DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Abatement – Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire

hazard.

2. Administrator – Any person who acts as agent of the owner and

manages the use of a building for him.

3. Air craft service station - That portion of an airport where

flammable liquids are stored or dispensed and shall include all
facilities essential thereto such as underground tanks from which
aircraft fuel and lubricants maybe drawn through dispensing
device.

4. Alligatoring or Alligator Pattern - A burned patternn usually on

woods resembling the skin marking of an alligator, often used to
trace the fire to its origin.

5. Assembly Occupancy - The occupancy or use of a building or

structure or any portion thereof by a group of person for civic,
political education travel, religious, social, amusement or
recreational purposes.

6. Atoms - The smallest particles of elements that take part in a

chemical reaction.

7. Automatic Fire Suppression System – An integrated system of

underground or overhead piping or both connected to a source of
extinguishing agent or medium and design in accordance with fire
protection engineering standards which when actuated by its
automatic detecting device, suppresses fire within the area
protected.

8. Blasting Agent – Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and

oxidizer used to set off explosives.

9. Boiling Point - The temperature at which a liquid is transformed or

converted to vapor.

10. Cargo Tank - Any container mounted on a tank vehicle with a

capacity of at least four hundred fifty (450) liters used for carrying
 flammable or combustible liquids. It does not apply to the fuel tank
of a motor vehicle.

11. Cellulose Nitrate or Nitro Cellulose – A highly combustible

and explosive compound produced by the reaction of nitric acid
with a cellulose material.

12. Cellulose Nitrate Plastic (Pyroxylin) – Any plastic substance,

materials or compound having cellulose nitrate (nitro cellulose) as
base.

13. Chief of the Local Fire Service - The official duly designated to
head the local fire service; or in cities/ municipalities where the
policemen are also performing the functions of the Fire service, the
station commander of the Integrated National Police.

14. Class A fire - Fire involving ordinary combustible materials such

as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastics.

15. Class B fire – Fire inflammable liquids and gases.

16. Class C fire – Fire involving energized electrical equipment.

17. Class D fire – Fire involving combustible metals, such as

magnesium, sodium, potassium, and other similar materials.

18. Combination Standpipe – Pipe line system filled with water

connected to a constant water supply for the use of the Fire
Service and the occupants of the buildings solely for the
suppression purposes.

19. Combustible Fiber Loose House – An enclosed and isolated

structure where loose fibers are worked upon, and used as storage
for such fibers.

20. 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.

21. Combustible, Flammable or Inflammable – Descriptive of

materials that are easily set on fire.
22. Combustible Liquid – Any liquid having a flash point at or above
37.8oC (100oF).

23. Combustion - The burning of any substance, is a process that

evolves light and heat.

24. Corrosive Liquid – Any liquid which causes fire when in contract
with organic matter or with certain chemicals.

25. Crazing of Glass - Formation of irregular cracks in glass due to

rapid intense heat - possibly when accelerant is used.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. Damper – A normally open device installed inside an air duct

system which automatically closes to restrict the passage of smoke
or fire.

29. Depth of Char - Depth of burning wood used to determine length

of burn thereby locating the point of origin of fire.

30. Dip Tank – a tank, vat or container of flammable or combustible

liquid in which articles or materials are immersed for the purposed
of coating, finishing, treating or similar processes.

31. Distillation – The process of first raising the temperature to

separate the more volatile from the less volatile parts and then
cooling and condensing the result vapor so as to produce a nearly
purified substance.

32. Dry Standpipe – A type of standpipe system in which the pipe

are normally not filled with water. Water is introduced into the
system thru fire Service connection when needed.
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 the

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 of lump that remains after a material has
partially burned, and is still oxidizing without the manifestation of
flames.

37. Endothermic Reaction - Changes whereby energy is absorbed

or is added before the reaction takes place.

38. Exothermic Reaction - Those that release or give off energy

(heat) thus they produce substances with less energy than the
reactants.

39. Explosive – Includes any chemical compound or mechanical

mixture, that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of
producing an explosion.

40. Explosive Magazine – building, Structures or facilities used for

the storage of explosive shells, projectile and ammunition.

41. Finishes – Materials used as final coasting of a surface for

ornamental or protective purposes.

42. Fire – The active principle of burning, characterized by the heat

and light of combustion.

