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IAAI CFI & NFPA 921 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATED 2024/2025 | GRADED A+
"Blast Overpressure - CORRECT ANSWER The primary differentiating factor between mechanical and
chemical explosions is the mechanism that produces WHAT?"
"Minimum Explosible Concentration - CORRECT ANSWER The minimum concentration of a dust cloud
capable of propagating a deflagration through the uniform mixture of dust-and-air"
"Negative Pressure Phase - CORRECT ANSWER The low pressure phase of a blast pressure front, which
is created by positive pressure, causing air to rush back toward the origin to equalize the low pressure condition"
"Premixed Burning - CORRECT ANSWER Type of burning that occurs, when the fuel vapors and air are
mixed in the absence of an ignition source and then the fuel-air mix is ignited (eg. gas stove)"
"Propagation Reactions - CORRECT ANSWER A reaction that occurs progressively through the reactant
fuel, with definable flame front or reaction zone"
"Proportioners - CORRECT ANSWER The component of a suppression system that mixes foam
concentrate with water"
"Pyrolysis - CORRECT ANSWER The process when a material is decomposed (broken down) by the
effects of heat alone, and usually proceeds combustion"
"Pyrolyze - CORRECT ANSWER In order for carbonaceous char to form, materials that smolder must do
THIS?"
"Serial Arson - CORRECT ANSWER Three or more arsons with a cooling off period in between"
"Service Lines - CORRECT ANSWER The section of gas piping that are the service laterals from the
company mains to the customer"
"Short Circuit - CORRECT ANSWER An abnormal electrical connection that causes an overcurrent,
because when resistance goes down current goes up"
"Approaching Fire - CORRECT ANSWER In a wildfire, greater damage, white ash, staining, sooting, and
curling are fire spread indicators on the side facing the WHAT?"
"Heat Generation - CORRECT ANSWER What do these four occurrences each generate which leads to
an electrical ignition: (1) parting arcs by short circuit and ground fault, (2) excessive overcurrent, (3) resistance heating, (4) and ordinary sources (eg. heater)?"
"Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) - CORRECT ANSWER Explosions tend to produce post-explosion fires near
WHAT range, because of a fuel-rich environment?"
"Undetermined - CORRECT ANSWER The fire classification when the level of certainty of the fire cause
is only considered "possible" (or worse, "suspected")"
"Undetermined - CORRECT ANSWER The fire classification when the intent cannot be determined or
proven to acceptable level of certainty"
"Verification and Validation - CORRECT ANSWER These two characteristics are the guidelines for fire
model reliance and selection."
"Volt - CORRECT ANSWER Unit of electrical pressure"
"Volt - CORRECT ANSWER The difference in potential required to make a current of 1 ampere flow
through a resistance of 1 ohm"
"Warnings - CORRECT ANSWER The labels on products that indicate safe product use and inform and
remind the user of any hazards"
"Watt - CORRECT ANSWER Unit of measurement for power (1 Joule/sec)"
"Undetermined - CORRECT ANSWER Until sufficient proof of arson or an accident is found, every fire
should be categorized as what type of fire?"
"Exothermic Chemical Reaction - CORRECT ANSWER The mechanism that generates the pressure in a
Chemical Explosion"
"Diffuse Explosive Mixtures - CORRECT ANSWER Condensed-phase explosives are often contrasted
with what type of explosive mixture?"
"Hourglass Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER A fire pattern created by the combination of the lower
inverted V-shape of the flame zone and the upper V-shape of the plume"
"U-shape Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER A fire pattern that is more curved than a V-pattern, and its base
is typically higher than the V-pattern (because of the location of the burning fuel and where the fire plume interacts with the wall)"
"Axisymmetric Plume - CORRECT ANSWER A fire plume in the center of the room with no wall
interface"
"Backdraft - CORRECT ANSWER A low-order explosion that is the result of an oxygen-depleted fire that
produces high concentrations of incomplete combustion products, with a sudden mixture of air into the accumulated fuels"
"Battery - CORRECT ANSWER The only source of electricity in a vehicle when the engine is not
running"
"BLEVE - CORRECT ANSWER The most frequently encountered mechanical explosion"
"BLEVE - CORRECT ANSWER An event that occurs when a vessel's contents are liquid and heating
causes the liquid to exceed its boiling point and failure of the vessel occurs"
"Rapid Boiling - CORRECT ANSWER This is the mechanism in a Mechanical Explosion, along with the
expansion of pressurized gas"
"Bow - CORRECT ANSWER The front of a boat"
"Buoyant Force - CORRECT ANSWER A force that is generated by temperature differences
*Due to hot air rising because its less dense"
"Buoyant Force - CORRECT ANSWER Fire plumes, ceiling jets and vent flows are examples of what type
of force at work during a fire?"
