someone
Ampacity - ANSWER the maximum current in amperes that a conductor can
continuously carry without exceeding it's maximum temperature rating
Ampere - ANSWER a unit of electric current equal to 1 coulomb (6.24x1018
electrons) per second
Arc - ANSWER a hot, glowing electric particle (spark) released across a circuit
gap or through a fuel
Arc Mapping - ANSWER examining circuit configurations for clues as to what
might have ignited the fire
Arc Site - ANSWER the spot on a conductor that is arcing-damaged
, Arcing through char - ANSWER when arcing is conducted through char
Area of Origin - ANSWER the geographical location of a fire scene where the
point of origin exists
Arrow Pattern - ANSWER a mark of fire on the cross-section of charred wood
structural members, has the shape of a triangle with the base most burned out
and the apex least burned out
Arson - ANSWER the criminal act of knowingly or willfully igniting a fire or
explosion
Autoignition - ANSWER heated combustion without a spark or flame
Autoignition Temperature - ANSWER lowest temperature at which a material
will start to ignite spontaneously
Backdraft/Smoke Explosion - ANSWER a deflagration explosion caused by
bringing oxidation into an oxygen deficient fire
Bead - ANSWER a globule of re-solidified metal melted by arcing at the end of
circuit conductor residue
Blast Pressure Front - ANSWER the front edge of high pressure explosion that
does damage by displacing and pushing away the normal ambient pressure
BLEVE - ANSWER Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Bonding - ANSWER permanent joining of metal parts that creates a conductive
and unbroken (safe) path for electrical currents
British Thermal Unit (BTU) - ANSWER a measurement of energy, 1055 joules
of energy
