Chemistry of Fire

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CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe chemistry and physics of fire.
2. Identify the sources of heat.
3. Describe the effect of oxygen on fire.
4. Describe the three types of heat transfer.
5. Identify the products of combustion.
6. Explain the classes of fire and the risks associated
with
each class.
7. Identify the dangers of fire.
8. Describe the basis for the theory of fire
extinguishment.
INTRODUCTION
Fire is a natural phenomenon and critical to
human survival on earth. People have used fire
as a tool for hundreds of years. Treated with
respect and care, it heats and lights our homes
and cooks our food.
Fire has caused destruction, injury and death
and will continue to do so unless people develop
greater knowledge and respect for its powers.
The majority of fires are caused by human
carelessness, lack of knowledge, and
misinformation.
To understand fire, fire prevention and fire
response, you must be aware of the different
types of fire, what causes fires and common
ways to prevent them from happening in the
first place.
FIRE
Fire is a rapid self-sustaining
oxidation process
accompanied by the evolution
of heat and light of varying
intensity.

Technically, Fire is a
chemical reaction that
requires fuel, oxygen and heat
For many years, the fire triangle (oxygen, heat and
fuel) was used to teach the components of fire.
While this simple example is useful, it is not
technically correct. For combustion to occur, four
components are necessary:
FIRE TETRAHEDRON
 Oxygen
 Fuel
 Heat
 Self-sustained Chemical Reaction
FIRE TETRAHEDRON
Each component of the
tetrahedron must be in place to
occur. Remove one of the four
components & combustion will not
occur. If ignition has already
occurred, the fire is extinguished
when one of the components is
removed from the reaction.
OXYGEN

Normally, the primary source of oxygen is the


atmosphere, which contains approximately 21
percent oxygen. A concentration of at least 14
percent is needed for the continuation of flaming
combustion, while charring or smoldering (pyrolysis)
can occur with as little as 8 percent.
Oxygen is the oxidizing agent to the combustion
process. With a diminished amount of oxygen, the
combustion process is slowed (Eg. Rusting). With
abundance amount of oxygen, the chemical reaction
is accelerated.
FUEL
Initially, the fuel may be in the form of a solid, liquid or
gas at the ambient temperature.

FUEL SOURCES – Anything that will burn.


Examples: Clothing, furniture, papers, flammable
liquids, plastics, and rubber.
HEAT

Heat is the energy component of the fire


tetrahedron. When heat comes into contact with a
fuel, the energy supports the combustion reaction.

It is heat that forges atomic-level of compounds


and released when those bonds are separated.
SELF-SUSTAINED CHEMICAL
REACTION
Combustion is a complete complex reaction that
requires a fuel (in the gaseous or vapor state), an oxidizer,
and a heat energy to come together in a very specific way.
Once flaming combustion or fire occurs, it can only when
enough heat energy is produced to cause the continued
development of fuel vapors or gases. Scientists call this
type of reaction a “CHAIN REACTION”. A Chain reaction is
a series of reactions that occur in sequence with the result
of each individual reaction being added to the rest.
MODES OF HEAT
TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
Heat is transmitted from one place to another is
the first step in knowing how to control the extension
of fire.

3 Modes of Heat Transfer


1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Radiation
CONDUCTION
 A point-to-point transmission
of heat energy from hot to
cold object.
 Good conductors - Aluminum,
copper, and iron
 Poor conductors – Fibrous
materials such as felt, cloth,
and paper, liquids, and
CONDUCTION
Conduction occurs when
a hot solid, liquid, or gas
contacts an object that is
highly combustible. When a
curling iron is left on and
placed on top of a towel, the
curling iron will produce
enough heat to ignite the
towel.
CONVECTION

 The transfer of heat energy


by the movement of heated
liquid or gases.
CONVECTION
A fire heats the air around it &
releases hot toxic gases. A
ceiling in the house can stop the
gases but they will spread out
the temperature in the room will
get hotter & hotter. It is also the
reason of the firefighter will try
to vent the roof in a house fire &
cool down the heated air.
RADIATION
 The transmission of energy as an electromagnetic
wave such as light waves, radio waves, or x-rays.
Commonly called heat waves.

 Radiated heat will travel through space at the


speed of light until it reaches an opaque object. In
turn, the opaque object will radiate heat from its
surface.
RADIATION
Combustibles near a fire are
subject to radiant heat. The closer
they are to the fire the sooner
they will be heated to the point of
origin. Once radiant heat has
ignited a nearby object, the heat
from this new fire radiates to
other objects increasing the
intensity of the fire & its rapid
spread.
FIRE CLASSIFICATION
FIRE CLASSIFICATION AND RISK
Importance of Fire Classifications:

• The type or nature of the material burning that is,


its fuel, defines the fire.
• The classes of fire are used to identify the
extinguishers and extinguishing agents used to put
them out.
CLASSES OF FIRE
CLASS A
• Fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood,
cloth, plastics, papers & rubber.
• It can be extinguished with water, water-based
agents, or foam, & multipurpose dry chemicals
• Water is usually used by the Fire Department

MEMORY KEY: ASH is usually left after burning.


