WHAT IS FIRE?

• FIRE IS THE RAPID OXIDATION OF A MATERIAL IN THE EXOTHERMIC CHEMICAL

PROCESS OF COMBUSTION, RELEASING HEAT, LIGHT, AND VARIOUS REACTION
PRODUCTS
TRIANGLE OF FIRE
• THE FIRE TRIANGLE OR COMBUSTION TRIANGLE IS A SIMPLE MODEL FOR
UNDERSTANDING THE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR MOST FIRES.

• THE TRIANGLE ILLUSTRATES THE THREE ELEMENTS A FIRE NEEDS TO IGNITE:

HEAT, FUEL, AND AN OXIDIZING AGENT.
1.HEAT. A SOURCE OF HEAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR IGNITION TO OCCUR,
AND DIFFERENT MATERIALS HAVE DIFFERENT 'FLASH POINTS' E.G. THE
LOWEST TEMPERATURE AT WHICH THEY IGNITE. ...

2.FUEL. A FIRE CANNOT BEGIN IF THERE IS NO MATERIAL TO BURN. ...

3.OXYGEN.
METHOD OF EXTINCTION
THE ADVANTAGES

AND

DIS ADVANTAGE

OF FIRE
CAUSES OF FIRE
HEAT TRANSFER METHODS

• 1. DIRECT BURNING
• 2.CONVECTION
• 3.CONDUCTION
• 4.RADIATION
DIRECT BURNING
DIRECT BURNING

• THE SIMPLEST METHOD OF FIRE SPREAD,

• WHERE A FLAME FRONT MOVES ALONG OR THROUGH THE BURNING MATERIAL.
CONVECTION
• THE PRINCIPLE THAT HOT AIR RISES AND COLD AIR SINKS. HOT GASES
GENERATED BY THE FIRE RISE STRAIGHT UP FROM THE FIRE:
 CONDUCTION
• THE PRINCIPLE THAT HEAT CAN BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH SOLID MATERIALS.
SOME METALS, IN PARTICULAR, CONDUCT HEAT VERY EFFICIENTLY
• (E.G. COPPER).

• ANY PIPES, WIRES, DUCTS OR SERVICES RUNNING FROM ROOM TO ROOM CAN
ACT AS CONDUITS FOR HEAT AND SPREAD THE FIRE.
RADIATION
RADIATION
• HEAT ENERGY CAN BE RADIATED THROUGH AIR IN THE FORM OF INFRARED HEAT WAVES,

• WHICH TRAVEL IN STRAIGHT LINES (JUST LIKE LIGHT) AND CAN PASS THROUGH TRANSPARENT
SURFACES (SUCH AS GLASS).

• RADIANT HEAT GENERATED BY A FIRE SHINES ONTO NEARBY SURFACES AND IS ABSORBED.

• IF THE MATERIAL HEATS UP SUFFICIENTLY IT CAN BURST INTO FLAMES.