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A backdraft (North American English), backdraught (British English) [1] or smoke explosion is the abrupt burning of superheated gases in a fire caused when oxygen rapidly enters a hot, oxygen-depleted environment; for example, when a window or door to an enclosed space is opened or broken. Backdrafts are typically seen as a blast of smoke and ...
Such an event is known as backdraft. A delayed flashover occurs when the colder gray smoke cloud ignites after congregating outside of its room of origin. This results in a volatile situation, and if the ignition occurs at the ideal mixture, the result can be a violent smoke gas explosion.
The term "downdraft" can also refer to a type of backdraft which occurs through chimneys which have fireplaces on the lowermost levels (such as basements) of multi-level buildings. It involves cold air coming down the chimney due to low air pressure, and makes it hard to light fires, and can push soot and carbon monoxide into domiciles.
The backblast area is dangerous to ground personnel, [2] who may be burned by the gases or exposed to overpressure caused by the explosion. [3] In confined spaces, common in urban warfare , even the operators themselves may be at risk due to deflection of backblast by walls or sturdier civilian vehicles behind them.
Americans have abandoned 29.2 million 401(k) accounts holding trillions in assets. You can find them using a new government database or calling past employers.
Two men "brutally attacked and killed" a friend after wrongly accusing him of stealing a bank card. Jonathan Hutty, 49, was "violently assaulted" and found with a severe head injury inside a flat ...
Another fine jewelry retailer, Shane Co. offers an impressive selection of engagement rings and wedding bands, but they also have hundreds of beautiful accessories made with precious gemstones.
A BLEVE–fireball at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery, as rendered by the CSB. A boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE, / ˈ b l ɛ v iː / BLEV-ee) is an explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing a pressurized liquid that is or has reached a temperature sufficiently higher than its boiling point at atmospheric pressure.