IAAI CFI Study Questions (2023)
Combustible Liquid – Correct answer-A liquid with a flash point ABOVE 100F
12.5 – Correct answer-If the current flowing out from an electrical panel is 12.5 amps,
and it then flows through an electrical load of 1500 watts, what is the amperage of the
remaining current flow of the return circuit?
1000 – Correct answer-If a hair dryer draws 8.3amps (in a home with 120-volt service),
what is the wattage?
*Power (P) = current (I) x voltage (V)
Watts = amps x volts
1987 – Correct answer-The year of the first edition of NFPA 1033
1.5 times – Correct answer-The recommended distance for securing the perimeter of a
blast scene
*That is, the distance from the furthest debris
1100°F – Correct answer-What temperature in the upper gas layer causes the onset of
Flashover?
1960°F – Correct answer-The temperature at which copper melts
2 W/cm2 – Correct answer-The measurement of the radiant heat flux (from gas layer to
the floor) that indicates the onset of flashover
240 volts – Correct answer-The voltage between the two hot wires at the service
entrance cables in most single-family residences in the United States (single-phase
service with three wires)
3 years – Correct answer-The revision cycle for NFPA 921 (timespan)
350°F – Correct answer-The flash point of power steering fluid
35-70 p.s.i. – Correct answer-In high-pressure fuel-injected vehicles, this is the typical
range of pressure that is used to pump fuel from a fuel tank
5 and 17 – Correct answer-The lower explosive and upper explosive limit of natural gas
(methane)?
680°F – Correct answer-The ignition temperature of power steering fluid
Fuel – Correct answer-Any substance that can undergo combustion
Act or Omission – Correct answer-Two factors or situations leading to a fire that may
show the nature of the incident responsibility.
Additional Investigative Recommendations – Correct answer-This concept should not be
included in a summary report of findings.
Admiralty Law – Correct answer-A law that may govern the fire investigation of a boat
After-market Equipment – Correct answer-A type of device in a vehicle, which can cause
an electrical overload to factory installed wiring
Alive and Breathing – Correct answer-Evidence of smoke or soot in the lungs, bronchi,
and trachea is one of the most significant factors in confirming that, at the time of the
fire, the victim was WHAT?
All Team Members – Correct answer-Those who have the responsibility for monitoring
safety conditions at the fire or explosion scene
1220°F – Correct answer-The melting temperature of aluminum
Aluminum-to-pavement sparks – Correct answer-Which one of these is NOT considered
a competent ignition source?
Metal-to-metal sparks,
Aluminum-to-pavement sparks,
Metal-to-pavement sparks,
Motor bearing sparks
Heat Release Rate – Correct answer-A meaningful analysis of a fire requires an
understanding of the fire growth, the total heat released, and WHAT?
Arc-fault circuit interrupter – Correct answer-What does he term AFCI stand for? And,
the “A” specifically represents what?
ASTM – Correct answer-The organization that develops standard methods for testing
materials
Auto-ignition – Correct answer-Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or
flame
Backdraft – Correct answer-A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air
into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion
Backdraft – Correct answer-An explosion caused by a combination of combustible
materials heated to the ignition point and a sudden introduction of oxygen to support
combustion
Backfire Flame Arrestor – Correct answer-A boat device that owners fail to keep clean,
which is a frequent cause of engine compartment fires on boats
Ballast – Correct answer-A device on a fluorescent light fixture that transforms the
voltage from normal household voltage to a higher voltage
Battery – Correct answer-The starter motor draws its energy from this source
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – Correct answer-The burden of proof in a criminal trial
Bimetallic Thermostats – Correct answer-The component that controls temperature in
many heat-producing appliances
BLEVE – Correct answer-This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds
atmospheric pressure
*And this is the most common mechanical explosion
Boiling Point – Correct answer-The temperature or point at which the vapor pressure of
a liquid equals the external pressure applied
Bonding – Correct answer-The process of electrically connecting two or more conductive
objects
Bottom Passenger Side of the Windshield – Correct answer-Most engine fires typically
penetrate the interior compartment at this location of the vehicle
Brass Prongs (male ends) – Correct answer-An investigator can closely examine this
component of a cord to determine if it was plugged into a receptacle
Calcination – Correct answer-The chemical and physical changes that occur in gypsum
wallboard surfaces during a fire
Carbon Monoxide – Correct answer-A narcotic gas that one might be exposed to in the
fire
Carbon Monoxide – Correct answer-The levels of this toxin dissipate over time after
removal from the fire environment.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Correct answer-This toxic condition does NOT cause a
cherry-pink coloration to the skin of the fire victim and is NOT visible on all skin types
Combustible Liquid
A liquid with a flash point ABOVE 100F
12.5
If the current flowing out from an electrical panel is 12.5 amps, and it then flows through an electrical load of 1500 watts, what is the amperage of the remaining current flow of the return circuit?
