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7/21/2019 Journal of Fire Protection Engineering 1990 Friedman 129 30
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http://jfe.sagepub.com/Engineering
Journal of Fire Protection
http://jfe.sagepub.com/content/2/4/129.citationThe online version of this article can be found at:
DOI: 10.1177/104239159000200404
1990 2: 129Journal of Fire Protection EngineeringRaymond Friedman and Richard L. P. Custer
Review of FIRE PROTECTION CHEMISTRY, Second Edition
Published by:
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On behalf of:
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
can be found at:Journal of Fire Protection EngineeringAdditional services and information for
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What is This?
- Jan 1, 1990Version of Record>>
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129 -
Review of FIRE PROTECTION CHEMISTRY, Second Edition
By Raymond Friedman
by
Richard L. P. Custer
AdjunctAssociate ProfessorWorcester Polytechnic Institute
President, Richard L.P. Custer and Company*
*Address for correspondence: 155 South Street, P.O.Box 741, Wrentham, MA 02093.
Over the past fifteen years, there have been sig-nificant advances in the technical understand-
ing of the physical and chemical processes thatcontrol ignition and the growth and spread of
fire. For the most part, this new understandinghas been published in research reports, scholar-ly journals and in upper level college or gradu-ate textbooks.
For this reason, there has not been a means for
practicing fire protection engineers who havebeen out of school for a number of years to
obtain a concise, understandable overview ofrecent scientific developments that are affectingthe field today. In addition, there has been no
up to date text to meet the needs of the fire sci-
ence and fire protection engineering technologystudents. The second edition of Fire Protection
Chemistry published by the National FireProtectionAssociation goes a long way toward
meeting those needs.
The author, Dr. Raymond Friedman, directedthe fire research activities of Factory MutualResearch Corporation for 18 years until his
&dquo;semi-retirement&dquo; in 1987. He is presentlya
consultant and serves as an adjunct professor inthe fire protection engineering graduate pro-gram at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Dr.Friedmans work on the Second Edition repre-sents almost a complete rewrite of the first edi-tion which was published in 1976. The new
technology is presented without the use of com-plex mathematics or chemical formulae. In most
cases, the concepts are revealed through the useof tables, graphs and diagrams, a technique well
suited to the audience. The author also providesa glossary that is helpful where terms are not
defined in detail in the text.
The book is organized in two parts. The first is areview of the fundamentals of chemistry and thesecond covers fire protection chemistry. The
information in each chapter is well documentedwith specific references to the fire protection andfire research literature. Problems for homework
or self study and evaluation are also provided.
The level of the materials presented in Part I
assumes that the readers have studied chem-
istry in the past but need to refresh their memo-
ries.Attention is given to S.I. units, and such
principles as ions, free radicals, isomers and the
physicalstates of matter. Part I also covers the
basics of chemical reactions including energy of
reaction, chemical equilibrium and kinetics. Thereview is, however, superficial in nature and theauthor recommends that those who have not
had a previous exposure to chemistry obtain
and study a good text in general chemistry in
order to gain the most from this book.
Part II is specifically aimed at relating chem-
istry to fire protection issues and to presenting
the results of recent research. The process ofcombustion is introduced, and how it is originat-ed, spread and terminated is explained usingcommon materials and fire situations as exam-
ples. This introduction is followed by detailed
discussions of gaseous, liquid and solid com-
bustibles. Since for most practical causes, com-
bustion takes place in the gas phase, this is cov-
ered first.
In discussing gaseous combustibles, the con-
cepts of pre-mixed and diffusion flames areintroduced. Minimum ignition energy and easeof ignition are covered for pre-mixed flames, and
the conditions necessary for ignition to occur are
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discussed. Flammability limits and their effecton flame propagation rate are discussed, andthe concept of stoichiometry is introduced.
Diffusion flames, those most common in fireprotection problems, are discussed and practicalexamples of ignition and fire growth scenarios
given. Particular note is taken of the relation-
ship of rate of heat release to height of diffusionflames. This chapter also provides a detailed
example of the chemical mechanisms of combus-tion. The chapter ends with a section on flameradiation and brings together the materials pre-viously covered with a detailed discussion of thehazards of three specific gases.
The chapter on flammable liquids focuses on&dquo;Which liquids are flammable&dquo; and &dquo;howflammable liquid fires should be handled.&dquo; Thefact that fire point is not always a relevant mea-sure of flammability is pointed out, and five cat-
egories of liquid fires are discussed as examples.The topics of heat release rate and burning rateof pool fires, flame spread rate over liquid sur-faces and boilover are also included.
In the chapter on solid combustibles, the con-
cepts of pyrolysis and minimum radiant fluxneeded for ignition are introduced. Considerableattention is also paid to flame spread mecha-nisms and to factors that affect the burning andheat release rates of solid materials.As in the
previous chapters, common examples such asfurniture fires and compartment flashover are
used to integrate the concepts presented.Although not entirely related to the subject of
&dquo;fire protection chemistry,&dquo; the discussion ofcompartment flashover was rather limited and,considering the importance of the phenomenon,could be expanded.A discussion of the specialissue of combustible metals is also included.
One chapter is devoted to combustion products.Solid particulate production is discussed asrelated to visibility and smoke detection.
Toxicity of combustion products is alsoaddressed with discussion of specific gasses as
well as the issues of oxygen deficiency and mix-tures of gasses and particulates.
A chapter isprovided on fire extinguishing pro-cedures and extinguishing agents.A wide vari-
ety of agents are presented and the physical and
chemical attributes related to their extinguish-
ing mechanisms are discussed.A brief overview
of the extinguishment of gaseous, liquid and
solid fueled fires is presented.
The book concludes with a section covering sev-
eral special fire situations. Included are sponta-neous ignition, exothermic materials and oxidiz-
ing agents in contact with reducing agents.Fires in abnormal environments such as
oxygen-enriched atmospheres and low gravitysituations are also covered.
Overall, Dr. Friedmans revisions to the first
edition of Fire Protection Chemistry represent a
substantial advance in the communication of
evolving fire science and technology. This book
is highly recommended reading for the practic-
ing fire protection engineer for an overview of
recent advances and as a text in fire science and
fire protection technology courses.
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