Essentials of Firefighting (4th Edition-FF2)-All Chapter Terms



Essentials of Fire Fighting (4th Edition)

Complete List of FF1 Terms

Additional Alarms

Calls for extra units to respond to an incident which is in need of extra manpower and/or equipment.

Aerated

Mixed with air.

AFFF

(Aqueous Film-Forming Foam)-Synthetic foam concentrate that, when combined with water, is a highly effective extinguishing and blanketing agent on hydrocarbon fuels.

Asphyxiant

Any substance that prevents oxygen from combining in sufficient quantities with the blood or being used by body tissues.

Baffle

(1) Intermediate partial bulkhead that reduces the surge effect in a partially loaded liquid tank. (2) Divider used to separate beds of hose into two or more compartments.

Batch Mixing

Process of adding foam concentrate directly into an apparatus water tank or portable tank.

Bimetallic

Strip or disk composed of two different metals that are bonded together; used in heat detection equipment.

Biodegradable

Characteristic of foam's ability to decompose by interaction with environmental bacteria.

BLEVE

Major failure of a closed liquid container in two or more pieces when the temperature of the liquid is well above its boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure.

Block And Tackle

Series of pulleys (sheaves) contained within a wood or metal frame. They are used with rope to provide a mechanical advantage for pulling operations.

Cantilever Collapse

Type of collapse that occurs when one sidewall of a multi-story building collapses leaving the floors attached to and supported by the remaining sidewall.

Central Station

Proprietary alarm system in which alarm signals are monitored by the occupant's representative at a specific receiving point.

Chafing Block

Blocks placed under hoselines to protect the hose covering from damage due to rubbing against the ground or concrete.

Collapse Zone

A zone equal to 1 1/2 times the height of the building, created when a collapse potential exists.

Combustible Liquid

Liquid having a flash point at or above 100oF and below 200oF.

Come Along

Manually operated pulling tool that uses a ratchet/ pulley arrangement to provide a mechanical advantage.

Compressive Strength

The ability of a material to absorb compressive forces.

Continuous Line Detector

Detection device capable of detecting heat over a linear area parallel to the detector.

Cooling

Reduction of heat by the quenching action or heat absorption of the extinguishing agent.

Cribbing

(1) Varying lengths of hardwood, usually 4 x 4 inches or larger, used to stabilize objects. (2) Process of arranging planks into a crate-like construction. Also called Shoring.

Database

A electronic collection of records used to store information for later use.

Demobilization Unit

Functional unit within the planning section of an incident management system; responsible for assuring orderly, safe, and efficient demobilization of resources committed to the incident.

Drywall

Fire-resistive building material that consists of a layer of highly compacted gypsum material sandwiched between two layers of paper. Also called Wallboard, Plasterboard, or Sheetrock.

Eductor

Portable proportioning device that injects a liquid, such as foam concentrate, into the water flowing through a hoseline.

Elevation Sketch

Architectural drawing used to show the number of floors of a building, ceiling heights, and the grade of surrounding ground.

Entrapment

Condition in which a person is trapped by manmade objects and must be freed by extrication.

Extrication

Incidents involving the removal and treatment of victims who are trapped by some type of man-made machinery or equipment.

Female Coupling

Threaded swivel device on a hose or appliance made to receive a male coupling of the same thread and diameter.

FFFP

(Film-Forming Fluouroprotein Foam)-Foam concentrate that is based on fluoroprotein foam technology with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) capabilities.

Flammable Liquid

Any liquid having a flash point below 100oF and having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psi absolute.

Floor Plan

Architectural drawing showing the layout of a floor within a building as seen from above. It outlines the location and function of each room.

Flow Pressure

Pressure created by the rate of flow or velocity of water coming from a discharge opening. Also called Plug Pressure.

Flow Test

Tests conducted to establish the capabilities of water supply systems. The objective of the test is to establish quantity (gallons per minute) and pressures available at a specific location on a particular water supply system.

Foam Concentrate

Raw chemical compound solution that is mixed with water and air to produce foam.

Foam Proportioner

Device that injects the correct amount of foam concentrate into the water stream to make the foam solution.

Foam Solution

Mixture of foam concentrate and water after it leaves the proportioner but before it is discharged from the nozzle and air is added to it.

Frangible Bulb

A small liquid filled bulb with an air bubble that holds the orifice of a sprinkler shut.

