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The document describes the stages of a fire: 1) The incipient/ignition phase where the fire triangle elements come together and combustion begins. 2) The free-burning/growth phase where the fire rapidly develops once ignition occurs. 3) The smoldering/decay phase which is the final stage where flame ceases but heat and smoke fill the area.

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48 views16 pages

CHAPTER2 Autosaved

The document describes the stages of a fire: 1) The incipient/ignition phase where the fire triangle elements come together and combustion begins. 2) The free-burning/growth phase where the fire rapidly develops once ignition occurs. 3) The smoldering/decay phase which is the final stage where flame ceases but heat and smoke fill the area.

Uploaded by

lemonnerri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 2

STAGES/PHASES OF
FIRE
LESSON 2.1
IGNITION, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
FIRE
Fuel, oxygen and a source of heat
are the three elements of the fire
triangle.
If the three elements occur together
in the right combustion, a fire will
likely start and continue until it is
extinguished, or the fire will
depleted. The methods firefighters
use to extinguish a fire will depend
STAGES / PHASES
OF FIRE
• INCIPIENT/
IGNITION PHASE
• FREE-BURNING/
GROWTH PHASE
• SMOULDERING/
DECAY PHASE
INCIPIENT/ IGNITION
STAGE

Ignition describes the


period when the four
elements of the fire
tetrahedron come
together and the
combustion begins.
PLUME FORMING
Initially, the temperature of
the fire gases decreases as
they move away from the
centerline of the plume.
As the fire grows, the
overall temperature in the
compartment increases as
does the temperature of the
gas layer at the ceiling level.
FREE-BURNING/
GROWTH PHASE

Once a reaction between the fuel


and oxygen has started, the
combustion can be rapid. A gas
explosion or dust explosion can
develop in seconds. fires solid
material develop ‘slowly’
FLASHOVER
The radiant heat (red arrows) from
the hot gas layer ate the ceiling heats
combustible materials which
produces vapours ( green arrows).

Room temperature in excess of


900°F (483°C). All combustible
surfaces are burning as are the
gases.
ROLLOV
ER
Superheated
vapors ignite
Flame front rolls
across celling.
SMOULDERING/DECAY
PHASE
The final phase of burning wherein
flame ceases but dense smoke and
heat completely fill the confined
room. In enclosed compartments the
oxygen supply can be reduced and it
may suppress the fire or it may
appear that the fire is extinguished.
However, even at reduced oxygen
rate a fire may continue to smoulder
for a long period of time.
THERMAL
LAYERING OF
GASES

• Thermal Balance

• Thermal
Imbalance
PULSATION CYCLE
An indication of the presence of unburned fuel vapours
within a compartment with the potential for pre-mixing and a
potential explosion.

A warning sign for backdraft as smoke 'pulses' intermittently


in and out at a ventilation/entry point

Blueflames a warning sign preceding a backdraft as noted by


Grimwood.
BACKDRAFT/
BACKDRAUGHT

A smoke explosion
caused by a of oxygen
into a confined building
or area. sudden
introduction

.
FIRE INTENSITY
The rate of heat production from a fire determines the effect on the
adjacent equipment and structures. With solids and liquids the fire can
normally only burn on the surface. In case of liquids it is better to create a
small surface area with a large depth of fuel than a larger area with a thin
layer. The intensity should be preferably be kept at a lower level, accepting
a longer duration of the fire. The heat released from a certain quantity of
fuel is approximately double the amount of heat released from an identical
quantity of solid fuel.
The temperature in a solid fuel is 800 degrees centigrade, the temperature
in a liquid or gas fire is 1200 degrees C plus. Oxygen is consumed in the
burning process. Near the surface of solids or liquid the oxygen content
may therefore be reduced to a level that combustion at that point can no
longer take place, In that case, the ignition occurs where sufficient oxygen
INTENSITY OF
FIRE
.
Intensity of fire means simply
"how hot the fire is burning."
Some types of fuels naturally
burn hotter (more intensely) than
others. For example, a gasoline
fire burns hotter than a wood
fire, while an acetylene flame is
hotter than a gasoline flame.

Factors to determine the


intensity of fire:

1. Type of fuel.
FIRE SPREAD
Heat released from a fire passes to other areas or equipment either by means of
convection, conduction or radiation. In the open, outdoor installations, the fire
escalation is caused when the flame of the fire engulfs equipment, structures, etc.
and when adjacent equipment is exposed to heat radiated from the flames.
The maximum temperature of the sections of a vessel holding liquids will not be
higher than the corresponding boiling point temperature of the liquid. Structural
supports should maintain the integrity when exposed to heat because of collapse,
equipment may be damaged and escaping fuel could spread from the original fire
source. The base material of the structural support has to be kept below a specific
temperature. Passive protection using external insulating material may provide
effective protection during a limited period of time, e.g. 60 minutes. Active
protection using water as a cooling medium can provide protection as long as
water is available, either in a fixed installed or from a mobile portable unit.
In case of fires from solid materials, "fighting the fire" can be very effective for
controlling the incident. Liquid and gas fires should be controlled by avoiding

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