Auto-Ignition Temperature
Definition
The minimum temperature at which a material ignites spontaneously without a pilot flame or spark. Relevant to the assessment of ignition scenarios in electrical and hot-surface fire causation.
Related terms
- Arrhenius Equation
- Mathematical expression relating reaction rate to temperature: k = A × exp(-Ea/RT). The exponential dependence explains the self-accelerating nature of combustion as...
- Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb)
- The compound formed when carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin at the oxygen-binding site, with an affinity 200-250 times greater than oxygen. Produces...
- Conductive Heat Transfer
- Transfer of thermal energy through a solid material by molecular vibration. Rate depends on thermal conductivity, temperature gradient, cross-sectional area, and path...
- Convective Heat Transfer
- Transfer of heat by bulk movement of a fluid (gas or liquid). In compartment fires, the buoyant hot gas plume carries most...
- Fire Tetrahedron
- The model of sustained combustion requiring four concurrent elements: fuel, oxidiser, heat, and an uninhibited radical chain reaction. Replacing the older fire...
- Flaming Combustion
- Gas-phase oxidation of volatile pyrolysis products above the fuel surface, producing a visible flame at 800-1200°C. Produces less CO than smouldering under...
- Flash Point
- Lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture in air, but the vapour does not...
- Glowing (Smouldering) Combustion
- Surface-phase oxidation of solid char without a gas-phase flame, typically at 400-700°C. Produces large amounts of CO and can persist at lower...
- Radiative Heat Transfer
- Transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (infrared). Scales as the fourth power of absolute temperature; at near-flashover temperatures it can simultaneously ignite...
Explained in
- Fire Chemistry: Combustion, Oxidation and the Fire TetrahedronThe minimum temperature at which a material ignites spontaneously without a pilot flame or spark. Relevant to the assessment of ignition scenarios in electrica...