43. Fire Alarm – Any visual or audible signal produce by a device or

system to warm the occupants of the building or fire fighting
elements of the presence or danger of fire to enable them to
undertake immediate action to save file and property and to
suppress the fire.
44. Fire Alerting System – A fire alarm system activated by the
presence of a fire, where the signal is transmitted to designated
location instead of sounding a general alarm, in order to prevent
panic.

45. Fire Door – A fire resistive door prescribed for openings in fire
separation walls or portions.

46. Fire Engine - A heavy motor truck equipped with fire fighting
apparatus, especially power driven pumps for throwing water and
chemical under high pressure, a.k.a. FIRE TRUCK.

47. Fire Exit Drill – A practice drill for the orderly and safe
evacuation of occupants in a building.

48. 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 fire fighting
operations and the safeguarding of life and property.

49. Fire Hydrant or Fire Plug - An upright pipe with a spout or nozzle
in the street for drawing from a water main source especially for
fighting fire.

50. Fire Inspector/Fire Safety Inspector/ or Fire Prevention Inspector

– Personnel of the Fire Service of the INP performing Fire safety
and fire prevention functions.

51. 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 fire fighting units.

52. Fire Protective Assembly - An assembly incorporated in a

structure designed to prevent the spread of fire, such as dampers,
curtain boards, fire stoppers, etc..

53. 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,
 gloves and other garments that may be put on or worn by persons
to protect themselves during fire.

54. Fire Resistance Rating - Th time durationn that a material or

construction can withstand the effect of hundred fire test.

55. Fire Safety Construction – Refers to design and installation 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 fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the
building is evacuated. These features are also designed to
achieved, among others, safe and rapid evacuation of people
through means of egress sealed from smoke or fire, the
confinement of fire of the building by means of smoke-sealed and
fire resistant doors, walls and floors. It shall also means to include
the treatment of building components or contents with flame
retardant chemicals.

56. Fire Service – An organization or a component of integrated

National Police charged with the mission of fire protection, fire
protection and fire conditions.

57. Fire Trap – A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn
easily or because it lacks adequate exits or fire escapes.

58. Fire Wall – a wall designed to prevent the spread of fire, having
a fire resistance rating of not less than four hours with sufficient
structural stability to remain standing even if construction on either
side collapses under fire condition.

59. Flame Retardant – Any compound, or mixture which when

applied properly improves the fire resistant quality of fabrics and
other materials.

60. Flame Spread Rating – The time in which flame will spread over
the surface of a burning material.

61. Flash Point – The minimum temperature at which any materials

gives off vapor in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable
mixture with air.
62. Forging – A process where a piece of metal is heated prior to
changing its shape or dimensions.

63. Fulminate – A kind of stable explosive compound, which

explodes by percussion.

64. Fumigant – A gas, fume, or vapor used for the destruction or

control of insects, fungi, vermin, germs, rodents, or other pets.

65. Hazardous Fire Area – Any land covered with dry grass, cogon,
reeds, brush, and other highly combustible growth that fires are
likely to occur therein and hard to suppress.

66. Hazardous Operation/Process – Any act of manufacturing,

fabrication, conversion, etc., that uses or produces materials which
are likely to cause fires or explosions.

67. High Rise Building – Buildings, structures or facilities fifteen (15)

meter or more in height.

68. Horizontal Channel – Any uninterrupted space between

horizontal layers of stored commodities. Such channel may be
formed by pallets, shelving, racks or other storage arrangements.

69. Horizontal Exit – Passageway from one building to another or

through or around a wall in approximately the same floor level.

70. Hose Box – A box or cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other
equipment are stored and arranged for fire fighting.

71. Hose Reel – A cylindrical device turning on an axis around

which a fire hose is wound and connected.

72. Hydrocarbon - Any substance containing primarily carbon and

hydrogen.

73. Hypergolic Fuel – A rocket or liquid propellant, which consists of

combinations of fuels and oxidizers which ignite spontaneously on
contact with each other.

74. 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
from a uniform glazing on the surface of materials being treated.

75. Jumper – A piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to

bypass a safety device in an electrical system.

76. Line of Demarcation or Demarcation Line - The line between the

charred and uncharred portion of a burned material.

77. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – any flammable gas liquefied

through pressure. The liquid vaporized under normal atmospheric
pressure.

78. Means of Egress – A continuous and unobstructed route of exit

from any point in a building, structure or facility to a public way.

