Fire Streams (7th Edition)
Chapter 1 Terms
Fire & Water

Altitude
The geographical position of a location or object in relation to sea level.

Atmospheric Pressure
The pressure exerted by the atmosphere at the surface of the earth due to the weight of air. 

Backdraft
The explosion or rapid burning of heated gases that occurs when oxygen is introduced into a building that has not been properly ventilated.

British Thermal Unit
The amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, equal to 1.055 kJ.

Combustion
The self-sustaining process of rapid oxidation of a fuel being reduced by an oxidizing agent along with the evolution of heat, light, gases, and other particles.

Conduction
The transfer of heat energy from one body to another through a solid medium.

Convection
The transfer of heat energy by the movement of air or liquid.

Direct Pumping System
A water supply system supplied directly by a system of pumps rather than elevated storage tanks.

Domestic Consumption
Water consumed from the water supply system by residential and commercial occupancies.

Elevated Storage
A water storage reservoir located well above the level of the system it is being used to supply, in order to take advantage of head pressure.

Flashover
The stage of a fire at which all surfaces and objects are heated to their ignition temperature and flame breaks out almost at once over the entire surface.

Gravity System
A water supply system that relies entirely on the force of gravity to propel the water throughout the system, and generally used in conjunction with an elevated water storage source.

Implosion
The rapid inward collapsing of the walls of a vessel or structure because the walls are unable to sustain a vacuum.

Industrial Consumption
Water consumed from the water supply system by industrial facilities.

Latent Heat of Vaporization
The quantity of heat absorbed by a substance when it changes from a liquid to a vapor.

Maximum Daily Consumption
The maximum total amount of water used during any 24 hour interval over a 3 year period.

Normal Operating Pressure
That pressure found in a water distribution system during normal consumption demands.

Oxidation
A chemical reaction in which oxygen combines with other substances, such as fire, explosions, and rusting.

Peak Hourly Consumption
The maximum amount of water used during any given hour of a day.

Propagation
The spread of combustion through a solid, gas, or vapor, or the spread of fire from one combustible to another.

Pyrolysis
Chemical decomposition caused by heat that generally results in the lowered ignition temperature of the material.

Radiation
The transfer of heat energy through light by electromagnetic waves.

Vaporization
The process by which a substance in the solid or liquid phase is changed into a vapor.

Water Department
The municipal authority responsible for the water supply system in a given community.

Water Superintendent
The manager of the water department.