IAAI CFI Study Questions (2025)
1. Combustible Liquid:A liquid with a flash point ABOVE 100F L L L L L L L L L
2. 12.5: If the current flowing out from an electrical panel is 12.5 amps, and it then
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
flows through an electrical load of 1500 watts, what is the amperage of the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
remaining current flow of the return circuit?
L L L L L L L
3. 1000: If a hair dryer draws 8.3amps (in a home with 120-volt service), what is the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
wattage?
L
*Power (P) = current (I) x voltage (V) Watts
L L L L L L L L
= amps x volts
L L L L
4. 1987: The year of the first edition of NFPA 1033
L L L L L L L L L
5. 1.5 times: The recommended distance for securing the perimeter of a blast
L L L L L L L L L L L
scene
L
*That is, the distance from the furthest debris
L L L L L L L
6. 1100°F: What temperature in the upper gas layer causes the onset of L L L L L L L L L L L
Flashover?
L
7. 1960°F: The temperature at which copper melts L L L L L L
8. 2 W/cm2: The measurement of the radiant heat flux (from gas layer to the floor)
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
that indicates the onset of flashover
L L L L L L
9. 240 volts: The voltage between the two hot wires at the service entrance
L L L L L L L L L L L L
cables in most single-family residences in the United States (single-phase
L L L L L L L L L L
service with three wires)
L L L L
10. 3 years: The revision cycle for NFPA 921 (timespan)
L L L L L L L L
11. 350°F:The flash point of power steering fluid L L L L L L L
12. 35-70 p.s.i.: In high-pressure fuel-injected vehicles, this is the typical range of
L L L L L L L L L L L
pressure that is used to pump fuel from a fuel tank
L L L L L L L L L L L
13. 5 and 17: The lower explosive and upper explosive limit of natural gas
L L L L L L L L L L L L
(methane)?
L
14. 680°F:The ignition temperature of power steering fluid
L L L L L L L
15. Fuel:Any substance that can undergo combustion
L L L L L L
16. Act or Omission: Two factors or situations leading to a fire that may show the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
nature of the incident responsibility.
L L L L L
17. Additional Investigative Recommendations: This concept should not be L L L L L L L
included in a summary report of findings.
L L L L L L L
18. Admiralty Law: A law that may govern the fire investigation of a boat L L L L L L L L L L L L
L L
, .
19. After-market Equipment: A type of device in a vehicle, which can cause an L L L L L L L L L L L L
electrical overload to factory installed wiring
L L L L L L
20. Alive and Breathing: Evidence of smoke or soot in the lungs, bronchi, and
L L L L L L L L L L L L
trachea is one of the most significant factors in confirming that, at the time of the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
fire, the victim was WHAT?
L L L L L
21 All Team Members: Those who have the responsibility for monitoring safety
L L L L L L L L L L L
conditions at the fire or explosion scene
L L L L L L L
22. 1220°F:The melting temperature of aluminum L L L L L
23. Aluminum-to-pavement sparks: Which one of these is NOT considered a L L L L L L L L L
competent ignition source? Metal-to-metal sparks,
L L L L L
Aluminum-to-pavementsparks, L
Metal-to-pavement sparks,
L L
Motor bearing sparks
L L L
24. Heat Release Rate: A meaningful analysis of a fire requires an understanding of
L L L L L L L L L L L L
the fire growth, the total heat released, and WHAT?
L L L L L L L L L
25. Arc-fault circuit interrupter: What does he term AFCI stand for? And, the "A" L L L L L L L L L L L L
specifically represents what?
L L L
26. ASTM: The organization thatdevelopsstandard methodsfor testing materials
L L L L L L L L L
27. Auto-ignition:Initiation of combustion byheat but without a spark or flame L L L L L L L L L L L
28. Backdraft: A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a L L L L L L L L L L L
confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion
L L L L L L L L
29. Backdraft: An explosion caused by a combination of combustible materials
L L L L L L L L L L L
heated to the ignition point and a sudden introduction of oxygen to support
L L L L L L L L L L L L L
combustion
L
30. Backfire Flame Arrestor: A boat device that owners fail to keep clean, which is a
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
frequent cause of engine compartment fires on boats
L L L L L L L L
31. Ballast: A device on a fluorescent light fixture that transforms the voltage from
L L L L L L L L L L L L
normal household voltage to a higher voltage
L L L L L L L
32. Battery: The starter motor draws its energyfrom this source L L L L L L L L L
33. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The burden of proof in a criminal trial
L L L L L L L L L L L
34. Bimetallic Thermostats: The component that controls temperature in many L L L L L L L L
heat-producing appliances
L L
35. BLEVE: This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds
L L L L L L L L L L L
atmospheric pressure
L L
*And this is the most common mechanical explosion
L L L L L L L
L L
, .
