FPE Fire Dynamics & Combustion Science Flashcards
6 cards from real FPE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FPE Fire Dynamics & Combustion Science flashcards as text
What term describes the minimum temperature at which a liquid fuel produces enough vapor to ignite momentarily when exposed to an ignition source?
Answer: Flash point
The flash point is the minimum temperature at which a liquid produces sufficient vapor to flash briefly upon ignition source contact.
Which heat transfer mechanism is primarily responsible for igniting materials across a room before flashover occurs?
Answer: Radiation
Radiation from the hot upper gas layer heats ceiling-level furnishings across a room, driving flashover.
What is the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio used for in fire dynamics calculations?
Answer: Calculating the theoretical amount of air needed for complete combustion
The stoichiometric ratio defines the exact air quantity needed for complete combustion of a given fuel, underpinning ventilation and heat release calculations.
Which fire growth model is most commonly referenced in NFPA and SFPE analyses to represent a t-squared fire?
Answer: Power-law (t²) model
The t-squared (t²) model assumes heat release rate grows proportionally to the square of time and is the standard design fire in SFPE and NFPA guidance.
What phenomenon occurs when a room fire suddenly and simultaneously ignites all exposed combustible surfaces?
Answer: Flashover
Flashover is the near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible materials in a compartment, transitioning the fire from localized to fully developed.
Buoyancy-driven smoke movement in a high-rise building is primarily caused by which effect?
Answer: Stack effect
The stack effect results from indoor-outdoor temperature differences that drive vertical pressure gradients, transporting smoke through shafts and stairwells.