Glossary
Building fire physics and smoke removal

Anoxia; anoxia

Lack of oxygen available to the tissues of a living organism, which can endanger its survival.

Widespread conflagration

Situation where all materials present in a volume contribute to the fire through the production of pyrolysis gases.

Flash-over

A situation where a generalized conflagration occurs very rapidly.

Smoke explosion; backdraught (UK)/backdraft (US)

Explosion of the mixture of hot fumes and unburnt gases when a sudden, massive influx of air is supplied.

Feu se déplaçant; travelling fire

A fire that can occur in an enclosed space with a large surface area and low height, where a local flashover zone moves into the volume without simultaneously...