"Cable Staple - CORRECT ANSWER This structural component cannot be driven through insulation
when properly installed"
"252 Calories & 1055 Joules - CORRECT ANSWER One BTU is equal to ________ calories
*Which is equal to _________ Joules"
"Carbon Dioxide - CORRECT ANSWER A type of suppression agent that is effective because it is non-
corrosive, residue-less, non-conductive, and universally useful on most combustibles"
"Carbon Monoxide - CORRECT ANSWER Binds with hemoglobin in the blood approximately 250 times
greater than oxygen"
"Cascading - CORRECT ANSWER Another name for a secondary or subsequent explosion"
"Chronic - CORRECT ANSWER A type of toxicity exposure that involves a low-level of continuous
exposure"
"Closed - CORRECT ANSWER The type of electrical system that involves a current flowing in a loop or
complete circuit."
"Combustibles - CORRECT ANSWER These materials produce essentially the same flame temperature
as ignitable liquids."
"Combustion - CORRECT ANSWER A rapid oxidation process, as opposed to slow oxidation"
"Conductors - CORRECT ANSWER These provide a pathway for current to flow in an electrical system"
"Congestion and Confinement - CORRECT ANSWER These two conditions are essential for an outdoor
vapor cloud explosion to occur, otherwise the ignition of the flammable cloud would merely produce a flash fire"
"Connection Points - CORRECT ANSWER The typical location on a circuit where electrical overheating
is most likely to occur (eg. loose connection or resistive oxide at the connection)"
"Contamination - CORRECT ANSWER Inhalation, cutaneous, ingestion, injection and ocular are the five
routes of what?"
"Convertor - CORRECT ANSWER A device in an RV that transforms AC to DC"
"Cumulative - CORRECT ANSWER A type of toxicity exposure that involves repeated exposure over
time"
"Cupping - CORRECT ANSWER A fire pattern in a wildfire, where the grass or foliage is beveled on the
side facing the fire"
"Curiosity - CORRECT ANSWER The most common reason for children playing with fire"
"Dead Load - CORRECT ANSWER The weight of the building's materials"
"Deck - CORRECT ANSWER A permanent covering over a boat's compartment/ hull"
"Engine - CORRECT ANSWER The fire origin location which often results in damage to the bottom of
the windshield on the passenger side"
"Expert Witness - CORRECT ANSWER A type of witness testimony that must show reliable facts,
methods, and application of methods"
"Explosion - CORRECT ANSWER An event that results in blast pressure injuries, shrapnel injuries,
thermal injuries, and building collapse"
"Explosion - CORRECT ANSWER A gas dynamic phenomenon, with gas released under pressure"
"Explosion Effects - CORRECT ANSWER Blast pressure, dynamic drag loads, shrapnel, thermal, and
seismic are five types of what?"
"Explosives - CORRECT ANSWER Any chemical compound, mixture, or device in which the primary
purpose is to function by explosion"
"Extension Cord - CORRECT ANSWER The common household product where an overload is most
likely to occur"
"Failure Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER Timelines, systems analysis, fault trees, mathematical modeling,
and fire testing are examples of WHAT type of tool?"
"Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - CORRECT ANSWER A systematic evaluation of all of the
equipment or actions that could have lead to an incident"
"Faster - CORRECT ANSWER In materials with lower thermal inertia, the temperature will rise slower
or faster?"
