1.

Fire - exothermic reaction involving the oxidation of some substance (fuel) resulting in
the release of energy in the form of light and heat.

2. Heat transfer - the mechanism in which fire can spread from its origin to other sources
of fuel.

3. Conductive/conduction heat transfer - heat is transferred by direct contact and the rate of
transfer is dependent on factors such as the thermal conductivity of the material and the
temperature difference between the cooler and warmer areas.

4. Convective/convection heat transfer - transfer of heat through physical movement of

materials and occurs only in liquids and gases. Hot gases rise and spread heat to
nearby ceilings and walls.

5. Radiative/radiation heat transfer - heat is transferred if the form of electromagnetic

energy directly from one object to another. ex. infrared radiation from the sun.

6. Combustion - or burning - is the sequence of exothermic chemical reaction between fuel

and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical
species.The result of the heat can result in the form of either glowing or flame.

7. Glowing combustion - occurs when solid fuels are not capable of producing sufficient
quantities of gas during pyrolysis to sustain a flame. If access to the oxidant (air) is
limited, glowing combustion may result.

8. Flaming combustion -commonly recognized type of fire and occurs with gaseous fuel
sources only. The color of the flame can give some indication of the composition of the
fuel.

9. Spontaneous combustion - the ignition of organic matter with out apparent cause,
typically through heat generated internally by rapid oxidation.A process whereby a
material self heats.

10. Explosive combustion - can occur when vapors, dust of gases, premixed with
appropriate amount of air are ignited.

11. Arson - intentional or malicious destruction of property by fire.

12. Fire analysis - the process of determining the origin, cause and responsibility as well as
the failure analysis of fire or explosion.

13. Fire cause - the circumstances or agencies that bring a fuel and an ignition source
together with proper air or oxygen.
14. Fire spread - the movement of fire from one place to another.

15. Flash fire - a fire that spreads with extreme rapidity such as the one that races over dust,
over the surface of flammable liquids or through gases.

16. Fuel load - the total quantity of combustible contents of the building, spaces or fire area,
including interior finish and trim expressed in heat units or the equivalent weight in wood.

17. Point of origin - the exact physical location where a heat source and fuel comes in
contact with each other and a fire begins.

18. Rekindle - a return to flaming combustion after incomplete extinguishment of a fire

reigning at some time after being put out.

19. Spalling - chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry surfaces.

20. Abatement - any act that would remove or neutralize fire hazard.

21. Administrator - any person who acts as agent of the owner and manages the use of a
building for him.

22. Blasting Agent - any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used to set off
explosives.

23. Cellulose nitrate or Nitro cellulose - a highly combustible and explosive compound
produced by the reaction of nitric acid with a cellulose material.

24. Cellulose nitrate plastic (Pyroxylin) - any plastic substance,materials or compound

having cellulose nitrate as base.

25. Combustible/Flammable or Inflammable - Descriptive of materials that are easily set on

fire.

26. Combustible fiber - any readily ignitable and free burning fiber such as
cotton,oakum,rags,waste cloth,waste paper,kapok,hay,straw,Spanish
moss,excelsior,and other similar materials commonly used in commerce.

27. Combustible liquid - any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8 degrees Celsius or
100 degrees Fahrenheit.

28. Corrosive liquid - any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with
certain chemicals.
29. Curtain board - a vertical panel of non-combustible or fire resistive materials attached to
and extending below the bottom chord of the roof trusses, to divide the underside of the
roof into separate compartments so that heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a
roof vent.

30. Cryogenic - descriptive of any material which by its nature or as a result of its reaction
with other elements produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate
surroundings.

31. Damper - a normally open device installed inside an air duct system which
automatically closes to restrict the passage of smoke or fire.

32. Distillation - the process of first raising the temperature to separate the more volatile
from the less volatile parts and then cooling and condensing the resulting vapor so as to
produce as nearly purified substance.

33. Duct system - a continuous passageway for the transmission of air.

34. Dust - a finely powdered substance which when mixed with air in the proper proportion
and ignited will cause an explosion.

35. Electrical arc - an extremely hot luminous bridge formed by passage of an electric
current across a space between two conductors or terminals due to the incandescence
of the conducting vapor.

36. Ember - a hot piece or lump that remains after a material has partially burned and is still
oxidizing without the manifestation of flames.