Fusible Link

Connecting link device that fuses or melts when exposed to heat. Used in sprinkler heads, fire doors, dampers, and ventilators.

Generator

Auxiliary electrical power generating device. Portable generators are powered by small gasoline or diesel engines and generally have 110- and/or 220volt capacities.

Gypsum

Inorganic product from which plaster and plasterboard are constructed.

Hose Appliance

Generic term applied to any nozzle, wye, siamese, deluge monitor, or other piece of hardware used in conjunction with fire hose for the purpose of delivering water.

Hose Cap

Threaded female fitting used to cap a hoseline or a pump outlet.

Hose Plug

Threaded male fitting used to cap off a pump intake.

Hose Tool

Strap or chain with a handle suitable for placing over a ladder rung; used to carry and secure a hoseline.

Hydraulic

Operated by the resistance offered or the pressure transmitted when a quantity of liquid is forced through a comparatively small orifice or through a tube. 

Hydrocarbon

Organic compound containing only hydrogen and carbon and found primarily in petroleum products and coal.

Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Strategic goals, tactical objectives, and support requirements for the incident. All incidents require an action plan. For simple incidents, the action plan is not usually in written form. Large or complex incidents will require that the action plan be documented in writing.

Incident Management System (IMS) Management system of procedures for controlling personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications so that different agencies can work together toward a common goal in an effective and efficient manner.

Incident Report

Written or electronically archived collection of facts regarding an incident and the operations that occurred.

Induction

Method of proportioning foam in which pressure energy in a stream of water is used to draft foam concentrate into the fire stream by use of an eductor (Venturi principle).

Injection

Method of proportioning foam in which external pump or head pressure is used to force foam concentrate into the fire stream at the correct ratio in comparison to the flow.

Inverter

Auxiliary electrical power generating device. The inverter is a step-up transformer that converts the vehicle's 12- or 24-volt DC current into 110- or 220-volt AC current.

Junction Box

Contains fittings for trailer emergency and service brake connections and electrical connector to which the lines from the towing vehicle may be connected. Also called Connection Box.

Laminated Glass

Special glass prepared by laminating a sheet of transparent plastic between sheets of clear glass; primarily used in automobiles. Also called Safety Glass.

Lean-To Collapse

Structural collapse where floor supports fail and the floors and roof drop in large sections and form voids. These sections remain in one piece with support on one side but collapse on the other.

Local Energy System

An auxiliary alarm system within an occupancy that is attached directly to a hard-wired or radio-type municipal fire alarm box.

LPG

Any of several petroleum products, such as propane or butane, stored under pressure as a liquid.

Male Coupling

Hose nipple with protruding threads that fits into the thread of a female coupling of the same pitch and appropriate diameter and thread count.

Manifest

Shipping document for water-based shipments of dangerous cargo.

Mercaptan

A chemical with a distinctive odor that is commonly added to natural gas.

Michigan vs Tyler

Court case ruling which states evidence of arson may be taken from a scene during extinguishment but after leaving the scene, a search warrant is required to re-enter.

Natural Gas

A non-toxic gas consisting of mostly methane, with small quantities of ethane, propane, butane, and pentane added which is commonly used in residential structures for heating and cooking.

Normal Operating Pressure

Pressure found in a water distribution system during normal consumption demands.

Packaging

Readying a victim for transport.

Pancake Collapse

Situation where the weakening or destruction of bearing walls cause the floors or the roof to collapse, which allows the debris to fall as far as the lower floor or basement. Typically, there will be little void space with these types of collapse.

Parallel Telephone System

Telephone system that does not interconnect with a municipal alarm circuit.

Photoelectric Detector

Type of smoke detector that uses a small light source, either an incandescent bulb or a light-emitting diode (LED), that shines its light into a dark sensing chamber.

Pitot Tube

Instrument containing a Bourdon tube that is inserted into a stream of water to measure the velocity pressure of the stream. The gauge reads in units of pounds per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa).

Placard

Diamond-shaped sign that is affixed to each side of a vehicle transporting hazardous materials. The placard indicates the primary class of the material and, in some cases, the exact material being transported; required on containers that are 640 cubic feet or larger.

Plot Plan

Architectural drawing showing the layout of buildings and landscape features for a given plot of land. The view is from directly above.

Pneumatic Power

Power derived by using the properties of compressed air at rest or in motion; generally used with a pressure regulator.