1000
If a hair dryer draws 8.3amps (in a home with 120-volt service), what is the wattage?
*Power (P) = current (I) x voltage (V)
Watts = amps x volts
1987
The year of the first edition of NFPA 1033
1.5 times
The recommended distance for securing the perimeter of a blast scene
*That is, the distance from the furthest debris
1100°F
What temperature in the upper gas layer causes the onset of Flashover?
1960°F
The temperature at which copper melts
2 W/cm2
The measurement of the radiant heat flux (from gas layer to the floor) that indicates the onset of flashover
240 volts
The voltage between the two hot wires at the service entrance cables in most single-family residences in the United States (single-phase service with three wires)
3 years
The revision cycle for NFPA 921 (timespan)
350°F
The flash point of power steering fluid
35-70 p.s.i.
In high-pressure fuel-injected vehicles, this is the typical range of pressure that is used to pump fuel from a fuel tank
5 and 17
The lower explosive and upper explosive limit of natural gas (methane)?
680°F
The ignition temperature of power steering fluid
Fuel
Any substance that can undergo combustion
Act or Omission
Two factors or situations leading to a fire that may show the nature of the incident responsibility.
Additional Investigative Recommendations
This concept should not be included in a summary report of findings.
Admiralty Law
A law that may govern the fire investigation of a boat
After-market Equipment
A type of device in a vehicle, which can cause an electrical overload to factory installed wiring
Alive and Breathing
Evidence of smoke or soot in the lungs, bronchi, and trachea is one of the most significant factors in confirming that, at the time of the fire, the victim was WHAT?
All Team Members
Those who have the responsibility for monitoring safety conditions at the fire or explosion scene
1220°F
The melting temperature of aluminum
Aluminum-to-pavement sparks
Which one of these is NOT considered a competent ignition source?
Metal-to-metal sparks,
Aluminum-to-pavement sparks,
Metal-to-pavement sparks,
Motor bearing sparks
Heat Release Rate
A meaningful analysis of a fire requires an understanding of the fire growth, the total heat released, and WHAT?
Arc-fault circuit interrupter
What does he term AFCI stand for? And, the “A” specifically represents what?
ASTM
The organization that develops standard methods for testing materials
Auto-ignition
Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or flame
Backdraft
A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion
Backdraft
An explosion caused by a combination of combustible materials heated to the ignition point and a sudden introduction of oxygen to support combustion
Backfire Flame Arrestor
A boat device that owners fail to keep clean, which is a frequent cause of engine compartment fires on boats
Ballast
A device on a fluorescent light fixture that transforms the voltage from normal household voltage to a higher voltage
Battery
The starter motor draws its energy from this source
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
The burden of proof in a criminal trial
Bimetallic Thermostats
The component that controls temperature in many heat-producing appliances
BLEVE
This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds atmospheric pressure
*And this is the most common mechanical explosion
Boiling Point
The temperature or point at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the external pressure applied
Bonding
The process of electrically connecting two or more conductive objects
Bottom Passenger Side of the Windshield
Most engine fires typically penetrate the interior compartment at this location of the vehicle
Brass Prongs (male ends)
An investigator can closely examine this component of a cord to determine if it was plugged into a receptacle
Calcination
The chemical and physical changes that occur in gypsum wallboard surfaces during a fire
Carbon Monoxide
A narcotic gas that one might be exposed to in the fire
Carbon Monoxide
The levels of this toxin dissipate over time after removal from the fire environment.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
This toxic condition does NOT cause a cherry-pink coloration to the skin of the fire victim and is NOT visible on all skin types
Carburetor Backfire
This occurrence is the most common open-flame ignition source in non-fuel injected vehicles
Ceiling jet
When the fire plume reaches the ceiling of a room and moves laterally along the ceiling
Christmas Tree
An item in the home that burns at a peak HRR of 3000-5000kW, which is hotter than a pool of gasoline or a polyurethane chair
Clean Burn
This occurs when intense radiated heat or direct flame contacts a surface during the fire, burning away deposits
Collapsed Furniture Springs
This is a fire effect to furniture that does NOT provide the investigators with clues concerning the type of ignition source, but can show fire spread and intensity
Color
A fire characteristic that is NOT necessarily an accurate indicator of the flame temperature
Color Codes
This feature distinguishes the heat-sensitive bulbs of sprinkler heads from each other
Combustion
A chemical process of oxidation, which occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or a flame
Compartmentation
A building design feature that aims to limit the fire to its origin.