36. Boiling Point: The temperature or point at which the vapor pressure of a L L L L L L L L L L L L
liquid equals the external pressure applied
L L L L L L
37. Bonding: The process of electrically connecting two or more conductive L L L L L L L L L
objects 38. Bottom Passenger Side of the Windshield: Most engine fires
L L L L L L L L L L L
typically penetrate the interior compartment at this location of the vehicle
L L L L L L L L L L L
39. Brass Prongs (male ends): An investigator can closely examine this component
L L L L L L L L L L L
of a cord to determine if it was plugged into a receptacle
L L L L L L L L L L L L
40 Calcination: The chemical and physical changes that occur in gypsum wallboard
L L L L L L L L L L L
surfaces during a fire
L L L L
41. Carbon Monoxide: A narcotic gas that one might be exposed to in the fire L L L L L L L L L L L L L
42. Carbon Monoxide: The levels of this toxin dissipate over time after removal from L L L L L L L L L L L L
the fire environment.
L L L
43. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: This toxic condition does NOT cause a cherry- pink L L L L L L L L L L L
coloration to the skin of the fire victim and is NOT visible on all skin types
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
44. Carburetor Backfire: This occurrence is the most common open-flame L L L L L L L L
ignition source in non-fuel injected vehicles
L L L L L L
45. Ceiling jet: When the fire plume reaches the ceiling of a room and moves L L L L L L L L L L L L L
laterally along the ceiling
L L L L
46. Christmas Tree: An item in the home that burns at a peak HRR of 3000- L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
5000kW, which is hotter than a pool of gasoline or a polyurethane chair
L L L L L L L L L L L L L
47. Clean Burn: This occurs when intense radiated heat or direct flame contacts a L L L L L L L L L L L L
surface during the fire, burning away deposits
L L L L L L L
48. Collapsed Furniture Springs: This is a fire effect to furniture that does NOT L L L L L L L L L L L L
provide the investigators with clues concerning the type of ignition source, but can
L L L L L L L L L L L L L
show fire spread and intensity
L L L L L
49. Color: A fire characteristic that is NOT necessarily an accurate indicator of the L L L L L L L L L L L L
flame temperature
L L
50. Color Codes: This feature distinguishes the heat-sensitive bulbs of sprinklerL L L L L L L L L
heads from each other
L L L L
51. Combustion: A chemical process of oxidation, which occurs at a rate fast L L L L L L L L L L L
enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or a flame
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
52. Compartmentation: A building design feature that aims to limit the fire to its L L L L L L L L L L L L
origin.
L
53. Competent Ignition Source: Located at the origin, these should be L L L L L L L L L
considered individually during the development of a cause hypothesis
L L L L L L L L L
54. Complete PPE: This should be donned when dealing with hazardous L L L L L L L L L
chemicals 55. Conduction: An example of heat transfer, when the heating of a steel
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
beam to an unexposed part of a building results in a fire in that location
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
3 / Lg Lg
17
1. Combustible Liquid:A liquid with a flash point ABOVE 100F L L L L L L L L L
2. 12.5: If the current flowing out from an electrical panel is 12.5 amps, and it then
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
flows through an electrical load of 1500 watts, what is the amperage of the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
remaining current flow of the return circuit?
L L L L L L L
3. 1000: If a hair dryer draws 8.3amps (in a home with 120-volt service), what is the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
wattage?
L
*Power (P) = current (I) x voltage (V) Watts
L L L L L L L L
= amps x volts
L L L L
4. 1987: The year of the first edition of NFPA 1033
L L L L L L L L L
5. 1.5 times: The recommended distance for securing the perimeter of a blast
L L L L L L L L L L L
scene
L
*That is, the distance from the furthest debris
L L L L L L L
6. 1100°F: What temperature in the upper gas layer causes the onset of L L L L L L L L L L L
Flashover?
L
7. 1960°F: The temperature at which copper melts L L L L L L
8. 2 W/cm2: The measurement of the radiant heat flux (from gas layer to the floor)
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
that indicates the onset of flashover
L L L L L L
9. 240 volts: The voltage between the two hot wires at the service entrance
L L L L L L L L L L L L
cables in most single-family residences in the United States (single-phase
L L L L L L L L L L
service with three wires)
L L L L
10. 3 years: The revision cycle for NFPA 921 (timespan)
L L L L L L L L
11. 350°F:The flash point of power steering fluid L L L L L L L
12. 35-70 p.s.i.: In high-pressure fuel-injected vehicles, this is the typical range of
L L L L L L L L L L L
pressure that is used to pump fuel from a fuel tank
L L L L L L L L L L L
13. 5 and 17: The lower explosive and upper explosive limit of natural gas
L L L L L L L L L L L L
(methane)?
L
14. 680°F:The ignition temperature of power steering fluid
L L L L L L L
15. Fuel:Any substance that can undergo combustion
L L L L L L
16. Act or Omission: Two factors or situations leading to a fire that may show the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
nature of the incident responsibility.
L L L L L
17. Additional Investigative Recommendations: This concept should not be L L L L L L L
included in a summary report of findings.
L L L L L L L
18. Admiralty Law: A law that may govern the fire investigation of a boat L L L L L L L L L L L L
L L
, .
19. After-market Equipment: A type of device in a vehicle, which can cause an L L L L L L L L L L L L
electrical overload to factory installed wiring
L L L L L L
20. Alive and Breathing: Evidence of smoke or soot in the lungs, bronchi, and
L L L L L L L L L L L L
trachea is one of the most significant factors in confirming that, at the time of the
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
fire, the victim was WHAT?
