Fire Investigator -Master for TCFP Test
Bank
Is NFPA 921 a guide or a standard?
(Ans- It is the Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
What are the six steps of the scientific method?
(Ans-
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?
(Ans- Analyze the data
What step of the scientific method is deductive reasoning?
(Ans- Test the hypothesis
What are the four parts of the fire tetrahedron?
(Ans-
Fuel (reducing agent)
Heat
Oxidizing agent
Uninhibited chemical chain reaction
What kind of reaction absorbs energy, an endothermic or an exothermic
reaction?
(Ans- Endothermic
,What is heat transfer by direct contact called?
(Ans- Conduction
What is heat transfer by gas flow / air movement called?
(Ans- Convection
What is heat transfer by microwave energy called?
(Ans- Radiation
What is a fuel controlled fire?
(Ans- A fire that is limited by the amount of combustibles.
What is a ventilation controlled fire?
(Ans- A fire that is limited by the amount of oxygen.
What are the stages of fire growth?
(Ans-
Ignition
Growth
Flashover
Fully Developed
Decay
What is a flashover?
(Ans- 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?
(Ans- Flameover or rollover
What factors influence flashover conditions?
(Ans-
Size of the compartment
Height of ceiling
Ventilation
,Amount of fuel
Layout of fuel
Location of fire in the compartment
What are fire patterns?
(Ans- The physical manifestation of the affects of fire on materials.
What are the different types of fire patterns on the walls and ceiling?
(Ans-
Plume Generated patterns (often V shaped)
Ventilation generated patterns
Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation)
What is spalling?
(Ans-
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?
(Ans-
Pyrolized carbonaceous material
What is oxidation?
(Ans- Physical change in appearance of a material resulting from the
combination of oxygen.
What is alloying?
(Ans- Mixing two metals heated then cooled to change their properties.
Often melts at a lower temperature.
What is a clean burn?
(Ans- 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?
(Ans- Elemental carbon produced during incomplete combustion.
What is calcination?
(Ans- 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?
(Ans- Bulbs 25 watts or less pull away. Bulbs greater than 25 watts will
expand towards the fire.
What causes heat shadowing?
(Ans- An object blocking the travel of radiated heat.
What is a dead load?
(Ans- The weight of things attached to the building, like flooring, cloumns,
and roof coverings.
What is a live load?
(Ans- A load that can move, like people, furniture, wind, water, and snow.
What is compartmentation?
(Ans- Design features of a building that limit fire growth to the room of
origin.
What are the five building construction types?
(Ans-
Type I - Fire resistant
Type II - Non combustible
Type III - Ordinary
Type IV - Heavy timber
Type V - Wood frame