79. Occupancy – The purpose for which a building or portion thereof

is used or intended to be used.

80. 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.

81. Occupant Load – The maximum number of persons that may be

allowed to occupy a particular building, structure or facility or
portions thereof.

82. Oil Burning Equipment – An oil burner of any type together with
its tank, piping, wiring controls, blower and related devices, and
shall include all oil fired units, heating and cooking appliances.

83. Organic Coating – A liquid mixture of binders such as alkyd,

nitrocellulose, acrylic, or oil, and flammable and combustible
solvents such as hydrocarbon, ester, ketone or alcohol, which
when spread on a surface becomes a durable protective and
decorative finish.

84. Organic Peroxide – A strong oxidizing organic compound which

releases oxygen readily. It causes fire when in contact with
combustible materials especially under conditions of high
temperature.
85. 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.

86. Owner – The person who holds the legal rights of possession or
title to a building or real property.

87. Oxidation - The act of uniting or of causing a substance to unite

with oxygen.

88. Oxidizing Agent - The substance that acquires electrons during

an oxidation-reduction reaction. In the course of the reaction, the
oxidizing agent is reduced.

89. Oxidizing Material – A material that readily yields oxygen in

quantities sufficient to stimulate or support combustion.

90. Panic Hardware – A mechanical device consisting of linkages

and a horizontal bar across a door, which when pushed from the
inside will cause the door to open and facilitate exit from a building,
structure or facility.

91. Packing Rooms – Rooms where baled, bundled or piled

materials are segregated into desires sizes or groups.

92. Plenum – An air compartment or chamber to which one or more

ducts are connected and which form part of an air distribution
system.

93. Point to Point Search - A method of searching victims by first

attending or saving the first person then proceeding to save the
next victim.

94. Pressurized or Forced Draft Burning Equipment – Type of

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 at above normal atmospheric
pressure into the same combustion chamber.

95. Public Assembly Building – Any building or structure where fifty

(50) or more people congregate, gather, or assemble for any
purpose.
96. Public Way – Any street, alley or other strip of land unobstructed
from the ground to the sky, deeded, dedicated or otherwise
permanently appropriated for public use.

97. Pyrophoric – Descriptive of any substance that ignites

spontaneously when exposed to air.

98. Refining – A process where impurities and/or deleterious

materials are removed from a mixture in order to produce a pure
element or compound. It shall also refer to partial distillation and
electrolysis.

99. Self-Closing Doors – Automatic closing doors that are designed

to confine smoke and heat and delay the spread of fire.

100. Smelting – Melting or fusing of metallic ores or compounds so as

to separate impurities from pure materials.

101. Smoke Developed Rating – A rating of a combustible materials

based on the density and volume of smoke developed within a
certain period of time when its surface is ignited.

102. Smoking – Puffing, carrying and/or use of lighted pipe, cigar,

cigarette or tobacco in any form.

103. Specific Gravity - The ratio of the weight of a solid or liquid

substance to the weight of an equal volume of water.

104. Spontaneous Combustion - The ignition of combustible

substance without the applicationof flame or spark due to
continuing oxidation until enough heat accumulates in a confined
space and ignition temperature is released.

105. Spraying Area – Any area in which dangerous quantities of

flammable vapor or combustible residues, dust or deposits are
present due to the operation of spraying devices.

106. 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.
107. 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 outlets as needed.

108. Tampering - The act of bringing about an improper situation or

condition by clandestine means, such as illegally wiring an
electrical matter to steal electricity.

109. Tank Vehicle – Any vehicle carrying or towing a cargo tank used
for transporting flammable fluids or hazardous chemicals.

110. Technology - The branch of knowledge that deals with industrial

arts and sciences; the science of technical process.

111. Triage - The act of separating rescued victims to facilitate

uniform medical assistance.

112. Vapor Density - The weight of the volume of pure gas composed
to the weight of a volume of dry air on the same temperature and
pressure.

113. Vapor Pressure - When liquid is heated in a liquid container, the

molecules in a liquid state escape to form gaseous molecules. The
gas molecules strike one another as well as the walls of the
container and may return to the liquid state; the force exerted by
the molecules on the surface of the liquid at equilibrium.

114. Vestibule – A passage hall or antechamber between the outer

doors and the interior parts of a house or building.

115. Vertical Shaft – An enclosed vertical space of passage that

extends from floor to floor, as well as from the base to the top of
the building.