I.

THE CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

A. DEFINITION OF FIRE

 Fire is the heat and light that comes from burning substances,produced
by the combustion of substances.
 It is the manifestation of rapid chemical reaction occurring between a
combustible matter and an oxidizer. This reaction releases energy in the
form of heat and light.
 Burning is also called combustion.
 Fire results from a rapid chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen.
 OXIDATION REACTIONS – are reactions that involve oxygen and
other elements.
 COMBUSTION – refers to the oxidation reaction that produces
fire. Combustion generates light, heat, gases and soot.

B. THE THREE (3) ELEMENTS OF FIRE

1. FUEL - For a fire to start there must be something to burn. The

physical state of the fuel may be gases (natural gas, propane, butane,
hydrogen, etc.); liquids (gasoline, kerosene, tupentine, alcohol, paint,
varnish, lacquer, etc.) or solid (coal, wood, paper, cloth, grease, etc.)
2. HEAT – For a fire to start there must be a source of ignition, usually
heat or a spark. Heat sources include: open flame, hot surfaces,
sparks, and arc, frition-chemical action, electrical energy and
compression of gases.
3. OXYGEN - A source of oxygen is needed. Approximately 16% is
required. Normal air contains 21% oxygen. Some fuels contain
enough oxygen within their make-up to support burning.
AIR is composed of:
- OXYGEN 21%
o 21% - normal Oxygen
o 12% Oxygen – insufficient to produce fire
o 14% - 15% Oxygen – can support flash point
o 16% - 21% - can support fire point
- NITROGEN 78%
- INERT GASES 1%
 C. BASIC CONCEPT OF FIRE

- To burn a fuel, it’s temperature must be raised (increased) until ignition

point. Before a combustible matter starts to burn, it has to be exposed to
a certain degree of temperature.
- When the temperature is very high, it releases highly combustible vapors
known as FREE RADICALS (combustible vapors such as Hydrogen gas,
Carbon Monoxide, Carbon dioxide, and Nitrogen)
- FLASH POINT – lowest temperature at which a substance gives off vapor
that burns momentarily when a flame or spark is applied.
- FLASH POINT – a fuel can be instantly ignited thus producing a
momentary fire.
- FIRE POINT – as temperature increases, it continously releases
combustible vapors resulting to sustained burning (combustion),
continues to burn even if the source of ignition is removed.
- AUTO-IGNITION POINT or SELF-IGNITION POINT – the lowest
temperature at which a substance can be heated to release vapors that
will ignite without the application of a flame or spark.

TEMPERATURE of FUEL Chemical Reaction

COMBUSTION

SELF/AUTO IGNITION POINT

FIRE point

Flashpoint

Normal
D. TWO (2) BASIC MODES OF FIRE

1. Surface or Smoldering Mode (GLOWING Combustion – manifested

by embers) – fire triangle.
2. Flaming Mode (GAS PHASED Combustion – flame) – fire tetrahedron

E. THE FIRE TRIANGLE

THE FIRE TRIANGLE: ALL THREE

ELEMENTS (FUEL/OXYGEN/HEAT) MUST
BE PRESENT FOR IGNITION TO OCCUR

F. THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON

G. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE

  Specific Gravity – the ratio of the weight of a solid or liquid substance to
weight of an equal volume of water.
 Vapor Density – the weight of a volume of pure gas composed to the
volume of dry air at the same temperature and pressure.
 Vapor Pressure – the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of a
liquid.
 Temperature – the measure of the degree of thermal agitation of
molecules.
 Boiling Point – the constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of
the liquid is equal to the atmosphere pressure.
 Ignition/Kindling temperature – the minimum temperature at which the
substance must be heated in order to initiate combustion.
 Fire Point – the lowest temperature of a liquid in an open container at
which vapors are evolved fast enough to support combustion.
 Flash Point – the temperature at which a flammable liquid forms a vapor-
air mixture that ignites (mixture with in the explosive range).

H. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE

 Endothermic Reactions – changes whereby energy (heat) is absorbed or is

added before the reaction takes place.
 Exothermic Reactions – those that release or give off energy (heat) thus they
produce subtances with less energy than the reactants.
 Oxidation – a chemical change that is exothermic, a change in which
combustible material fuel and an oxidizing agent (air), react. Example of
oxidation is combustion which is the same as actual burning (rapid oxidation)
 Flames – flames are incadescent (very bright/glowing with intense heat) gases.
It is a combustion product and a manifestation of fire when it is in its gas-
phased combustion.

I. PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION

 Fire Gases – chemical composition of the fuel, percent of oxygen present,

and the temperature of the fire.
 Flame - the luminous body of a burning gas. It is the manifestation of fire
when the fire is in it’s gas phased combustion.
 Heat – a form of energy generated by the transmission of some other form
of energy.
COMMON SOURCES OF HEAT:

1. Chemical Energy - The most common source of heat in combustion

reactions. An energy released as a result of a chemical reaction such as
combustion.
2. Electrical Energy – Energy developed when electrons flow through a
conductor. Electrical energy can generate temperatures high enough to
ignite any combustible materials near the heated gas.
3. Nuclear Energy – An energy generated when atoms either split apart
(fission) or combine (fusion)
4. Mechanical Energy – An energy created by friction and compression.

