CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

AND
FIRE TRIANGLE
 Fire
Combustion or burning, in which substances combine
chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out
bright light, heat, and smoke.

Rules for Fighting Fires (3 As)

Activate
Assist
Attempt
 Combustion
A chemical reaction in which fuel chemically combines with an
oxidizing agent & sufficient quantity of energy is released in the
form of heat, flame and light.
 HEAT AND TEMPERATURE
Heat:
Heat is a form of energy and is used in raising the
temperature of fuel at a point where sufficient vapors are
produced to take part in chemical reaction (combustion).

Temperature:
Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness of a body.
The behavior of the substances varies at different
temperature as flash point, fire point, auto-ignition and
spontaneous combustion.
 Fire Triangle

Oxygen or the Air

Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide are also
produced along with Soot & Particulates
Source of Ignition/Ignition Temperature / Heat
Fuels/Combustible Materials/Solvents
 FIRE TETRAHEDRON

The Fire Tetrahedron

is an addition to the
fire triangle. It adds the
requirement for the
presence of the chemical
reaction which is the
process of fire. For example,
the suppression effect of Halon is due to its
interference in the fire chemical inhibition.
 The Fire Triangle
Fuels:
Oxidizers: Liquids
Liquids gasoline,
Gases acetone, ether,
Oxygen, fluorine, pentane
chlorine Solids
hydrogen plastics, wood
peroxide, nitric
acid, perchloric dust, fibers,
acid metal particles
Solids Gases
Metal peroxides, acetylene,
ammonium nitrate propane, carbon
Ignition sources: monoxide,
Sparks, flames, static hydrogen
electricity, heat
 FIRE TRIANGLE :
The fire triangle or combustion triangle is a diagram 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 (usually oxygen). The fire
extinguishes by removing any one of the elements in the fire
triangle. A fire naturally occurs when the elements are present and
combined in the right mixture. Without sufficient heat, a fire cannot
begin, and it cannot continue.
 Lower Explosive Limit
The lowest concentration (percentage) of a gas or a vapor in air
capable of producing a flash of fire in presence of an ignition
source (arc, flame, heat). The term is considered to be the same
as the lower flammable limit (LFL). At a concentration in air lower
than the LEL are gas mixtures are "too lean" to burn.

Upper Explosive Limit

Highest concentration (percentage) of a gas or a vapor in air
capable of producing a flash of fire in presence of an ignition
source (arc, flame, heat). Concentration higher than UFL or UEL
are "too rich" to burn.
 Flammable Range

The range of flammable vapor or gas-air mixture between the

upper and lower flammable limits is known as the 'flammable
range', also often referred to as the 'explosive range'.

Flammable Liquids (as per NFPA)

Liquids with a flash point < 100o F (38o C)

Combustible Liquids (as per NFPA)

Liquids with a flash point > 100o F (38o C)

Pyrophoric Material
Material which will spontaneously burn in air at ambient
temperature like iron sulphide, uranium, plutonium, Na, K etc.
 Classification of Fire As Per NFPA

Class A Fire:
(Fire involving organic material such as wood,cloth,rubber or some plastics)

Class B Fire:
(Fire involving flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene,
grease and oil.)

Class C Fire:
(Fires involving potentially energized equipment)

Class D Fire:
(Fires involving metal (metals include Na, Ti, Mg, K, Ur, Li, Pl & Ca) Class D
fires are dangerous and can spread quickly with surprising intensity.

Class K Fire:
(Fires involving cooking oil or fats)
Classification of Fire As Per NFPA
 How to Extinguish different classes of fire
Class A Fire:
Water; chemical foam; dry chemical powder

Class B Fire:
Carbon dioxide (CO2), halotron, dry chemical, aqueous film
forming foam (AFFF)

Class C Fire:
CO2, halotron, dry chemical

Class D Fire:
Dry powder (suitable for the specific combustible metal
involved)

Class K Fire:
Wet chemical (Potassium acetate based)
 Extinguishing Agents

1) Sand
2) Water / Steam
3) DCP
4) Foam
5) CO2
6) Nitrogen
7) Wet Chemical Extinguishing Agent
8) Dry Powders
Characteristics of Fire Extinguishing Agents

Sand
Ordinary sand is a good Extinguishing Agent for
smothering small fires. Sand may be used for all types of
small solid combustible fire and fire due to small spills of
liquids. Its application is limited due to its mobility.
Water
Easily available, Cheap, Good cooling effect, Main
Ingredient for foam generation, Easy handling
Steam
Produced blanketing effect, Steam is used in gaseous
fires thus making gas lighter and hence easier to
disperse, Dilute the gases beyond explosive range.
 How to Extinguish different classes of fire

Dry Chemical Powder

NFPA 17 defines dry chemical as "a powder composed of

very small particles, usually sodium bicarbonate,
potassium bicarbonate, or ammonium phosphate-
based with added particulate material supplemented by
special treatment to provide resistance to packing,
resistance to moisture absorption (caking), and the proper
flow capabilities."
 How to Extinguish different classes of fire
Foam
a stable aqueous foam can extinguish a flammable or
combustible liquid fire by the combined mechanisms of
cooling, separating the flame / ignition source from the
product surface, suppressing vapors and smothering.