Competent Ignition Source
Located at the origin, these should be considered individually during the development of a cause hypothesis
Complete PPE
This should be donned when dealing with hazardous chemicals
Conduction
An example of heat transfer, when the heating of a steel beam to an unexposed part of a building results in a fire in that location
Connection Points
Overheating on a circuit is most likely to occur at this location on a circuit
Joint Investigation
Consensus agreement between interested parties should be developed prior to the commencement of WHAT?
Crazing
Complicated patterns in glass
Crime Scenes
A type of scene or circumstances, in which fires do NOT always destroy all physical evidence
Current (amperage)
A factor in OHM’s law that can be calculated if you know resistance and voltage
Deductive Reasoning
The reasoning in the scientific method used to test an hypothesis
Deductive Reasoning
The reasoning process of moving from generalizations to particular assertion
(*”Reduce to Deduce”
*Test hypothesis (“deduce”)
*Test based on known facts
*More confident assertion than induction)
Demonstrative Evidence
Type of evidence consisting of tangible items
*as opposed to Testimonial Evidence or Documentary (written) Evidence
Depth of Char
A burn pattern analysis that is MORE useful for evaluating fire spread, rather than length or intensity of burning
Differential
All voltages are _____, which means that a battery or DC generator creates a potential difference that can force charge through a wire
Diffusion Flame Burning
The ordinary sustained burning mode in most fires
Document and Carefully Move
By taking these two steps, an investigator can obtain the manufacturer’s name, model & serial numbers, manufacture date, and any warnings on an appliance, determined to be in the area of fire origin
Documentary Evidence
What type of evidence is an investigator’s report?
Documentation
A key method used by investigators when an appliance is determined to be in the area of origin, particularly the positioning of all controls and components.
DOT Standards
The standards that gas cylinders must conform to
(Dept. of Transportation)
Dual Element Fuses
Types of fuses that have one element for overloads and another element for short circuits
Dust Explosion
A particular type of an explosion that does NOT often result in pronounced seats of explosion
Dust Explosion
An explosion that most often occurs in confined areas of relatively wide dispersal, where combustible dust can accumulate in sufficient quantity to support a propagating reaction.
Engine Oil Analysis
This analysis may be performed to determine the pre-fire condition of the engine and to establish possible motive for the destruction of the vehicle.
Evidence
The fire scene itself needs to be considered as WHAT?
Evidence Collection
The process of photographing an item, then collecting, tagging and putting it in a log
Evidence Collection and Documentation
The importance of this fire investigative practice is no different in wildfire investigations, compared to structural fires.
Evidence Custodian
The person at a fire scene who manages various aspects of the evidence collection process, including an evidence log and evidence bagging, tagging, preservation and storage
Exigent Circumstances
The justification used to enter a property in order to extinguish a fire
Final Hypothesis
Also known as “Conclusions”
Fire Death Team
A team comprised of a homicide detective, medical examiner, and fire investigator
Fire Dynamics Analysis
A type of analysis used to predict fire phenomena and characteristics of the environment
Fire Effects
Observable or measurable changes in or on a material as the result of a fire
Fire Growth Rate
Once a fuel is ignited in a motor vehicle, any additional fuels contained in the vehicle have significant effect on WHAT fire factor?