Polar Solvent

Flammable liquid that has an attraction for water, much like a positive magnetic pole attracts a negative pole; examples include alcohols, ketones, and lacquers.

Preincident Planning

Act of preparing to handle an incident at a particular location or a particular type of incident before an incident occurs. Also called Pre-fire Planning, Preplanning, Pre-fire Inspection, or Pre-Incident Inspection.

Premixing

Process of mixing pre-measured portions of water and foam concentrate in a container, commonly used with portable and wheeled extinguishers.

Proof Coil Chain

Term used to describe "common" or hardware chain (not suitable for rescue purposes).

Proportioned

Term used to describe the final product of two or more items that have been combined using pre-determined/pre-measured portions of each item.

Proprietary System

Fire protection system owned and operated by the property owner.

Recovery

Situation where the victim is most probably dead, and the goal of the operation is to recover the body.

Remote Station

A type of auxiliary alarm system that is interconnected to the fire department telecommunication center either directly, through an answering service, or by means other than a municipal fire alarm box system.

Rescue

Saving a life from fire or accident; removing a victim from an untenable or unhealthy atmosphere.

Residual Pressure

(1) Pressure at the test hydrant while water is flowing. It represents the pressure remaining in the system while the test water is flowing. (2) Pressure remaining at a given point in a water supply system while water is flowing.

Resource Status Unit (RESTAT)

Functional unit within the planning section of an incident management system; responsible for recording and evaluating the status of resources committed to the incident, the impact that additional responding resources will have on the incident, and the anticipated resource needs.

Search Warrant

Judicial authorization to search a premise or person.

Separating

Creation of a barrier between the fuel and the fire.

Shoring

Temporary support for formwork.

Shunt System

System in which an alarm circuit is extended into the protected property and transmitted to the alarm center over the municipal system.

Situation Status Unit (SITSTAT)

Functional unit within the planning section of an incident management system; responsible for analysis of situation as it progresses; reports to planning section chief.

Size-Up

Mental evaluation made by the operational officer in charge that enables him or her to determine a course of action to accomplish the mission; a mental process of evaluating all influencing factors before committing personnel and equipment to a course of action. Size-up includes such factors as time, location, nature of occupancy, life hazard, exposures, property involved, nature and extent of fire, weather, and fire fighting facilities.

Spalling

Occurs when excess moisture trapped within the cement or concrete expands. This expansion of the moisture results in tensile forces within the concrete, causing it to break apart.

Spot Type Detector

Detection device that detects heat specifically where the detector itself is located.

Stabilization

Process of providing additional support to key places between an object of entrapment and the ground or other solid anchor points to prevent unwanted movement.

Static Pressure

(1) Stored or potential energy that is available to force water through pipes and fittings, fire hose, and adapters. (2) Pressure at a given point in a water system when no water is flowing.

Supplemental Restraint System

Passenger restraint system consisting of deployable air bags to supplement normal seatbelt restraints.

Suppressing

Preventing the release of flammable vapors, therefore reducing possibility of ignition or re-ignition.  Also called Smothering.

Target Hazard

Facilities in which there is a great potential likelihood of life or property loss.

Tempered Glass

Type of glass specially treated to become harder and more break-resistant than plate glass or a single sheet of laminated glass.

Tensile Stress

Stress in a structural member that tends to stretch the member or pull it apart.

Triage

System used for sorting patients to determine the order in which they will receive medical attention.

Tripod

Rescue item used to provide an anchor point above utility covers or other openings.

Tunneling

Removal of small rubble and debris in conjunction with shoring to create a path to a victim whose location is known.

Twist Lock

Type of positive connector used on most fire service extension cords; may be a two- or three-prong connector.

Unified Command

Situation in which a multi-jurisdictional incident requires the use of more than on incident commander.  (Co-Incident Commanders).

Venturi Principle

When a fluid is forced under pressure through a restricted orifice, there is a decrease in the pressure exerted against the side of the constriction and a corresponding increase in the velocity of the fluid. Because the surrounding air is under greater pressure, it rushes into the area of lower pressure.

V-Shaped Collapse

Situation where the excess weight of heavy loads, such as furniture and equipment, concentrated near the center of the floor causes the floor to give way. A V-type collapse will result in void spaces near the walls.

Wicking

The drawing up of a fluid by soft fiber until saturated.

Winch

Pulling tool that consists of a length of steel chain or cable wrapped around a motor-driven drum. These are most commonly attached to the front or rear of a vehicle.

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