SMOKE – a visible product of incomplete combustion, a mixture of oxygen,

nitrogen, CO, CO2 and finely divided particles released from the burning
material.

J. FLAME DEFINED

 It is the matter produced by fire. It is composed of burning incandescent

gases. It is the manifestation of fire when the fire is in it’s gas-phased
combustion.

TYPES OF FLAMES:

 According to color and and completeness of combustion:

1. LUMINIOUS FLAME – reddish-orange in color it deposits soot because it is a
product of incompletecombustion; it has a higher temperature.
2. NON-LUMINOUS FLAME – bluish in color; it does not deposit soot because it is
a product of complete combustion; it has a higher temperatue than luminous
flame.
 According to Burning Fuel and Air Mixture
1. PREMIXED FLAME – Bunzen Burner
2. HYDROCARBON – Any substance containing primarily carbon and hydrogen.
3. DIFFUSUION FLAME – Oxyacetylene torch (Diffused – dispered; widely spread)
 Based on Smoothness:
1. LAMINAR FLAME - smooth flame
2. TURBULENT FLAME – rough flame

K. PYROLYSIS

 The fire consumes the most solid part of the fuel; thermal decomposition
of combustible matter; chemical decomposition of a solid fuel through
the action of heat.
 PROCESS OF PYROLYSIS
 1. The fuel is heated until it’s temperature reaches it’s fire point.

2. Decomposition takes place – moisture in the fuel is converted to vapor.

3. Decomposition produces combustible vapors that rise to the surface of the

fuel. Combustible vapors are technically termed as free radicals.

4. Free radicals undergo combustion.

 FREE RADICALS are combustible vapors such as:

o Hydrogen Gas
o Carbon Monoxide
o Carbon Dioxide
o Nitrogen

L. STAGES OF BURNING

Incipient Phase – beginning stage of fire.

Characteristics:

1. Normal room temperature

2. Oxygen plentiful
3. Thermal updraft rise accumulates at higher point.
4. Flame Temperature of 1000 degree F.
5. Producing pyrolysis products (C02, C0, S02. Water Vapor and other gases)

Free Burning Phase - burning stage whereby materials or structures are

burning in the presence of adequate oxygen supply.

Characteristics:

1. Fire has involved more fuel

2. Oxygen supply is depleted
3. Heat accumulates at upper area.
4. Temperature exceeds 1300 degrees F.
5. Area is fully involved

Smoldering Phase – burning stage wherein flame ceases but dense smoke and heat
completely fill the confined room.

Characteristics:

1. Flames may die and leave the glowing embers or superheated fuel under
pressure with little oxygen.
2. Intense heat will vaporize lighter fuel components such as hydrogen,
methane, increasing the hazard.
3. Temperature throughout the building is very high and normal breathing is
not possible.
4. Oxygen deficiency may cause back draft.
II. THE ELEMENTS OF FIRE

A. FUELS (Combustible Materials)

o DEFINITION:
o
FUEL is matter and matter exist in the three physical states; solid, liquid and gas.
Solids melt to become LIQUIDS, and these may vaporize and become GASES.
Solid – Molecules are closedly packed together.
Liquid – Molecules are loosely packed.
Gas – Molecules are free to moved.

 GENERAL CATEGORIES

1. Solid combustible materials – organic or inorganic, natural, or synthetic,

and metallic solid materials
2. Liquid combustible materials – flammable liquid fuels and chemicals
3. Gaseous Substances – toxic/hazardous gases that are capable of ignition.

 COMMON SOLID FUELS

A. BULKY B. FINELY DIVIDED C. DUST

1. Coal 1. Plastic 1. Saw Dust
2. Wood 2.Paper 2. Sugar
3. Wax 3. Cork 3. Grain
4. Grease 4. Leather 4. Others

 CLASSIFICATION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS

1. Class A Fuels – ordinary combustible materials, organic subtances such as

wood and wood-based products; synthetic and/or inorganic materilas like
rubber, leather, and plastics.
2. Class B Fuels – flammable liquids such as alcohol, acidic solutions, oil and
other chemicals such those liquid petroleum products.
3. Class C Fuels – fire resistant materials; these are materials used in electrical
wiring and other electrical appliances.
4. Class D Fuels – metallic substances: magnesium, titanium, zirconium,
sodium and potassium.

SOLID FUELS

A. BIOMASS

- It is the name given to such replaceable organic matter as wood, garbage,

and animal manure that can be used to produce energy.
- Biomass materials other than wood are used as fuel. For example, heat
produced by burning nutshells, rice and oat hulls, and other by products of food
processing are often used to operate plant equipment.
Factors affecting the combustibility of wood and wood-bases products:
1. Physical Form
2. Moisture Content – water content
3. Heat Conductivity
4. Rate and Period of Heating
5. Rate of Combustion
6. Ignition Temperature

B. FABRICS AND TEXTILE – Almost all fibers and textiles are combustible.
o Fiber – very fine thin strand (thread – like) object.
o Fabric – twisted or woven fibers.
o Textiles – machine wooven or knitted fabric.