The plume of a fire burning

  1. The plume of a fire burning in the apartment contains three zones. 2. What are the differences between the layers in the zones? 3. When a fire plume hits a ceiling, it spreads horizontally, radiating thermal energy and accelerating fire growth. Why is this important to understand? 4. A two-way flow occurs through the doorway of a fire room. The inflow through the lower portion of the opening is driven by air entrainment into the flames. 5. The mass outflow through the upper portion of the opening is slightly higher due to the added mass of the combustion products. Why is this important for firefighters to understand? 6. The ventilation pattern can change during a fire. What determines the hot upper layer temperature and optical density during a fire in a compartment with an opening? 7. What is the neutral plane? 8. Why is understanding the neutral plane critical to life safety?