Fire Intensity
In a wildland fire, this fire characterisic is indicated by the degree of damage to the wildland fuel
Fire Origin
This investigative determination is based on witness information, fire patterns, arc mapping, and fire dynamics
Fire Scene Access
The fifth and sixth amendments DO NOT answer questions regarding constitutional protections in relation to WHAT fire investigation aspect?
(4th amendment issue)
Fire Scene Reconstruction
Recreating pre-fire positions of contents
Fire-rated Door
This type of door must be used when installed in a fire-rated wall.
First or Second Degree Burns
This is the typical extent of thermal injuries sustained from an explosion flame front, due to the very short duration.
Flame Spread Rating
A system used to rate a material’s flame spread potential.
*And these are the categories:
Class A: Flame spread index 0-25
Class B: Flame spread index 26-75
Class C: Flame spread index 76-200
Flammable Gases
This type of fuel can only be ignited by a spark or pilot flame over specific ranges of gas concentration
Flammable Liquid
A liquid with a flash point below 100*F
Flash point
The characteristic of an appropriate mixture of vapor-to-air, which will cause it to ignite when subjected to an ignition source
Flash Point
A specific fuel characteristic, which will have little or no significance when the fuel is released in a spray form.
Flashover
In this phenomenon, the radiant ignition of exposed combustible materials is key
Flashover
This phenomenon will occur in a compartment with a low ceiling and fire on the floor, before the same fire in a room with high ceilings
Flashover
This fire phenomenon is not really a consideration for wildfires
Floor Assemblies
These construction features are tested for fire spread from below, but NOT from above
Forced and Natural
The two mechanisms of convection heat transfer
Freedom of Information Act
This law allows fire investigators to gain information, in most states
Fuel
Any substance that can undergo combustion
Fuel load
Total quantity of combustible contents of a building, space, or fire area (expressed in heat units or the equivalent weight in wood)
Fuel System
This system in a vehicle has the following sequence of components:
Fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel injector/carburetor, manifold, and cylinders.
Fuel-controlled Burning
Type of burning that occurs in the early stages of a compartment fire
Remote Area
The location where firefighters should re-fuel all gas-powered equipment
(away from the fire scene)
Government Institute
NFPA is not this type of institute
Guide
NFPA 921 is this type of document
Guidelines
The information presented in NFPA 921 establishes WHAT?
Hazards
Biological, chemical, physical, and radiological are examples of this concept that fire investigators should be aware of when investigating a fire scene
Header
The first cutting unit on a combine
Heat flux
The measure of the rate of heat transfer to a surface
Heat of Combustion
The amount of heat released during complete combustion, which is considered a constant for a specific fuel
(Generally considered a material property and therefore a constant for a specific fuel)
Heat of Ignition
The heat energy that brings about ignition
(divided into two parts: (a) equipment involved in ignition and (b) form of heat of ignition)
Heat Release Rate
The fire characteristic that most affects fire growth during the pre-flashover phase of a fire
Heat transfer
The transport of heat energy from one point to another point, caused by temperature difference between those points
Heat transfer
The fire phenomenon responsible for much of the physical evidence used by fire investigators
High-Order Damage
The shattering type of explosion damage
H.I.N.
The type of number an investigator should look for during a boat fire investigation
Hot Surfaces
This vehicle component will NOT usually ignite gasoline
Human Body Fat
Component of the human body that will act as a fuel and sustain a flame
Hypergolic Material
Any substance that will spontaneously ignite or explode upon exposure to an oxidizer.
Hypergolic Materials
Materials that can react with each other
Ignitable Liquid
A type of material that, when trapped in a concrete floor, can be recovered by using lime, diatomaceous earth, or non-self-rising flour.
