Module in CDI 6 Fire Technology & Arson Investigation 2021-2022 | HERMILINDA ORENZE

CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Criminal Justice Education

Module in

CDI 6

FIRE TECHNOLOY & ARSON INVESTIGATION

Hermilinda P. Orenze, MSCrim

Topic 5: Hazardous Materials

Objective/s: Students should be able to identify properties of flammable materials and hazardous
materials.

Lesson 1

Terms to ponder:
 Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) – those substances that have the ability to harm
humans, property, or the environment.

 Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) – tanks that are stored above the ground in a
horizontal or vertical position. Smaller quantities of fuels are often stored in this fashion.

 Absorption – defensive method of controlling a spill by applying a material that absorbs

the spilled chemical.

 Awareness – the basic level of training for emergency response to a chemical accident,
the ability to recognize a hazardous situation and call for assistance.

 Biological Agents – toxic substances that are living materials or are obtained from living
organism.

 Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) – occurs when a pressurized

tank is heated and the pressure inside the tank exceeds the capacity of the relief valves to
handle the pressure. When pressurized tanks rupture, they can travel significant distances,
and if holding flammable materials, they will usually ignite, resulting in a large fireball.

 Boiling Point – temperature to which liquids must be heated to turn gas.

 Choking Agents – chemicals that produce an immediate reaction (coughing, difficulty

breathing)

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 Module in CDI 6 Fire Technology & Arson Investigation 2021-2022 | HERMILINDA ORENZE

 DECIDE – management system used to organize the response to a chemical incident.

The factors of DECIDE are: detect, estimate, choose, identify, do the best, and evaluate.

 Decontamination – physical removal of contaminants (chemicals) from people,

equipment, or the environment; most often used to described the process of cleaning to
remove chemicals from a person.

 Deflagrates – rapid burning, which can be considered a slow explosion, but travels at a
lesser speed than a detonation.

 Emergency Response Planning (ERP) – levels that are used for planning purposes and
are usually associated with preplanning for evacuation zones.

 Flammable range – the correct mixture of flammable gas and air in which there can be a
fire; for most gases there is a certain span (range) that will allow for a fire to ignite.

 Hazard Area – term used to describe the dangerous area around a release; also called the
isolation area or hot zone.

 Irritant – material that is irritating to humans, but usually does not cause any long-term
effects.

 Lower Explosive Limit – the lower part of the flammable range, or the minimum
amount of vapor mixed with air that can provide the proper mixture for fire or explosion.

 Upper Explosive Limit – is the highest amount of vapor mixed with air that will sustain
a fire or explosion.

 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – a group that issues fire and safety
standards for industry and emergency responders.

 Relief Valve – device designed to vent pressure in a tank, so that the tank itself does not
rupture due to an increase in pressure. In most cases these devices are spring loaded so
that when the pressure decreases, the valve closes to keep the chemical inside the tank.

 Violent Tank Rupture – this concept is the same as a BLEVE, but there is not a
characteristic fireball and explosion.

KINDS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:

1. Explosive materials or potentially explosive chemical
2. Compressed Gasses
3. Flammable liquids
4. Flammable solid

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 Module in CDI 6 Fire Technology & Arson Investigation 2021-2022 | HERMILINDA ORENZE

5. Oxidizing agents
6. Poisonous and Infectious
7. Radio Active Materials
8. Corrosive liquids
9. Miscellaneous