"Fault Tree - CORRECT ANSWER A logic diagram used to analyze fires and explosions"
"Fire Alarm Control Unit - CORRECT ANSWER One of the most important components of a fire alarm
system, which is the central operating unit"
"Fire Chemistry - CORRECT ANSWER The study of the chemical processes in fire
*such as state change, decomposition and combustion"
"Fire Dynamics - CORRECT ANSWER The principles of this discipline are the same in a vehicle as in a
structure"
"Fire Dynamics - CORRECT ANSWER The study of how chemistry, fire science, heat transfer, and fluid
mechanics interact and influence fire behavior"
"Fire Dynamics - CORRECT ANSWER Fire patterns are generally due to this factor"
"Fire Dynamics Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER Zone models, Field Models, and Computational Fluid
Dynamics Models are examples of what?"
"Fire Effects - CORRECT ANSWER The underlying data used to identify fire patterns"
"Fire Flanks - CORRECT ANSWER The lateral sides of a wildfire"
"Fire Hazard - CORRECT ANSWER Electrical equipment and conductors used appropriately and
protected properly do not normally present WHAT?"
"Fire Head - CORRECT ANSWER The advancing and most rapid section of the wildfire"
"Fire Heel - CORRECT ANSWER The section of a wildfire where fire spread is called "backing fire""
"Fire Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER Visible or measurable changes formed by a fire effects"
"Fire Patterns - CORRECT ANSWER Surface deposits, surface thermal effects, charring, penetration,
and consumption are the five categories of what?"
"Fire Plume - CORRECT ANSWER The column of hot gases, flames, and smoke rising above fire"
"Fire Plume - CORRECT ANSWER This is thought to be the single most important factor in fire scene
reconstruction"
"Fire Point - CORRECT ANSWER The temperature at which a vaporizing liquid results in sustained
burning"
"Fire Science - CORRECT ANSWER The study of the basic understanding of ignition and combustion"
"Fire Science - CORRECT ANSWER The body of knowledge concerning fire, fire dynamics,
thermodynamics, fire chemistry etc"
"Fire Spread - CORRECT ANSWER The fire characteristic that has three mechanisms: direct flame
impingement, remote ignition by heat transfer, and dropdown"
"Fire Tetrahedron - CORRECT ANSWER A concept of fire science, which explains that fire is comprised
of the fuel, oxidizing agent, heat, and an uninhibited chemical chain reaction"
"Five Compartments - CORRECT ANSWER How many compartments can a vehicle be divided into?
"Heat - CORRECT ANSWER This is liberated in all chemical explosions, because of the fuel's chemical
changes"
"Heat Capacity - CORRECT ANSWER The measure of the amount of heat held or maintained in the
material"
"Heat Flux - CORRECT ANSWER Heat transfer rate per unit area (or power per unit area)"
"Heat Flux - CORRECT ANSWER This concept is measured in kW/m2 or W/cm2"
"Heat Transfer - CORRECT ANSWER When heat naturally moves from a higher temperature mass to a
lower temperature mass"
"Fire Heel - CORRECT ANSWER The section of a wildfire, where the origin is normally located"
"High Density Materials - CORRECT ANSWER These types of materials conduct heat faster, because
heat is about molecular vibration and such materials more readily allow for vibration"
"High Explosive - CORRECT ANSWER A type of explosive that is primarily initiated by heat or shock (like
a small explosion or detonation), resulting in a supersonic detonation"
"High-order Damage - CORRECT ANSWER A category of explosion damage that results in long distance
shattered debris, in small pieces"
"H.I.N - CORRECT ANSWER The identification number for a boat
*located on the rear right"
"HRR - CORRECT ANSWER The primary factor of fire growth in pre-flashover fires"
"Hull - CORRECT ANSWER The structural body of a boat"
"Hydrogen Cyanide - CORRECT ANSWER A toxin that impacts oxygen utilization and cellular
respiration, in the Krebs cycle"
"Hypoxia - CORRECT ANSWER Caused by breathing an oxygen-reduced atmosphere
*And, less than 10% oxygen leads to unconsciousness and death"
"Ignition - CORRECT ANSWER Initiation of self-sustained combustion"
"Incendiary Fire - CORRECT ANSWER Multiple fires, trailers, pour patterns, positive samples, or
incendiary devices indicate what type of fire?"
