FIRE 1110 - Fire Behavior & Combustion

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives:

1. Explain why radiative, conductive, and convective heat transfer in fires is especially important.
2. Compare thermally thin and thermally thick materials related to heat conduction and radiation.
3. Explain how the methods of heat transfer create issues in firefighting with the development and movement of fire.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to categorize the components of fire.

Objectives:

1. Distinguish measurement in understanding fire behavior.
2. Describe the process of combustion.
3. Identify oxidizers in a fire scenario
4. Restate the two main types of smoke aerosols.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the properties of fire.

Objectives:

1. Explain flammability, in terms of both fire properties and practical application.
2. Describe the nonflaming and flaming stages of fire.
3. Define the categorization of flames.
4. Describe diffusion and turbulent diffusion flames.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe the process of burning.

Objectives:

1. Describe the three zones of the plume of a fire burning in the relationship of air entrainment into the flame.
2. Demonstrate the principal combustion products formed in fires.
3. Describe the three significant differences between the burning of solid fuel and the burning of gaseous and liquids fuels.
4. Explain how soot forms.

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to outline the concepts associated with the chemistry of fire.

Objectives:

1. Identify the chemical elements that are related to fires.
2. Identify the smoke flow through different types of buildings.
3. List the hazards to firefighters and others from a fire.
4. Indicate acute effects and chronic effects from smoke.

Outcome 6: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to discuss various materials considered fuel for fires.

Objectives:

1. Describe the change among the state of matter and the changes in enthalpy associated with each.
2. Evaluate how char formation and melting occur and how they affect the burning rate.

Outcome 7: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to evaluate the characteristics of water as a fire suppression agent.

Objectives:

1. Illustrate different ways water suppresses fire.
2. Describe the roles of suppression-enhancing additives to water.

Outcome 8: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to compare the methods of fire extinguishment.

Objectives:

1. Describe the different types of suppression agents that are effective on fire.
2. Identify techniques of fire extinguishments.

1. Matter and Energy
2. The Atom and its Parts
3. Chemical Symbols
4. Molecules
5. Energy and Work
6. Forms of Energy
7. Transformation of Energy
8. Laws of Energy

I. Units of Measurements

1. International (SI) Systems of Measurement
2. English Units of Measurement

II. Chemical Reactions

1. Physical States of Matter
2. Compounds and Mixtures
3. Solutions and Solvents
4. Process of Reactions

III. Fire and the Physical World

1. Characteristics of Fire
2. Characteristics of Solids
3. Characteristics of Liquids
4. Characteristics of Gases

IV. Heat and its Effects

1. Production and Measurement of Heat
2. Different Kinds of Heat

V.  Properties of Solid Materials

1. Common Combustible Solids
2. Plastic and Polymers
3. Combustible Metals
4. Combustible Dust

VI. Common Flammable Liquids and Gases

1. General Properties of Gases
2. The Gas Laws
3. Classification of Gases
4. Compressed Gases

VII. Fire Behavior

1. Stages of Fire
2. Fire Phenomena
   1. Flashover
   2. Backdraft
   3. Rollover
   4. Flameover
   5. Heat Flow
3. Fire Plumes

VIII. Fire Extinguishment

1. The Combustion Process
2. The Character of Flame
3. Fire Extinguishment

IX. Extinguishing Agents

1. Water
2. Foams and Wetting Agents
3. Inert Gas Extinguishing Agents
4. Halogenated Extinguishing Agents
5. Dry Chemical Extinguishing Agents
6. Dry Powder Extinguishing Agents

X. Hazards by Classification Types

1. Hazards of Explosives
2. Hazards of Compressed and Liquefied Gases
3. Hazards of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
4. Hazards of Flammable Solids
5. Hazards of Oxidizing Agents
6. Hazards of Poisons
7. Hazards of Radioactive Substances
8. Hazards of Corrosives