NAFI CFEI OFFICIAL Exam Graded A+
CODE - Answer A standard that is an extensive compilation of provisions covering
broad subject matter or that is suitable for adoption into law independently of other
codes and standards.
GUIDE - Answer A document that is advisory or informative in nature and that
contains only non mandatory provision. This may contain mandatory statements
such as when it can be used, but the document as a whole is not suitable for
adoption into law.
Recommended Practice - Answer A document that is similar in content and structure
to a code or standard but that contains only non mandatory provisions using the
word "should" to indicate recommendations in the body of the text.
STANDARD - Answer An NFPA document, the main text of which contains only
mandatory provisions using the word "shall" to indicate requirements and that is in a
form generally suitable for mandatory reference by another __________ or code or
for adoption into law.
Absolute Temperature - Answer A temperature measured in Kelvins (K) or Rankines
(R).
Accelerant - Answer A fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitible liquid, intentionally used to
initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
Accident - Answer An unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes
causes injury or damage or a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an
unexpected happening due to carelessness, ignorance, and the like.
Active Fire Protection System - Answer A system that uses moving mechanical or
electrical parts to achieve a fire protection goal.
Ambient - Answer Someone's or something's surroundings, especially as they
pertain to the local environment; for example, ambient air and ambient temperature.
Ampacity - Answer The maximum current, in amperes, that a conductor can carry
continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating.
Ampere - Answer The unit of electric current that is equivalent to a flow of one
coulomb per second.
Arc - Answer High-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through
a medium such as charred insulation.
Arc Mapping - Answer Identifying and documenting a fire pattern derived from the
identification of arc sites used to aid in determining the area of fire origin or spread.
Arc Melting - Answer Melting of conductors and conducting surfaces as a result of
electrical arcing.
,Arc Site - Answer The location on a conductor with localized damage that resulted
from an electrical arc.
Arcing through Char - Answer Arcing associated with a matrix of charred material
that acts as a semiconductive medium.
Area of Origin - Answer A structure, part of a structure, or general geographic
location within a fire scene, in which the "point of origin" of a fire or explosion is
reasonably believed to be located.
Arrow Pattern - Answer A fire pattern displayed on the cross-section of a burned
wooden structural member.
Arson - Answer The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, starting a
fire or causing an explosion.
Autoignition - Answer Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or flame.
Autoignition Temperature - Answer The lowest temperature at which a combustible
material ignites in air without a spark or flame.
Backdraft - Answer A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a
confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion.
Bead - Answer A rounded mass of resolidified metal on the end of the remains of an
electrical conductor or conductors that was caused by arcing and is characterized by
a sharp line of demarcation between the melted and unmelted conductor surfaces.
Blast Pressure Front - Answer The expanding leading edge of an explosion reaction
that separates a major difference in pressure between normal ambient pressure
ahead of the front and potentially damaging high pressure at and behind the front.
BLEVE - Answer Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Bonding - Answer The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically
conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely
any current likely to be imposed.
British Thermal Unit (BTU) - Answer The quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water 1 degree F at the pressure of 1 atmospheric and
temperature of 60 degrees F.
Calcination of Gypsum - Answer A fire effect realized in gypsum products, including
wallboard, as a result of exposure to heat that drives off free and chemically bound
water.
Calorie - Answer Amount of energy needed to raise temperature 1 gram of water 1
degree C
, Cause - Answer The circumstances, conditions, or agencies that brought about or
resulted in the fire or explosion incident, damage to property , bodily injury, or loss of
life.
Ceiling Jet - Answer A relatively thin layer of flowing hot gases that develops under a
horizontal surface (e.g., ceiling) as a result of plume impingement and the flowing
gas being forced to move horizontally.
Char - Answer Carbonaceous material that has been burned or pyrolyzed and has a
blackened appearance.
Char Blisters - Answer Convex segments of carbonized material separated by cracks
or crevasses that form on the surface of char, forming on materials such as wood as
the result of pyrolysis or burning.
Clean Burn - Answer A distinct and visible fire effect generally apparent on
noncombustible surfaces after combustible layer(s) (such as soot, paint, and paper)
have been burned away. The effect may also appear where soot has failed to be
deposited because of high surface temperatures.
Combustible - Answer Capable of undergoing combustion.
Combustible Gas Indicator - Answer An instrument that samples air and indicates
whether there are ignitible vapors or gases present.
Combustible Liquid - Answer Liquid having a closed-cup flash point at or above
100°F (37.8°C) and below 200°F (93.3°C).
Combustion - Answer A chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast
enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or flame.
Combustion Products - Answer The heat, gases, volatilized liquids and solids,
particulate matter, and ash generated by combustion.
Competent Ignition Source - Answer An ignition source that has sufficient energy
and is capable of transferring that energy to the fuel long enough to raise the fuel to
its ignition temperature.
Conduction - Answer Heat transfer to another body or within a body by direct
contact.
Convection - Answer Heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or
liquid.
Creep - Answer The tendency of a material to move or deform permanently to relieve
stresses.
Current - Answer A flow of electric charge.