Ignition by Electrical Energy
Ignition that involves transferring sufficient heat to a fuel by passage of electrical current to ignite material that is closeby
Ignition Temperature
The minimum temperature needed to heat a fuel so as to ignite and begin self-sustained combustion
Incandescent Light Bulbs
An item that tends to “pull” toward the heat source
(*if over 25 watts)
Incendiary Fire
A category of fire that is strongly indicated by the confirmation of multiple fires
Incendiary Fire
A category of fire that is associated with multiple fires and trailers
Incident Scene Commander
This person can grant permission for a fire investigator to enter a scene before the fire is completely extinguished
Inductive Reasoning
The reasoning process of moving from specific observation to broader generalizations
(*Induction is to “increase”
*Develop hypothesis (“induce”)
*More uncertain than deduction
*Based on empirical data, training, and experience)
Interested Party
Any person, entity, or organization with obligations or whose rights or interest might be affected by the investigation of a specific incident
Interviews
(1) Trust, (2) Caution, and (3) Distrust are three types of what?
Inverted Cone Pattern
This fire pattern is often caused by a natural gas leak
Inverted Cone Patterns
Fire patterns commonly created when a vertical flame plume does not reach the ceiling
Team Leader Committee
In what group is one representative selected from each investigative party?
Irregular Pattern
A certain pattern that is not necessarily an indicator of the presence of an ignitable liquid
Job Performance Requirement
A professional description that (1) describes the specific job task, (2) lists items necessary to complete the task, and (3) describes measurable outcomes and evaluations for the task
Joint Investigations
These can occur simultaneously and involve separate and independent examinations through which each party may develop an independent hypothesis
Kerosene
Which of these fuels has the lowest ignition temperature: kerosene, gasoline, methane, or propane?
Kinetic Energy
The type of energy that is converted suddenly from potential energy during an explosion, with the production and release of gases under pressure.
Laboratory Analysis
This entity must confirm any sample obtained by canine alert, to be considered valid
Lack of Stability
One of the most dangerous situations an investigator may encounter when examining a boat afloat after a fire
Laminated Wood
This material is NOT acceptable to be used on the exterior (but is acceptable for the interior).
Latent Heat of Vaporization
The amount of heat absorbed by a substance during its change from a liquid to vapor
Lightning
Static electricity flowing from cloud to ground or from cloud to cloud
Lightning
One form of static electricity
Cloud-to-Cloud
The lightning occurrence that is less likely to cause a fire (compared to cloud-to-ground)
Lines of Demarcation
Borders of fire patterns
Low-Order Damage
Type of explosion damage that heaves or pushes
Melt and Fuse Together Lengthwise
Fire often causes standard copper conductors to do WHAT?
Movement and Intensity
The two basic types of fire patterns
Neutral Plane
The term associated with the air and gas flow in a compartment fire
Neutral Position
The position on a receptacle, where the cord’s wider prong is forced to plug into, due to a change that was made to 20-amp cords in 1987
NFPA 1033
The national applicable performance standards for fire investigators
NFPA 54
NFPA standard that prohibits gas piping in air ducts, clothes chutes, and elevator shafts
NFPA 704
The NFPA standard for hazard identification
NFPA 704
NFPA hazard placard:
red TOP (flammability)
yellow RIGHT (instability)
blue LEFT (health)
white BOTTOM (special/specific)
*(0 minimal to 4 severe hazard)
NFPA 921
Not every portion of WHAT document is essential to every fire or explosion incident
NFPA website
To submit a proposal to the NFPA 921 Committee, forms are available from the _________.
Noncombustible
Type of construction principally used in industrial type buildings
Nondisclosure Agreement
This protects confidential, trade secret, and propriety information in a fire investigation
Occupant Access
During a major investigation involving multiple tenants, this should NOT be allowed until after the entire area has been examined and safety concerns have been addressed
Exterior Walls
The primary difference between Ordinary and Frame constructions involves mostly the construction of WHAT?
Outside Screw and Yoke
One type of valve commonly used to control water flow to fire sprinkler system
*which is open when the position of the stem is up
Overcurrent
The electrical compromise between an energized wire and a ground wire
Overhaul
The process of extinguishing hotspots and searching for hidden fires, after suppression efforts
Oxidation
A chemical reaction that combines a substance with oxygen
Oxidation
The basic chemical process associated with combustion
Oxide Interface
This occurs when there is a poor electrical connection
Paper
A material that is NOT commonly subject to self-heating
Photography
While the scene is being “dug out” or excavated, this technique is used throughout the investigation process to document the sequence of events.