37. Finishes - materials used as final coating of a surface for ornamental or protective
purposes.

38. Fire - the active principle of burning characterized by the heat and light of combustion.

39. Fire Trap - a building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks
adequate exits or fire escapes.

40. Fire Alarm - any visual or audible signal produced by a device or system to warn the
occupants of the building or the fighting element of the presence or danger of fire to
enable them to undertake immediate action to save life and property and to suppress the
fire.

41. Fire door - a fire restrictive door prescribed for openings in fire separation walls or
partitions.
42. Fire Hazard - any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the
probability of the occurrence of fire or which may obstruct,delay,hinder or interfere with
firefighting operations and the safeguarding of life and property.

43. Fire Lane - the portion of a roadway or public way that should be kept opened and
unobstructed at all times for the expedient operations of firefighting units.

44. Fire Protective and Fire Safety Device - any device intended for the protection of
buildings or persons to include but not limited to built in protection system such as
sprinklers and other automatic extinguishing system,detectors for heat,smoke and
combustion products and other warning system components,personal protective
equipment such as fire blankets,helmets,fire suits,globes and other garments that may
be put on or worn by persons to protect themselves during fire.

45. Fire Safety Constructions - refers to design and installations of walls, barriers, doors,
windows, vents, means of egress etc. integral to and incorporated into a building or
structure in order to minimize danger to life,from smoke,fire,fumes or panic before the
building is evacuated.

46. Flash Point - the minimum temperature at which any material gives off vapor in sufficient
concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air.

47. Forcing - a process where a piece of metal is heated prior to changing its shape or
dimensions.

48. Fulminate - a kind of stable explosive compound which explodes by percussion.

49. Hazardous operation/process - any act of manufacturing, fabrication, conversion etc., or

produces materials which are likely to cause fires or explosions.

50. Horizontal exit - passage way from one building to another or through or around a wall in
approximately the same floor level.

51. Hose Box - a box or cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other equipment are stored
and arranged for firefighting.

52. Hose Reel - a cylindrical device turning on an axis around which a fire hose is
connected.

53. Hypergolic fuel - a rocket or liquid propellant which consist of combinations of fuels and
oxidizers which ignite simultaneously on contact with each other.
54. Industrial Baking and Drying - the industrial process of subjecting materials to heat for
the purpose of removing solvents or moisture from the same and,or to fuse certain
chemical salts to form a uniform glazing the surface of materials being treated.

55. Jumper - a piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to bypass a safety device in an
electrical system.

56. Occupancy - the purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or intended to be
used.

57. Occupant - any person actually occupying and using a building or portions thereof by
virtue of a lease contract with the owner or administrator or by permission or sufferance
of the latter.

58. Organic Peroxide - a strong oxidizing organic compound which release oxygen readily. It
causes fire when in contact with combustible materials especially under conditions of
high temperature.

59. Overloading - the use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or
consume electrical current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical
system.

60. Owner - the person who holds the legal right of possession or title to a building or real
property.

61. Oxidizing Material - a material that readily yields oxygen in quantities sufficient to
stimulate or support combustion.

62. Pressurized or Forced Draft Burning Equipment - type or burner where the fuel is
subjected to pressure prior to discharge into the combustion chamber and /or which
includes fans or other provisions for the introduction of air above normal atmosphere
pressure into the same combustion chamber.

63. Public Assembly Building - any building or structure where 50 0r more people
congregate, gather or assemble for any purpose.

64. Public Way - any street, alley or other strip of land unobstructed from the ground to the
sky, dedicated for public use.

65. Pyrophoric - descriptive of any substance that ignites spontaneously when exposed to
air.
66. Refining - a process where impurities and,or deleterious materials are removed from a
mixture in order to produce a pure element of compound. It shall also refer to partial
distillation and electrolysis.

67. Self Closing Doors - automatic closing doors that are designed to confine smoke and
heat and delay the spread o fire.

68. Smelting - melting or fusing of metallic ores or compounds so as to separate impurities

from pure metals.

69. Sprinkler System - an integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a

building, structure or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which
automatically discharges water when activated by heat or combustion products from a
fire.

70. Standpipe System - a system of vertical pipes in a building to which fire hoses can be
attached on each floor, including a system by which water is made available to the outlet
as needed.