Dry Powders
Dry powder substances that effectively douse metal fires
include graphite in powder form and sodium chloride in
granular form.
Fire extinguishers containing dry powder substances should
be on hand wherever combustible metals are present. These
extinguishers are not to be confused with those using dry
chemical agents. Extinguishers containing dry chemical
agents can actually aggravate a class D fire.
 Wet Chemical Agent

Wet Chemical fire extinguishers are the best restaurant

kitchen appliance that contain a potassium acetate
based, low PH agent used cooking equipment fire
extinguishing. The agent discharges as a fine mist
which helps prevent grease splash and fire reflash
while cooling the appliance. The Class K extinguisher is
the ideal choice for use on all cooking appliances
including solid fuel charbroilers.
CLASS A Ordinary combustibles

These occur when a solid, organic material such as wood,

cloth, rubber or some plastics become heated to their
ignition point. At this point the material undergoes
combustion and will continue burning as long as the four
components of the fire tetrahedron (heat, fuel, oxygen, and
the sustaining chemical reaction) are available.
Class B Flammable liquids, gases

Flammable Liquids, Vapors; Where a blanket or

Smothering effect mandatory to Extinguish. e.g. Propane,
Butane, Gasoline, Naphtha, Gas oil, Varnishes,
Paints.(Extinguishing agents are foam, DCP)

A solid stream of water should never be used to extinguish

this type because it can cause the fuel to scatter,
spreading the flames. The most effective way to extinguish
a liquid or gas fueled fire is by inhibiting the chemical
chain reaction of the fire, which is done by dry chemical
and Halotron extinguishing agents, although smothering
with CO2 or, for liquids, foam is also effective.
Class C Electrical Fires
Electrical fires are fires involving potentially energized electrical
equipment. These are fires of electrical equipments or
equipment under electrical tension e.g electric short circuit,
fusing, overheating of motors, over loaded cables transformers,
switchgears, generators.

These fires can be a severe hazard to firefighters using water

or other conductive agents: Electricity may be conducted from
the fire, through water, the firefighter's body, and then earth.
Electrical shocks have caused many firefighter deaths.

Carbon dioxide CO2, FM-200 and dry chemical powder

extinguishers such as baking soda, potassium bicarbonate are
especially suited to extinguishing this sort of fire.
Class D Metallic Fires

Certain metals are flammable or combustible such

metals include sodium, titanium, magnesium,
potassium,uranium, lithium, plutonium and calcium.

Magnesium and titanium fires are common.

Water and other common firefighting materials can

excite metal fires and make them worse. The NFPA
recommends that metal fires be fought with "dry
powder"
Class K Kitchen Fires

Fires that involve cooking oils or fats are designated

"Class K. Though such fires are technically a subclass
of the flammable liquid/gas class, the special
characteristics of these types of fires are considered
important enough to recognize separately.

Wet Chemical fire extinguishers are the best restaurant

kitchen appliance hand portable extinguisher available.
They contain a potassium acetate based, low PH agent.
The agent discharges as a fine mist which helps
prevent grease splash and fire reflash while cooling the
appliance.
 OXIDIZING AGENTS
An oxidizing agent is a substance that is not necessarily
combustible, but may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause
or contribute to the combustion of other material.

Oxygen (O2),Ozone (O3),Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and

other inorganic Peroxides.
Fluorides(F2), Chlorine(Cl2), and other Halogens.
Nitric Acid (HNO3) and Nitrate compounds
Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4), PerSulfuric Acid (H2SO5 and
H2SO8)
 NAME OF OXIDIZING AGENTS

Chlorite, Chlorate,Perchlorate, and other analogous

halogen compounds.
Hypochlorite and other hypohalite compounds,
including Household bleach (NaClO)
Permanganate compounds
Sodium Perborate
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Silver Oxide (Ag2O)
 Flash Point :
It is the lowest temp. at which vapor form a liquid will ignite
when a flame or spark is present.

Fire Point :
It is the lowest temp. at which a material can evolve vapors fast
enough to support continuous combustion.

Auto-ignition temperature :
The temp. at which ignition will take place without any ignition
source.
or
The AIT of a gas is the minimum temp. at which the gas self-
ignites without any ignition source