L L L L L
21 All Team Members: Those who have the responsibility for monitoring safety
L L L L L L L L L L L
conditions at the fire or explosion scene
L L L L L L L
22. 1220°F:The melting temperature of aluminum L L L L L
23. Aluminum-to-pavement sparks: Which one of these is NOT considered a L L L L L L L L L
competent ignition source? Metal-to-metal sparks,
L L L L L
Aluminum-to-pavementsparks, L
Metal-to-pavement sparks,
L L
Motor bearing sparks
L L L
24. Heat Release Rate: A meaningful analysis of a fire requires an understanding of
L L L L L L L L L L L L
the fire growth, the total heat released, and WHAT?
L L L L L L L L L
25. Arc-fault circuit interrupter: What does he term AFCI stand for? And, the "A" L L L L L L L L L L L L
specifically represents what?
L L L
26. ASTM: The organization thatdevelopsstandard methodsfor testing materials
L L L L L L L L L
27. Auto-ignition:Initiation of combustion byheat but without a spark or flame L L L L L L L L L L L
28. Backdraft: A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a L L L L L L L L L L L
confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion
L L L L L L L L
29. Backdraft: An explosion caused by a combination of combustible materials
L L L L L L L L L L L
heated to the ignition point and a sudden introduction of oxygen to support
L L L L L L L L L L L L L
combustion
L
30. Backfire Flame Arrestor: A boat device that owners fail to keep clean, which is a
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
frequent cause of engine compartment fires on boats
L L L L L L L L
31. Ballast: A device on a fluorescent light fixture that transforms the voltage from
L L L L L L L L L L L L
normal household voltage to a higher voltage
L L L L L L L
32. Battery: The starter motor draws its energyfrom this source L L L L L L L L L
33. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The burden of proof in a criminal trial
L L L L L L L L L L L
34. Bimetallic Thermostats: The component that controls temperature in many L L L L L L L L
heat-producing appliances
L L
35. BLEVE: This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds
L L L L L L L L L L L
atmospheric pressure
L L
*And this is the most common mechanical explosion
L L L L L L L
L L
, .
36. Boiling Point: The temperature or point at which the vapor pressure of a L L L L L L L L L L L L
liquid equals the external pressure applied
L L L L L L
37. Bonding: The process of electrically connecting two or more conductive L L L L L L L L L
objects 38. Bottom Passenger Side of the Windshield: Most engine fires
L L L L L L L L L L L
typically penetrate the interior compartment at this location of the vehicle
L L L L L L L L L L L
39. Brass Prongs (male ends): An investigator can closely examine this component
L L L L L L L L L L L
of a cord to determine if it was plugged into a receptacle
L L L L L L L L L L L L
40 Calcination: The chemical and physical changes that occur in gypsum wallboard
L L L L L L L L L L L
surfaces during a fire
L L L L
41. Carbon Monoxide: A narcotic gas that one might be exposed to in the fire L L L L L L L L L L L L L
42. Carbon Monoxide: The levels of this toxin dissipate over time after removal from L L L L L L L L L L L L
the fire environment.
L L L
43. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: This toxic condition does NOT cause a cherry- pink L L L L L L L L L L L
coloration to the skin of the fire victim and is NOT visible on all skin types
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
44. Carburetor Backfire: This occurrence is the most common open-flame L L L L L L L L
ignition source in non-fuel injected vehicles
L L L L L L
45. Ceiling jet: When the fire plume reaches the ceiling of a room and moves L L L L L L L L L L L L L
laterally along the ceiling
L L L L
46. Christmas Tree: An item in the home that burns at a peak HRR of 3000- L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
5000kW, which is hotter than a pool of gasoline or a polyurethane chair
L L L L L L L L L L L L L
47. Clean Burn: This occurs when intense radiated heat or direct flame contacts a L L L L L L L L L L L L
surface during the fire, burning away deposits
L L L L L L L
48. Collapsed Furniture Springs: This is a fire effect to furniture that does NOT L L L L L L L L L L L L
provide the investigators with clues concerning the type of ignition source, but can
L L L L L L L L L L L L L
show fire spread and intensity
L L L L L
49. Color: A fire characteristic that is NOT necessarily an accurate indicator of the L L L L L L L L L L L L
flame temperature
L L
50. Color Codes: This feature distinguishes the heat-sensitive bulbs of sprinklerL L L L L L L L L
heads from each other
L L L L
51. Combustion: A chemical process of oxidation, which occurs at a rate fast L L L L L L L L L L L
enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or a flame
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
52. Compartmentation: A building design feature that aims to limit the fire to its L L L L L L L L L L L L
origin.
L
53. Competent Ignition Source: Located at the origin, these should be L L L L L L L L L
considered individually during the development of a cause hypothesis
L L L L L L L L L
54. Complete PPE: This should be donned when dealing with hazardous L L L L L L L L L
chemicals 55. Conduction: An example of heat transfer, when the heating of a steel
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
beam to an unexposed part of a building results in a fire in that location
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
3 / Lg Lg
17