CLASS B
• Fires involving flammable & combustible liquids,
gases, & greases such as: gasoline, oils, alcohol,
propane.
• Common extinguishing agents are carbon dioxide
(CO2), regular & multipurpose dry chemical and
foam.

MEMORY KEY: MATERIALS-Boil, Bubble


or come in Barrel,
bucket
CLASS C
• Fires involving energized electrical equipment, which
eliminates the use of water-based agents to put them
out.
• The recommended method of fighting these fires is to
turn-off or disconnect electrical power & then use an
appropriate extinguisher depending on the remaining
fuel source.
• Extinguishing agents includes carbon dioxide (CO2),
regular & multipurpose dry chemical.
MEMORY KEY: Electrical (CURRENT)
CLASS D
• Fires involving combustible metals and
alloys such as: magnesium, sodium,
lithium and potassium.
• Great case must be used when attempting
to extinguish in these types of fuels.
• Extinguishing agents for this class of fire
are called dry powders & should not be
confused with dry chemical.
MEMORY KEY: “DING” a metal sound
Don’t get involved
CLASS K
• Is a new classification of fire as of 1998 &
involves fires in combustible cooking fuels
such as: vegetable or animal oils & fats.
• Its fuels are similar to Class B fuels but
involves high temperature cooking oils and
therefore have special characteristics.
• Class K agents are usually wet chemicals.

MEMORY KEY: KITCHEN FIRES


CLASS E
 Fires involving high voltage
electrical installation and bulk
LPG.
 This class of fire needs special
firefighting operation by trained
personnel.
PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION

Heat
Flame
Smoke
Fire gases
HEAT
HEAT IS A FORM OF ENERGY THAT
IS MEASURED IN TEMPERATURE TO
SIGNIFY ITS INTENSITY
FLAME
Is the visible, luminous body of a
burning gas
SMOKE
The smoke encounters in most
fires consist of a mixture of oxygen,
nitrogen, divided carbon particles
(soot) and a miscellaneous
assortment of products that have
been released from the material
involved.
WHAT MAKES FIRE
DANGEROUS?
FIRE IS . . .
FAST:
 A fire will double every 30 Seconds under normal conditions.
 In as little as 3 minutes, a small fire can erupt into a “FLASHOVER”.
DARK:
 A small fire can produce enough smoke to fill a building in
minutes.
 Smoke results in:
 Teared eyes
 Choking sensation
 Impaired judgment due to Carbon Monoxide (CO)
 Loss of special recognition
 Sedation effect - Respiratory failure
FIRE IS . . .
HOT:
 Within minutes, air temperature in a burning room can reach 300
degrees Celsius. This temperature is hot enough to melt clothes,
skin and scorch your lungs in one breathe.
 Temperatures can climb to between 650-760 degrees Celsius.

DEADLY:
 Most people who die in fires, die from breathing smoke and toxic
gases.
 Carbon Oxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, Ammonia and hundreds of
other
irritants attack your eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
 They numb your senses and leave you dazed.
FIRE IS . . .
CARBON MONOXIDE:
Makes you disorientated and stops you from thinking and breathing.

NITROGEN OXIDE:
Makes you breathe faster, which puts to rest the option of holding
your breath.

CARBON DIOXIDE:
Mixes with moisture in the eyes, nose and throat, which causes
coughing and hacking. Then turns into nitric acid, which starts to burn
the tissue.
FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT THEORY
FIRE - is extinguish by
limiting or interrupting one or
more of the essentials
elements in combustion
process (Fire Tetrahedron). A
fire may be extinguished by:
FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT THEORY
•Extinguishment by Temperature
Reduction
• Extinguishment by Fuel Removal
• Extinguishment by Oxygen Dilution
• Extinguishment by Chemical Flame
inhibition
TEMPERATURE REDUCTION
 One of the most common
methods of extinguishment
is cooling with water. This
depends on reducing the
temperature of a fuel to
point where it does not
produce sufficient vapor to
burn.
FUEL REMOVAL
 In some cases, fire is effectively
extinguished by removing the
fuel source may be remove by
stopping the flow of liquid or
gaseous fuel or by removing solid
fuel in the path of a fire. Another
method of fuel removal is to
allow a fire to burn until all fuel
is consumed.
OXYGEN EXCLUSION
Reducing the oxygen content
in an area also puts out the fire.
Reduction of the oxygen can be
done by flooding an area with
inert gas such as carbon
dioxide, which displaces the
oxygen, or the oxygen can be
reduced by separating the fuel
from the air such as blanketing
CHEMICAL FLAME INHIBITION
Extinguishing agents, such as
dry chemicals and halogenated
hydrocarbons (halons), interrupt
the flame producing chemical
reaction and stop flaming. This
method of extinguishment is
effective on gas and liquid fuels
because they must flame to burn.
THANK YOU
Remember:
“When fighting a foe, one of the best weapons one
can have is knowledge and understanding of the enemy”

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