Physical Evidence of the Cause
When the origin is clearly defined, it is possible to make a credible determination regarding the cause of the fire, even without the availability of WHAT?
Polyurethane Sofa
A fuel item that has the greatest peak heat release rate (in unconfined burning).
Pooled Blood under the Body
This evidence can be identified, which indicates pre-death trauma in a fire fatality
Post-indicator Valve
This device is generally used to control the flow of water to a sprinkler system, hydrant, or another device with underground piping
Power
The rate at which energy is used
Preservation
This concept regarding physical evidence and the fire scene in general is NOT the sole responsibility of the fire investigator.
Protection Device
The remains of this component of an appliance may indicate if it was operating at the time of the incident
Protocol
During a major investigation, this agreed-upon procedure is important to establish and follow when a particular item is deemed evidence.
Pugilistic Posture
A common post-mortem response of the body to heat, resulting in the contracting of muscles as a direct result of the fire.
Pyrolysis
A process in which material is decomposed, or broken down, into simpler molecular compounds by the effects of heat alone
Pyrophoric Material
Any substance that spontaneously ignites upon exposure to atmospheric oxygen.
Pyrotechnics
This item may be found on a boat because they are often used in firework events
Radiative Ignition
Fire spread from one fuel package to another is generally caused by WHAT?
Rate of Fire Growth
The ____________ as determined by witnesses is highly subjective
Recalling Observations
The primary goal for an investigator recording and photographing the scene
Refueling
This process regarding fuel-powered equipment should be done outside the fire scene perimeter
Relative Elevation of Damage
This characteristic of structural explosion damage has no direct correlation to the vapor density of the gas-vapor fuel
Remote Ignition
This type of fire spread mechanism has four modes: which are conduction, flame, hot gas layer radiation, and drop down
Resistance Heating
Type of heating that results from the passing of an electrical current through a conductor
Resistance Heating
This is caused when electricity flows through a loose connection
*And, through an oxide interface
Overhaul
During this firefighting strategy, the use of water hoselines should be restricted and limited, especially in the area of origin.
Right to Entry
Exigency statutes, Search warrant, Verbal or written consent relate to what key concept when investigating a fire?
Rigid Polystyrene Panels
Which of these material’s surface would heat up the quickest when exposed to radiant flux: oak boards, concrete wall, rigid polystyrene panels, or gypsum plaster?
RV and Motor Homes
These types of constructions or vehicles are similar in many ways to fires in houses and mobile homes.
Secure the Scene
The first step to be taken by an investigator at the scene of an explosion.
Self-Heating
A process whereby a material undergoes a chemical reaction and increases in temperature solely due to exothermic reactions between the material and the surrounding atmosphere
Sequential Photographs
Type of photography that is helpful in understanding the relationship of a small subject to its relative position in a larger area
Serial Fire-Setting
Geographic area, clusters, temporal frequency, and materials and methods are useful in identifying and establishing this act
Simple Sketch
At a minimum, this investigative practice should be done on all fire scenes
Fire Size and Duration
Determining which pattern was produced at the point of origin becomes more difficult as WHAT increases?
Sleeving
The softening and loosening of the wire’s thermoplastic insulation due to heating (fire)
Sloping Sides
Whether a hole burned into a horizontal surface was created from above or below may be identified by examining WHAT?
Smoldering
This type of fire normally produces char that results from thermal decomposition
Societal-motivated Arson
A subcategory of revenge/retaliation that is generally not satisfied with a single fire
Solo
Fire scene examinations should NOT be conducted in WHAT MANNER?
Spalling
Damage and fire patterns occurring to concrete that is NOT a positive indicator of a liquid accelerant
Specific Gravity
The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a standard (usually water for a liquid or solid, and air for a gas)
Specific Gravity of Air
The ratio of the average molecular weight of a gas or vapor to the average molecular weight of air
Specific Gravity of a liquid or solid
The ratio of the mass of a given volume of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water (at a temp. of 4C)
Speed of Fire Growth
This fire characteristic is NOT indicated by the angle of the borders of the V pattern
Spoliation
This concept does NOT mean that an item of evidence cannot be removed from the fire scene in order to preserve it or protect it from theft, for instance.
