FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
A firefighter must be able to determine the classification of a
fire in order to select the best method of extinguishment to
use, however such a building fire, firefighters may never
combat a single class of fire,, but a combination of fire classes.
Buildings are made of many kinds of materials, such as
wood, masonry, steel, and tile. Almost all buildings are provided
with electricity, and some have gas stoves and furnaces.
Aircraft fire or crashes may present many fire
combination because all aircrafts use some kind of flammable
fuel. With all the electrical equipment on board, an extra
hazard of class C and class B may be encountered.
• The specific differences in the properties are known as
characteristics, and all flammable materials have characteristics
peculiar to themselves. All matter, including flammable materials
will exist in at least one of three states (Liquids, Gases, and Solids).
• LIQUIDS - Are fluids that do not generate not more than 40
psia when heated to 100 degrees F (psia is pound per square inch
absolute).
• TYPES OF LIQUIDS:
• FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS – These are liquids with a flashpoint below
100 degrees F and vapor pressure not over than 40 psia at 100F.
• COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS – Liquids that have a flashpoint at or above
100F.
• SLOPOVER – Water trapped at bottom of storage tanks vaporizes
from heat expanding and expelling contents above it.
• GASES
• Gases are classified by their chemical, physical
properties, and usage.
• CHEMICAL PROPERTIES – chemical properties of gases
are of prime interest to firefighters, as they reflect the
ability of the gas to react within it or with other materials.
The chemical properties of gases may be broken down as
Flammable Gases, Non-flammable Gases, Reactive Gases,
and Toxic Gases.
• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES – Is the physical behavior of a
gas both outside and inside its container and when
accidentally released these are of prime interest to
firefighters. The physical classification are Compressed
gases, Liquefied gases, and Cryogenic gases.
• USAGE – Classification of gases is made by their usage.
However, there will be much overlapping in these usages. (
Fuel gases, Industrial gases, and Medical gases).
GASES
• SOLIDS
• Combustible solids are those which ignite burn and
change chemically when subjected to heat or fire. The heat
must be approximately 350F or higher. Above this
temperature, ordinary materials will give off enough vapors
or gases to burn. Examples are wood, paper, and cloth.
• There are other combustible solids which may ignite or
detonate at lower temperatures. These combustible solids
are classed as hazardous chemicals and should be kept in
suitable containers. They should be separated from each
other materials which react with them.
• Combustible metals – most of these are chemical
elements which are part of earths composition. Very few if
any, are found in the natural state, as in gold. The pure
metal is extracted from mineral or deposits by chemical
process.
• FIRE EFFECTS ON BUILDINGS MATERIALS
• Building materials varying degrees of resistance to fire,
depending on their composition, arrangement, and the amount of
heat generated in the fire. There is no such thing as “fireproof”,
since all buildings materials are affected by fire.
• EFFECTS OF FIRE ON VARIOUS MATERIALS:
• WOOD – wood burns with an open flame and it chars
depending upon its type, condition, thickness. Laminated wood
girders, etc., will burn more readily than solid timbers of the same
dimensions. Wood shingles will burn readily, and under certain
conditions will curl and fly off a roof or wall, spreading fire in all
directions.
• Ordinary plywood under fire conditions has a tendency to
“unpeel”, exposing fresh surfaces to a fire; generally, plywood will
burn through more quickly than a solid board of the same
thickness. The exterior and marine grades of plywood use binder
resins which have some fire resistance and will not burn as rapidly
as the ordinary grades.
• STEEL – In its usual form is non-combustible, however, steel
wool and filings can be ignited under certain conditions. In
a burning building, structural steel may heat rapidly, lose its
strength and deform.
• MASONRY – In general, brick, stone, and concrete are
considered fire resistant. Under conditions of prolong
exposure to heat, may crack or spall. If suddenly cooled by
water from a hose stream, the surface of a heated masonry
wall may crack or spall with a near-explosive force and
destructive effects on the wall.
• MISCELLANEOUS CONSTRUCTION MATTERIALS – In
addition to the three most common building materials,
there are a number of other materials that are used in all
type of building. These types of material are normally used
for interior finishes, roofing, or decorative purposes.
• PLASTIC SHEETING – A translucent, corrugated, plastic-impregnated
fiberglass panels used for natural illumination of structures. Their
combustible varies according to the type of plastic used under
binder.
• GLASS – While glass is non-combustible, its normal brittleness
is increased by sudden cooling. This causes it to crack under shatter.
• ASPHALT-ASBESTOS SIDING, ROOFING, AND SHINGLES – All of
these are combustible to a degree, depending on the relative
amounts of asphalt and inert material compounds in their makeup.
• CLAY TILE – These are used for floor covering, partitions, flues,
etc., tile can be generally classed with masonry as non-combustible.
Under fire conditions, its behavior is similar to masonry, depending
upon its thickness, density, and sureface texture.
• FIBERBOARD – Fiberboards of vegetable or animal materials
are generally combustible, while those of mineral origin are not.
• GYPSUM BOOARD – Widely use as an interior finish for
partitions, walls, and ceiling, it is regarded as non-
combustible. Under fire conditions it may crack and
splinter or chip.
• PLASTIC and SYNTHETIC RESINS – To date more
types and forms of plastics and forms of plastics and
synthetic resins are commonly used as building
materials, and for related purposes.
• ACCOUSTICAL and INSULATION MATERIALS – In
general, acoustical and insulation materials composed
of animal and vegetable materials are combustible,
while those of mineral origin are not. Under fire
conditions, even those normally regarded as non-
combustible may be disintegrated or severely damaged
by relatively little heat.
