2024 Fire Investigator - master for TCFP QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE

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