Spontaneous Combustion
What fire process is vehicle motor oil NOT prone to undergo
Spontaneous Combustion
A phenomenon that does NOT occur to human bodies (not supported by evidence)
Spontaneous Heating
The process whereby a material increases in temperature without drawing heat from its surroundings
Sprinkler Head
Combustible materials should be kept 18 inches away from this fire protection device
Stoichiometric Ratio
The optimum fuel/air mixture where combustion is most efficient
Surface Orientation
This is the difference between wildfire V- patterns and compartment fire V-patterns
Sweating
Heaters located just under the interior faces of a refrigerators keep this from occurring
Thermal Cutoff
TCO stands for this, and “T” in particular
Thermal Cutoff
A component in heat-producing appliances, which operates by melting of an internal pellet when the appliance overheats, which turns off the unit
Thermal Inertia
The property of a material that characterize its rate of surface temperature rise when exposed to heat
Thermal Inertia
Thermal conductivity, density, and heat capacity are the three components of WHAT?
Thermal Protector
A specific type of protective device that motors are generally equipped with in a counter-top appliance, which may reset when the motor cools
Toxic Gases
More people are killed by this in a fire incident, not necessarily by the flames of fire
Trailers
Fire patterns that indicate a deliberate attempt to distribute fire from one location to another
Trained Personnel
An investigator should notify this person(s) upon finding an incendiary device that has not activated
Transformer
A mechanism used to reduce voltages from the normal 120 V and to isolate the rest of an appliance from the supply circuit
Transmission
The type of pipeline used to convey natural gas from the storage or production facilities to local utilities
Turbocharger
The hottest point of an engine, which uses exhaust gases for propulsion
Type 1 Construction
The noncombustible construction type, made of steel and concrete with fire resistance
Type 2 Construction
The noncombustible construction type, made of steel and concrete; but with little to no fire resistance
Type 3 Construction
The Ordinary construction type, with masonry or noncombustible exterior walls
Type 4 Construction
Heavy timber or mill construction type
Type 5 Construction
Wood framed construction type
Upper Explosive Limit
Which will create more damage in an explosion: the Upper or Lower Explosive Limit?
U.S. Coast Guard
The entity, where an investigator can obtain recall information regarding fire causes in boats and the manufacturer, model, and year
Utilities
An immediate concern to the fire investigator is the status of the structure’s WHAT?
Ventilation Conditions
This is a key consideration of the fire’s characteristics, when conducting a fire test or fire model, in order to validate the test
Ventilation-Controlled Fire
Fire in which the heat release rate or growth is controlled by the amount of air available to the fire
Ventilation Opening
This firefighting tactic made directly above the fire will help localize the fire
Ventilation-Controlled Fire
A type of fire that produces more carbon monoxide and more soot than fuel-controlled fires
((not sure which is hotter, but probably peak fuel-controlled, imo))
Violent Explosions
Fuel-air mixtures at or near the lower explosive limit (LEL) do NOT always produce less _______ than those fuel-air mixtures at or near the upper explosive limit (UEL).
Weatherhead
A specific device on a structure that is associated with electricity and is part of the electrical system
Wet-Pipe System
The most reliable type of sprinkler system
Wildfires
Weather history is an important factor when investigating these types of fires
Wood Trusses
The failure of one of these types of construction features can affect adjacent members of a similar type
X-rays
These medical procedures should be done of the entire deceased body, including the clothing and associated debris found near the body.
Zone Model
A type of fire dynamics analysis model that divides each room into two or more spaces
Computational Fluid Dynamics Model
A type of fire dynamics analysis model that divides the room into many cells
(*Field or CFD model)
Power (Watts)
What is the product found by multiplying current (amps) times voltage (volts)?
Orange to Black (Low to High)
Color coded sprinkler head bulbs, range from what colors?
(*From low to high temp: orange, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black)
Electrical Ignition
The ignition source that requires that heat transfer from an electrical source be maintained long enough to bring the adjacent fuel up to its ignition temperature.
Up Position
An outside screw and yoke valve is open when the stem is in WHAT position
Volts = current times resistance (v=ir)
Formula for Ohm’s Law
Power = volts times current (p=vi)
Formula for power