Control Of Fires

[alex_greene]

I just discovered an interesting fact: if air has 15% oxygen content, fires and normal combustion are impossible. In order for something to combust in that proportion of oxygen to nitrogen, it needs to contain its own oxygen supply.

Sounds like a perfect method for keeping fires under control on board ship: increase the nitrogen concentration until the oxygen concentration goes down to 15%, and make sure there is a supply of oxygen handy, just in case a passenger starts struggling to breathe.

I also imagine that would put paid to all forms of smoking, too.

 

[Greylond]

Well, it depends on what's burning. Different materials require different levels of O2. Some fires, once started, are self oxidizing, meaning that they don't require any outside O2 and some chemical reactions that give off heat and are mistaken for Fire don't require any at all. Also, you have to be careful about having too much Nitrogen in the air. Not the least of which is if the air scrubbers are slightly behind efficiency you can quickly get down to a level of Not enough O2 in the air...

Easiest thing for a space station/space craft in case of a fire is just to evacuate all the air in a compartment. Just state that by SOP you are keeping all interior hatches closed and that way if you have to release atmo in a compartment, the whole ship won't loose it.

Also, another reason why whenever there is about to be danger, like possible combat, you put everyone on board in a Vacc Suit.

Also, the reason why when I play the first question I ask when any of my characters steps foot on a new ship is, "Where's my Vacc Suit?"

 

[F33D]

Sounds like a perfect method for keeping fires under control on board ship:

Or, build to TL higher than 7 where basically nothing is flammable... :wink:

 

[Greylond]

Sounds like a perfect method for keeping fires under control on board ship:

Or, build to TL higher than 7 where basically nothing is flammable... :wink:

Almost Everything is "flammable" if you get it hot enough...

 

[alex_greene]

Sounds like a perfect method for keeping fires under control on board ship:

Almost Everything is "flammable" if you get it hot enough...

Not at 15% atmospheric oxygen, with no internal oxygen supply ...

 

[F33D]

Almost Everything is "flammable" if you get it hot enough...

Sure, but the crew would be immolated long before something akin to asbestos burned.

 

[Greylond]

Almost Everything is "flammable" if you get it hot enough...

Sure, but the crew would be immolated long before something akin to asbestos burned.

Yea, that too!