The Fire Triangle
What exactly is a Fire Triangle?
Heat, fuel, and oxygen comprise a fire triangle’s three components. These three elements are required to start and sustain a fire.
The fire triangle will dissipate and the fire will be put out if just one of these elements is taken away.
Let’s examine each of these elements in more detail:
Heat
Varying materials have different “flashpoints,” or the lowest temperature at which they ignite, depending on the heat source needed for ignition.
The temperature of the fuel is unfortunately raised even further by combustion processes, which likewise generate heat as they burn. Water can be used to reduce the heat produced by some fire types.
Fuel
Without a fuel source, a fire cannot start. Paper, oil, wood, and fabrics are just a few combustible substances prevalent in homes and workplaces. These are all potential sources of fire fuel.
The ease of burning varies between different materials. Fuels should be stored properly to avoid becoming a fire risk because they are likely the hardest “side” of the fire triangle to extinguish.
Oxygen
Oxygen (or an oxidizing agent) is necessary for the combustion reaction to continue because it combines with the burning fuel to release heat and CO2. Since oxygen makes up about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere, it will be easy to start a fire if the other two ingredients are present.
The oxygen “side” of the triangle is eliminated by utilizing fire blankets and some types of fire extinguishers. This displacement or removal of oxygen results in hypoxia, which stops the combustion reaction.
FACTS TO BE NOTED ABOUT FIRE TRIANGLE
- 21% oxygen makes up the average air.
- Fuel may also include oxygen.
- A few examples of heat sources are the sun, heated surfaces, sparks, friction, and electrical energy.
- Solid, liquid, and gas are all possible fuel types.
What exactly is a Fire Tetrahedron?
The greatest analogy for a tetrahedron is a pyramid, which is solid with four planar faces. Oxygen, heat, fuel, and a chemical chain reaction are fundamentally necessary conditions for the occurrence of fire. The fire will go out if any critical components are taken away. The significantly more complicated fire tetrahedron model illustrates the elements required to start and maintain a fire.
Theoretically, fire extinguishers put out the fire by removing one or more fire tetrahedron components.
The fire triangle, also known as the combustion triangle, is a scientific tenet that Fire Prevention and Consultancy Services believes everyone should be aware of. For scenarios where you might need to employ fire safety equipment, it is important to have prior knowledge of how fires sustain themselves. To give you important insight into what feeds a fire, the fire triangle and the lesser-known fire tetrahedron have been summed up in this blog.