• FIRE RETARDANT TREATMENT:
• TWO GENERAL TYPES OF FIRE-RETARDANT:
• SURFACE COATING – Is usually used in combination
with a paint, decompose at the point of contact of a
flame or other heat source to form blister filled with an
infinite number of tiny bubbles.
• IMPREGNATION – It is usually done in a processing
plant or factory by forcing solutions of fire-retardant
chemicals, under pressure, into the pores of the
materials to be protected.
• Both treatments vary on its effectiveness, depending
on the materials to be treated, the chemicals used, and
the efficiency of the coating or impregnation. Neither
is considered to be the equal of non-combustible
construction.
Hazardous Material Identification
NFPA Standard No. 704, Fire Hazards
of Materials
• Visually illustrates the hazards to fire fighters
fighting fires in fixed installations such as
chemical processing areas, storage and
warehouse facilities, and laboratory
entrances. The “704 diamond” colored
numbers is used to illustrate the degree of
hazard and health and the flammability and
reactivity of hazardous materials.
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
• PLACARDING MIXED LOADS
• The DANGEROUS placards must
be used for mixed loads
containing more than one kind of
hazardous materials requiring
placards when aggregate gross
weight.
PRINCIPLES OF STRUCTURAL
FIREFIGHTING
• This chapter will point out the main features of a
good fire fighting plan. Fire fighting is, has been,
and always will be one of the main objectives of
fire protection. A well- manned, well- equipped,
and well- trained fire department provides a solid
based upon which effective fire fighting depends.
The strategy and tactics used to suppress fire
evolved from this base.
• 1. Initial Procedures:
• a) Sounding the alarm
• The crew member who discovers/receives the
fire alarm must sound the alarm promptly
• c) Ventilation
• Types:
• 1). Vertical ventilation
• 2). Horizontal ventilation
• 3). Mechanical/forced ventilation
• 4). Combination of Vertical & Horizontal
• d) Exposures
• e) Extinguishment
• An action/methods performed by fire fighters
in putting off the fire by means of
extinguishing agent, such as; water, chemicals
and foam.
• f) Rescue
• g) Overhaul
• h) Salvage
• The following are the other strategy used in
fire fighting:
• Locate the fire
• Confine the fire
• Extinguish the fire
• Exposures
• In addition it the basic tactics the following
are also added:
• Rescue
• Overhaul
• Ventilation
• Salvage
• The Fire
• Occupancy
• Determine the number of people that occupy
the building, including the materials that are
found in it. Also note the nature of the units
occupying the building.
• Ventilation
• It is a method used for clearing the building of
smoke and gases, localize the fire, and reduce
smoke and forcible entry damage.
• Types of Ventilation:
• 1).Vertical Ventilation – the method to establish
vertical ventilation is it must be smoke rise to the
highest point and, of confined, will tend to
“mushroom” or rise to the highest point of the
building, exerting their heating effect on
everything they touch.
• 2). Cross or Horizontal Ventilation- if the smoke
and gases have not reached the higher levels,
across ventilation can clear the building one floor
at a time. Windows are the easiest and generally
most available for the common types of building,
but the indiscriminate opening if windows and
doors can defeat the purpose of ventilation.
• 3). Mechanical or Forced Ventilation- A process or
method of ventilation whereby a device such as
smoke ejector is utilized to remove faster
excessive heat and dense smoke in a confined
building.
Factors to Determine the Location for
the Opening/Ventilation
• 1). Location of intensity of fire
• 2). Highest point on the roof
• 3). Direction of wind
• 4). Existing exposure
• 5). Extent of fire
• 6). Obstruction
• Exposures
• it is an action taken by the firefighters to cover or
secure other building/s, people form exposing
themselves near the affected area or danger from
fire.
• Exposed building can be ignited by radiated heat,
by direct flame contact, or by flying brands. The
possibility of ignition always exists, but the
danger is more acute when large quantities of
heat are produced.
• Spreader
• A spreader is a hydraulic tool designed with 2 arms
which have a narrow tip. The tip of the tool can be
inserted into a narrow gap between two vehicle panels
CAMID LUMANDONG JR.
OVERHAUL
1. Hose appliance
2. Hose tools
HOSE JACKET
• A hollow cylindrical or barrel-shaped
device that opens lengthwise through
the center on a set of hinges.
HOSE CLAMP
A tool used to stop the flow of water in a
fire hose without shutting off the source of
water supply.
TYPES OF HOSE CLAMPS
• Screw-down
• Press-down
• Hydraulic down
HOSE STRAP
• It is a 36 inch length of cloth strap with a
handle on one end and a hook on the
other. It is used for moving hose layouts,
usually up ladder or staircases.
ROPE
It is a safety line used for hoisting tools for
various floors of a structure and used for
anchoring to stationary objects, ladders
hose lines.
VALVES
• Control the flow of water in
a hoselines, hydrants, and
at a pumper.
LESSON2.2.LADDER OPERATION
• Ladder is very important during an
emergency situation , partially during fire,
when every second count’s towards the
success or failure of an operation.
• They have two type of ladders;
• Ground ladders
• Aerial Ladders
• Ground ladders vary in sizes fro 3.1 to
17meters (10.55feet) Long . It id being
carried on a pumper or firerucks.
Forms of Ground ladders
• Wall
• Extension ladder
• Hook Ladders (roof) or straight ladder
• Attic ladder
• Users;
• For rescue
• to stretch lines into a fire building
• Provide ventilation by giving Access to ports , scuttles,
windows, roods, or other places that are hard to rea
• Straight Ladder