"Inhalation - CORRECT ANSWER The most common, most rapid, and most important contamination
route at a fire scene"
"Intent - CORRECT ANSWER When one aims to do an act
(*which is a necessary component to show proof of a crime)"
"Inverted Cone Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER A triangular 2-D shape or pattern left on a vertical wall,
when it is not horizontally restricted by the ceiling (*Note: that "inverted cone" in fire investigation is actually a traditional "geometric cone" shape, which is triangular)"
"Inverter - CORRECT ANSWER A device in an RV that transforms DC to AC"
"Ionization - CORRECT ANSWER The type of most residential smoke detectors, which is a radiation
type"
"Irregular Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER An investigator should use this term rather than saying "pour
pattern""
"Joule - CORRECT ANSWER Unit of measurement for energy"
"Kilowatt (kW) - CORRECT ANSWER Unit of measurement for heat transfer"
"Laminar Flame - CORRECT ANSWER This type of combustion is rarely involved in explosions, because
explosions usually involve turbulent flame speed instead"
"Latency - CORRECT ANSWER A type of toxicity exposure that involves delayed effects"
"Gas Leakage - CORRECT ANSWER The main cause of gas-fuel fires and explosions"
"LEL - CORRECT ANSWER The end of the explosive mixture range that does NOT tend to produce much
post-explosion fire, because nearly all of the available fuel is consumed in explosion propagation"
"Lens Aperture - CORRECT ANSWER The part of the camera that controls the amount of light admitted
and involves f-stops"
"Live loads - CORRECT ANSWER The weight of temporary structural loads, such as snow"
"Lividity - CORRECT ANSWER The body's postmortem settling of blood"
"Commercial Propane - CORRECT ANSWER A type of gas that is liquefied under pressure for storage
and is heavier than air (1.5 to 2.0 vapor density)"
"Condensed-Phase Explosive - CORRECT ANSWER A solid explosive that is characterized by high
pressures, crushing effects, and typically pronounced seats"
"Condensed-Phase Explosion - CORRECT ANSWER Explosions involving a solid--as opposed to a diffuse
fuel--in which the fuel and oxidizer is mechanically mixed or the material itself can be rapidly and molecularly converted"
"Daubert Challenge - CORRECT ANSWER A legal challenge to the reliability of expert's opinions,
utilized to discover the method's testability, peer-reviewed, error rate, and community acceptance"
"Diffuse-Phase Explosion - CORRECT ANSWER A rapid combustion of a gas, vapor, mist or dust--that is
premixed with air--leading to an explosion"
"Diffusion - CORRECT ANSWER When the fuel and air mix at the region of combustion
(eg. candle)"
"Diffusion Burning - CORRECT ANSWER The ordinary sustained burning mode in most fires"
"Low-order Damage - CORRECT ANSWER A category of explosion damage resulting in short distances,
intact debris, and dislodged members"
"Mass Arson - CORRECT ANSWER Three or more arsons at the same site, within a limited timeframe"
"Mechanical and Chemical - CORRECT ANSWER The two major types of explosions"
"Motive - CORRECT ANSWER The explanation for "Why?" an act would be committed
(not a required element of crime)"
"Narcotic Gases - CORRECT ANSWER Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, and Oxygen-depleted air
(hypoxia) are examples of what category of toxins in fires?"
"Natural Gas - CORRECT ANSWER A type of gas that is mostly methane and lighter than air (0.59 to
0.72 vapor density)"
"Negligence - CORRECT ANSWER The majority of civil litigation cases are based on allegations of
what?"
