SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 12:19:19 PMFIRE 72 Course Outline as of Fall 2006

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  FIRE 72Title:  FIRE BEHAVIOR/COMBUST  
Full Title:  Fire Behavior and Combustion
Last Reviewed:9/10/2018

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled017 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  FIRE 60A

Catalog Description:
Untitled document
Theory and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread, and are controlled.  An in-depth study of fire chemistry, fire characteristics of materials, extinguishing and fire control techniques.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Theory and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread, and are controlled.  An in-depth study of fire chemistry, fire characteristics of materials, extinguishing and fire control techniques.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable



COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Untitled document
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
 1.  Recognize the early traditions and history regarding extinguishing
       techniques, causes of fire, and statistics of fires in America.
 2.  Identify the difference between matter and energy.
 3.  Compare the three physical states of matter.
 4.  Describe the basic theory and terminology and fire development.
 5.  Describe basic fire extinguishment theory and terminology relating
     to heat.
 6.  Describe the basic laws of energy and mass.
 7.  Analyze fire chemistry as it relates to fire flame spread and fire
     behavior.
 8.  Analyze flame spread and fire behavior.
 9.  Analyze the hazardous effects of the products of combustion (carbon
     monoxide and carbon dioxide).
 10.  Identify how physical forces caused by fire can effect changes
     in the physical states of matter.
11.  Explain the various testing methods for determining ignition
     temperature of solids, liquids, and gases.
12.  Recognize and relate the difference among a compound, mixture,
     and a solution.
13.  Identify the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
     fire codes of combustible and flammable liquids.
14.  State three factors that control heat evolution from fires.
15.  List the various forms of heat and the theories of heat
     transfer.
16.  List at least five sources of heat in chemical, electrical, and
     mechanical categories.
17.  Identify the ignition temperature, combustion properties, and
     smoke and toxic gases generated from burning common combustible
     solids, liquids, and gases.
18.  Identify common polymer plastics and their combustion
     characteristics.
19.  Compare common thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.
20.  Identify some common gases used in fire protection.
21.  Identify factors impacting wildland fire behavior.
22.  Identify fire behavior in contact with explosives and electricity.

Topics and Scope
Untitled document
I.   Introduction to the study of fire
      A.  History of fire
      B.  Natural causes of fire
      C.  Fire research
II.  Unit of measurement
      A.  System International (metric system)
      B.  Temperature ratios
III. Matter and chemical properties change
      A.  Matter
      B.  Properties
      C.  Chemical change
      D.  Conservation of mass and energy
IV.  Heat transfer and the three theories of fire
      A.  Methods of heat transfer
          1. Radiation
          2. Convection
          3. Conduction
       B. Fire triangle
       C. Fire  tetrahedron
       D. Powell's Life Cycle of Fire
V.   Ignition
       A. Piloted and auto ignition
       B. Chemical kinetics
       C. Evaporation
       D. Humidity
       E. Flash point
       F. Temperature (ignition)
       G. Spontaneous combustion
       H. Flammable limits
       I. Ignition of thick and thin fuels
       J. Ignition time solid fuels
VI.  Flame spread
       A. Smoldering and flaming combustion
       B. Flame spread/fire spread
       C. Wind aided and opposed flow
       D. Spread on solid surfaces
       E. Downward and upward flame spread
       F. Flame spread on liquids
       G. Halon and carbon dioxide extinguishment agents
VII. Burning rate
       A.  Mass loss rate
       B.  Mass burn rate
       C.  Mass burning flux
       D.  Surface temperatures
       E.  Vaporization temperature
       F.  Estimating energy release rates
       G.  Fire growth rate
       H.  Flame velocities
VIII. Combustion products
       A.  Concentration
       B.  Scope of combustion products
       C.  Diffusion flame
       D.  Smoldering or surface oxidation
       E.  Spontaneous combustion
       F.  Narcotic and irritant gases
       G.  Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.
IX.   Extinguishment theory
       A. Temperature reduction
       B. Chemical flame inhibition
       C. Fuel removal
       D. Oxygen exclusion
X.    Wildland fire behavior
       A.  Weather
       B.  Topography factors
       C.  Environmental elements
XI.   Explosive fire behavior
       A.  Types and causes of explosions
       B.  Blasting agents
       C.  Electrical discharge

Assignments:
Untitled document
1. Reading one chapter per week.
2. One term paper.
3. One written assignment.
4. Eight to eleven quizzes

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
30 - 40%
Written homework, Term papers, Definition Paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
60 - 70%
Multiple choice, True/false, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 0%
None


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
Untitled document
Principles of Fire Behavior, Quintiere, James G., Delmar Publishers, 1998,
Instructor Prepared Materials.

Print PDF