CODE - Answer A standard that is an extensive compilation of provisions covering
broad subject matter or that is suitable for adoption into law independently of other
codes and standards.
GUIDE - Answer A document that is advisory or informative in nature and that
contains only non mandatory provision. This may contain mandatory statements
such as when it can be used, but the document as a whole is not suitable for
adoption into law.
Recommended Practice - Answer A document that is similar in content and structure
to a code or standard but that contains only non mandatory provisions using the
word "should" to indicate recommendations in the body of the text.
STANDARD - Answer An NFPA document, the main text of which contains only
mandatory provisions using the word "shall" to indicate requirements and that is in a
form generally suitable for mandatory reference by another __________ or code or
for adoption into law.
Absolute Temperature - Answer A temperature measured in Kelvins (K) or Rankines
(R).
Accelerant - Answer A fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitible liquid, intentionally used to
initiate a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
Accident - Answer An unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes
causes injury or damage or a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an
unexpected happening due to carelessness, ignorance, and the like.
Active Fire Protection System - Answer A system that uses moving mechanical or
electrical parts to achieve a fire protection goal.
Ambient - Answer Someone's or something's surroundings, especially as they
pertain to the local environment; for example, ambient air and ambient temperature.
Ampacity - Answer The maximum current, in amperes, that a conductor can carry
continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating.
Ampere - Answer The unit of electric current that is equivalent to a flow of one
coulomb per second.
Arc - Answer High-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through
a medium such as charred insulation.
Arc Mapping - Answer Identifying and documenting a fire pattern derived from the
identification of arc sites used to aid in determining the area of fire origin or spread.
Arc Melting - Answer Melting of conductors and conducting surfaces as a result of
electrical arcing.
,Arc Site - Answer The location on a conductor with localized damage that resulted
from an electrical arc.
Arcing through Char - Answer Arcing associated with a matrix of charred material
that acts as a semiconductive medium.
Area of Origin - Answer A structure, part of a structure, or general geographic
location within a fire scene, in which the "point of origin" of a fire or explosion is
reasonably believed to be located.
Arrow Pattern - Answer A fire pattern displayed on the cross-section of a burned
wooden structural member.
Arson - Answer The crime of maliciously and intentionally, or recklessly, starting a
fire or causing an explosion.
Autoignition - Answer Initiation of combustion by heat but without a spark or flame.
Autoignition Temperature - Answer The lowest temperature at which a combustible
material ignites in air without a spark or flame.
Backdraft - Answer A deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of air into a
confined space containing oxygen-deficient products of incomplete combustion.
Bead - Answer A rounded mass of resolidified metal on the end of the remains of an
electrical conductor or conductors that was caused by arcing and is characterized by
a sharp line of demarcation between the melted and unmelted conductor surfaces.
Blast Pressure Front - Answer The expanding leading edge of an explosion reaction
that separates a major difference in pressure between normal ambient pressure
ahead of the front and potentially damaging high pressure at and behind the front.
BLEVE - Answer Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Bonding - Answer The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically
conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely
any current likely to be imposed.
British Thermal Unit (BTU) - Answer The quantity of heat required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water 1 degree F at the pressure of 1 atmospheric and
temperature of 60 degrees F.
Calcination of Gypsum - Answer A fire effect realized in gypsum products, including
wallboard, as a result of exposure to heat that drives off free and chemically bound
water.
Calorie - Answer Amount of energy needed to raise temperature 1 gram of water 1
degree C
, Cause - Answer The circumstances, conditions, or agencies that brought about or
resulted in the fire or explosion incident, damage to property , bodily injury, or loss of
life.
Ceiling Jet - Answer A relatively thin layer of flowing hot gases that develops under a
horizontal surface (e.g., ceiling) as a result of plume impingement and the flowing
gas being forced to move horizontally.
Char - Answer Carbonaceous material that has been burned or pyrolyzed and has a
blackened appearance.
Char Blisters - Answer Convex segments of carbonized material separated by cracks
or crevasses that form on the surface of char, forming on materials such as wood as
the result of pyrolysis or burning.
Clean Burn - Answer A distinct and visible fire effect generally apparent on
noncombustible surfaces after combustible layer(s) (such as soot, paint, and paper)
have been burned away. The effect may also appear where soot has failed to be
deposited because of high surface temperatures.
Combustible - Answer Capable of undergoing combustion.
Combustible Gas Indicator - Answer An instrument that samples air and indicates
whether there are ignitible vapors or gases present.
Combustible Liquid - Answer Liquid having a closed-cup flash point at or above
100°F (37.8°C) and below 200°F (93.3°C).
Combustion - Answer A chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast
enough to produce heat and usually light in the form of either a glow or flame.
Combustion Products - Answer The heat, gases, volatilized liquids and solids,
particulate matter, and ash generated by combustion.
Competent Ignition Source - Answer An ignition source that has sufficient energy
and is capable of transferring that energy to the fuel long enough to raise the fuel to
its ignition temperature.
Conduction - Answer Heat transfer to another body or within a body by direct
contact.
Convection - Answer Heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or
liquid.
Creep - Answer The tendency of a material to move or deform permanently to relieve
stresses.
Current - Answer A flow of electric charge.
