FFP 1111 - Fire Chemistry

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2021 (595)

Course Description

This course is a study of basic physical and chemical properties of materials applicable to the chemistry of fire. Emphasis is on emergency situations and the most favorable methods of handling incidents involving hazardous material.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will comprehend basic chemistry related to the categories of hazardous materials including the problems of recognition, reactivity, and health encountered by firefighters by:
    1. identifying the common elements by their atomic symbols on the Periodic Table and demonstrating an understanding of why the table is organized into columns and groups.
    2. differentiating between elements, compounds and mixtures, and give examples of each.
    3. explaining the difference between ionic and covalent bonding and be able to predict when each will occur.
    4. identifying, naming, and understanding the basic chemistry involved with common hydrocarbon derivatives.
    5. summarizing the basic chemical and physical properties of gases, liquids and solids, and predicting the behavior of a substance under adverse conditions.
    6. identifying, naming, and understanding the basic chemistry and hazards involved with the nine U.S. Department of Transportation hazard classes and their divisions.
    7. analyzing facility occupancy, transportation documents, shape and size of containers, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to recognize the physical state and potential hazards of reactivity related to firefighter health and safety.
    8. utilizing guidebooks to determine an initial course of action for emergency responders when responding to incidents involving hazardous material.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum 70 % accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 2/13/96; DBT 3/19/96 Effective Session 9961 SCNS # assigned 11/8/96 3 yr rev 2000 C&I 9/25/01, BOT 10/17/01, Eff 20011. # chg/field review eff 20021. Online 2002. 3 Year Review 2005 (reformatted to standard). C&I 4/13/2010, BOT 5/18/2010, Effective 20101(0430). C&I Approval: 04/13/2010, BOT Approval: 05/18/2010, Effective Term: Fall 2010 (430).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2021 (595)

Related Programs

  1. Fire Science Technology (FIRE-AS) (640) (Draft)
  2. Fire Science Technology (FIRE-AS) (620) (Active)
  3. Homeland Security and Emergency Management (EAM-AS) (640) (Active)
  4. Public Safety Administration (PSA-TR) (670) (Active)