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ELEMENT
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Contents
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CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES
Fires Classified According to Fuel Source
Revision Question
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SUMMARY 2-20
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EXAM SKILLS
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KEY INFORMATION
The combustion process:
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Can be illustrated by the fire triangle, which requires fuel, heat and oxygen to initiate and sustain a fire.
Is a chemical reaction whereby volatile molecules of fuel react with oxygen, either completely or partially, to
generate combustion products.
Generates heat and is termed exothermic.
Progresses through the stages of induction, ignition, fire growth, steady state, and decay.
CHEMISTRY OF COMBUSTION
FIRE TRIANGLE
To initiate and sustain a fire, three things need to be
present at the same time:
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GLOSSARY
COMBUSTION
A type of chemical reaction - a rapid, self-sustaining
gas-phase oxidation process which produces heat
and light.
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Exothermic Reaction
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TOPIC FOCUS
Exothermic reactions:
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Oxidising Agents/Materials
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STAGES OF COMBUSTION
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Induction
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REVISION QUESTIONS
1. Explain, with the use of a sketch or diagram, the
fire triangle.
2. Outline the conditions required for combustion
to be maintained.
3. Explain the basic stages of combustion.
4. Explain the difference between endothermic and
exothermic reactions.
(Suggested Answers are at the end.)
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DEFINITIONS
Flammable liquids
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Terms important in understanding how ignition of solids, flammable liquids and gaseous materials occurs include:
flash point, fire point and ignition point (kindling point); auto ignition temperature; vapour density; vapour
pressure; flammable; highly flammable; upper flammable limit and lower flammable limit; and combustible.
Conditions required to cause the ignition of solids, liquids and gases relate to their physical form, the ability to
form a flammable mixture with air and the presence of a sufficiently energetic ignition source.
Methods of preventing or controlling ignition of combustible solids, flammable liquids and gaseous materials are
based on the fire triangle and the removal of one of its three elements by separating fuels from ignition sources
or excluding oxygen.
It is important that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is kept in a safe, well-ventilated place, preferably in the open
air and away from occupied buildings.
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