Fire Investigator – master for TCFP Test:
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?
(AnsRecognize 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?
(AnsFuel (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?
(AnsIgnition
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?
(AnsSize 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?
(AnsPlume Generated patterns (often V shaped)
Ventilation generated patterns
Hot gas layer patterns (Line of demarcation)
What is spalling?
(AnsThe 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?
(AnsPyrolized 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?
(AnsType I – Fire resistant
Type II – Non combustible
Type III – Ordinary
Type IV – Heavy timber
Type V – Wood frame