Fire Department Incident Safety Officer - Essay Example

Masonry comprises of brickwork and blockwork. Extreme heat causes masonry to expand and crack. However, this would take considerable time. Bricks are toughened by a conflagration, and therefore, are able to withstand fire longer. Concrete is often toughened with steel. If the reinforcement is superficial, the extension of the steel causes the concrete to expand. The expansion causes fissures. Timber is adversely affected by the conflagration. The ignition point of timber is lower than other elements.

Exposure to heat and oxygen results in incineration. Combustion starts with the charring of the surface, and thereafter, the structural integrity is compromised. Prolonged fire burns the timber to ashes. Metal is extensively affected by the fire. Heat elevates the kinetic energy of the atomic configuration of the metal. The structure weakens and loses strength. At 500 degrees, it may lose 50% of its strength. Further, steel may melt slightly and warp slightly in adverse heat (Dodson, 2007).