Certified Fire Inspector II Practice Test

Deflagration is a term used to describe a type of combustion that propagates through a material at subsonic speeds, meaning it travels slower than the speed of sound in that medium. This phenomenon is typically characterized by a rapid oxidation reaction which releases energy in the form of heat and pressure, but it does so without reaching the high-speed shock waves seen in detonation, which occurs at supersonic speeds. Understanding the nature of deflagration is critical for fire safety and explosion prevention, as it influences how fire spreads and the resulting effects on materials and structures in various environments. The concept of subsonic speeds is fundamental in distinguishing deflagration from more violent combustion processes like detonation.