"Negligence - CORRECT ANSWER The legal claim that involves a duty, failure, proximate cause, and
loss"
"NFPA 13 - CORRECT ANSWER The NFPA standard that regulates water-based fire suppression
systems"
"Obstacles - CORRECT ANSWER These features increase turbulence during explosions"
"Ohms - CORRECT ANSWER Unit of electrical resistance"
"Ohms Law - CORRECT ANSWER Expressed by the formula:
Voltage (V) equals Current (I) times Resistance (R)"
"Overcurrent - CORRECT ANSWER Any current in excess of an equipment's rated current or of the
conductor's ampacity of conductor (*such as a ground fault, short circuit, or overload)"
"Overload - CORRECT ANSWER A large enough and persistent enough overcurrent"
"Overpressure - CORRECT ANSWER Pressure that is generated or released in excess of the surrounding
ambient pressure"
"Oxidation - CORRECT ANSWER The basic chemical process associated with combustion"
"Oxidation - CORRECT ANSWER The combination of oxygen with a substance, which is brought about
by high temperatures"
"Oxygen Availability and Ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER Two of the most important fire dynamics
considerations"
"Photoelectric - CORRECT ANSWER The type of most smoke detectors in an alarm system, which
scatters the light"
"Photography - CORRECT ANSWER The method of documentation that is the most persuasive and the
most efficient and effective reminder"
"Photography - CORRECT ANSWER A form of evidence that must be an accurate representation and
relevant to the testimony, in order for it to be useful or admitted in court"
"Port - CORRECT ANSWER The left side of a boat"
"Solid Fuel Ignition - CORRECT ANSWER Smoldering ignition, piloted ignition, and autoignition are
three forms of WHAT type of ignition?"
"Sparks - CORRECT ANSWER Particles thrown out by arcs"
"Spherical - CORRECT ANSWER The ideal shape of a blast wave front"
"Spree Arson - CORRECT ANSWER Three or more arsons with no cooling off period"
"Starboard - CORRECT ANSWER The right side of a boat"
"Starter - CORRECT ANSWER The vehicle component with the largest conductor in the vehicle because
of the large amount of power needed to engage the engine."
"Stern - CORRECT ANSWER The rear of a boat"
"Less Violent - CORRECT ANSWER An explosion occurring near LEL or UEL tend to be
_______________ than those occurring near optimum stoichometric concentrations"
"Strict Liability - CORRECT ANSWER This type of civil litigation regarding liability, involves both the
product's manufacturer and seller"
"Superstructure - CORRECT ANSWER The cabins and other structures above the boat deck"
"Surface Layer - CORRECT ANSWER The middle layer in a wildfire, which is the most common material
first ignited"
"Tenability - CORRECT ANSWER Ability to escape a fire"
"Thermal Conductivity - CORRECT ANSWER The measure of how much heat will flow or pass through a
material"
"Thermal Cutoff - CORRECT ANSWER A device on an appliance or motor that prevents excessive
temperature"
"Thermal Runaway - CORRECT ANSWER In a spontaneous combustion scenario, the material's inability
to dissipate heat generated by the internal exothermic reaction leads to WHAT process?"
"Thermal Runaway - CORRECT ANSWER This is the process in spontaneous combustion, which is a
contest between exothermic chemistry and heat loss to the surroundings"
"Thermodynamics - CORRECT ANSWER The discipline of physics concerning the relationship between
heat and other forms of energy"
"Thermoplastics - CORRECT ANSWER Plastics that soften and melt, but do NOT smolder"
"Thermoset Plastics - CORRECT ANSWER Plastics that pyrolyze directly to ignitable gases because they
decompose in fire"
"Thermoset Plastics - CORRECT ANSWER Plastics that do NOT soften, but form char"
"Truncated Cone Pattern - CORRECT ANSWER A 3-D pattern on horizontal and vertical surface, which
combines a V pattern on a vertical wall and a circular pattern on a horizontal ceiling"
"Turbulence - CORRECT ANSWER A factor in an explosion, which is impacted by obstacles and
confinement"
"Twice - CORRECT ANSWER How many times should the perimeter of wildfire be walked during an
investigation? (*clockwise and counterclockwise)"
"Upper Flammable Limit - CORRECT ANSWER The maximum percentage of fuel in air at which
combustion can occur"
"Ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER An important factor in determining the sequence of pattern
production is considering whether or not the pattern can be accounted for in terms of ______________________."
"Ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER Every pattern should be evaluated in terms of
___________________."
"Wood - CORRECT ANSWER This material burns at essentially the same temperature as gasoline, but
different HRR"
"Mathematical Modeling - CORRECT ANSWER These tools predict real world phenomena with
scientific principles and empirical data"
"Ampacity - CORRECT ANSWER The current that a conductor can carry continuously under conditions
of use without exceeding its temperature rating"