71. Vestibule - a passage hall or ante chamber between the outer doors and the interior
parts of a house or building.

72. Vertical Shaft - a enclosed vertical space of passage that extends from floor to floor as
well as from the base to the top of the building.

73. Oxygen - a colorless, odorless gas and one of the compositions of air which is
approximately 21% by volume.Oxygen - a colorless, odorless gas and one of the
compositions of air which is approximately 21% by volume.

74. Fuel - any substance which reacts chemically with oxygen and produces flames. The
most important element of fire.

75. Heat A form of energy measured in degree of temperature, it is the product of

combustion that spread the fire. It causes burns and other injuries such as dehydration,
heat exhaustion, and respiratory tract injuries. Heat, oxygen depletion, and carbon
monoxide formation are the primary hazards in fires.

76. Specific gravity - the ratio of the weight of a solid or substance to the weight of an equal
volume of water

77. Vapor density - the weight of a volume of pure gas compared to the weight of a volume
of dry air at the same temperature and pressure
78. Vapor pressure - the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of the liquid at
equilibrium.

79. Temperature - the measure of thermal degree of the agitation of molecules of a given
substance; the measure of the molecular activity within a substance.

80. Boiling point - the constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal
to the atmospheric pressure.

81. Ignition temperature or kindling temperature - the minimum temperature to which the
substance in the air must be heated in order to initiate or cause self-contained
combustion without the addition of heat from outside sources.

82. Endothermic reaction - are changes whereby energy (heat) is absorbed or is added
before the reaction takes place.

83. Exothermic reaction - reactions or changes that release or give off energy (heat) thus
they produce substances with less energy than the reactants.

84. Oxidation - a chemical change in which combustible material (fuel) and an oxidizing
agent react.

85. CLASS A - Materials involving vegetable fibers, wood, paper straw, grain, and grass;
combustible minerals such as coal and coke. Nearly all thrash fires are considered as
Class A.

86. Class B - Materials including petroleum products such as gasoline, fuel oils, lubricating
oils, and greases; animal fats such as butter, lard, and tallow; vegetable extracts such as
alcohol, linseed oil, and turpentine; vegetable compounds such as shortenings and
oleomargarines; natural gases and compressed gases such as butane, propane,
hydrogen, and acetylene.

87. Class C - This type of fire involves electrical motors, electrical appliances and
apparatus. Actually a Class C fire is composed usually of Class A and Class B materials
or a combination of both. Use of water is usually dangerous because of the risk of
electrical shock.

88. Class D - These are materials involving combustible metals, alloys, or metal compounds
either in a solid, semi solid or liquid state.

89. Natural Fire - fire caused naturally without human intervention or aid; such as lightning,
spontaneous ignition, mechanical malfunction of equipment.

90. Accidental Fire - fire causes where human action is involved directly or indirectly.
91. Arson fire - cause as a result of the willful and criminal action of some persons, i.e.,
incendiary fire.

92. Unknown Fire- fires which are not classified as to cause

93. Fire Suppression - means showing down the rate of burning.

94. Fire control - means keeping the fire from spreading or holding the fire to one area.

95. Extinguishment - is putting the fire completely out.

96. Fire Extinguisher Defined: It is a mechanical device usually made of metal, containing
chemicals, fluids, or gases for stopping fires, the means for application of its contents for
the purpose of putting out fire (particularly small fire) before it propagates, and is capable
of being readily moved from place to place. It is a portable device used to put out fires of
limited size.

97. Pyromania - the uncontrollable impulse of a person to burn anything without any
motivation.

98. Cooling - The cooling process uses an extinguishing agent whose primary
characteristic, is heat absorption. Water is the best general cooling agent for firefighting
purposes. Used on Class A fires, the water absorbs the heat generated at the surface of
the burning material, thus, reducing the temperature of the material below its flash point.

99. Smothering - excludes the oxygen from the fuel so that the gases or vapors of the fuel
cannot ignite and continue the combustion. CO 2 and AFFF are used for this purpose.

100. Separation - The removal of the fuel, as in the example of turning off a valve in a
gas line prevents the fuel and oxygen from coming together. If fuel is not available, then
heat, regardless of the temperature, cannot affect the fuel, Therefore, there is no fire.