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N.B.C. |
Nuclear,
Biological and Chemical. |
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National Contingency Plan |
Policies and procedures that the Federal Government follows in
implementing responses to hazardous substances. |
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National Incident Management
System (NIMS) |
A system mandated by HSPD-5 ( Homeland Security Presidential
Directive )that provides a consistent nationwide approach for Federal,
State, local, and tribal governments; the private-sector; and
nongovernmental organizations to work effectively and efficiently
together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic
incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. To provide for
interoperability and compatibility among Federal, State, local, and
tribal capabilities, the NIMS includes a core set of concepts,
principles, and terminology. HSPD-5 identifies these as the ICS;
multi-agency coordination systems; training; identification and
management of resources (including systems for classifying types of
resources); qualification and certification; and the collection,
tracking, and reporting of incident information and incident resources.
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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
(NIOSH) was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and is the only federal Institute responsible for conducting
research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related
illnesses and injuries. The US government agency authorized to research
and develop exposure criteria for toxic substances and recommend these
standards to OSHA. A Federal agency, which, among other activities,
tests and certifies respiratory protective devices, air-sampling
detector tubes, and recommends occupational exposure limits for various
substances |
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National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
Agency
responsible to serve as scientific support coordinator for a federal
on-scene coordinator in weather and planetary conditions affecting
natural disasters. Assists in oil spill and air toxins modeling and
meteorological monitoring and oceanic research. |
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National Response Center (NRC) |
A
communications center operated by the United States Coast Guard,
headquarters located in Washington, D.C. It provides information on
suggested technical emergency actions, and must be notified within 24
hours of any spill of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance by
the spiller. |
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National Response Plan (NRP) |
A plan mandated by HSPD-5 that integrates Federal domestic
prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery plans into one
all-discipline, all-hazards plan. |
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National Standard Thread
(NST) |
Screw thread of specific dimensions for fire
service use as specified in NFPA 1963, Standard for Fire Hose Connections. |
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National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) |
Independent
federal agency charged with responsibility for investigating serious
accidents and emergencies involving the various modes of transportation
(e.g., highway, pipeline, air), as well as hazardous materials. Issues
investigation reports and nonbinding recommendations for action. |
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Natural draft
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The negative pressure created by
the height of a stack or chimney and the temperature difference between the
flue gas and the outside. |
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Natural gas |
A combustible
gas composed chiefly of methane and ethane, as well as smaller amounts of
other combustible gases. |
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Natural ventilation |
Air movement created by wind, a temperature
difference, or other non-mechanical means. The movement of outdoor air into
a space through intentionally provided openings, such as doors or windows,
as well as by infiltration. |
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Near miss |
An accident having significant potential to
cause damage to equipment, personal injury, or other form of harm, but where
no damage, injury, or harm occurred. |
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NEC (National Electrical Code) |
A set of rules governing safe wiring methods.
Local codes—which are backed by law—may differ from the NEC in some ways. |
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Negative Pressure |
Air will move into the space from outside the
space where the pressure is higher. |
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Net pressure |
See Net Pump Discharge Pressure. |
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Net Pump Discharge Pressure
(NPDP) |
Actual amount of pressure being produced by
the pump. When taking water from a hydrant, it is the difference between the
intake pressure and the discharge pressure. When drafting, it is the sum of
the intake pressure and the discharge pressure. (NOTE: Intake pressure is
credited for lift and intake hose friction loss and is added to the
discharge pressure.) Also called Net Pressure or Engine Pressure. |
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Neutral wire |
Usually color-coded white, this carries
electricity from an outlet back to the service panel. Also see hot wire and
ground. |
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Neutralization |
The process by which acid or alkaline
properties of a solution are altered by addition of certain reagents to
bring the hydrogen and hydroxide concentrations to equal value (pH 7 is
neutral). |
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Newel post |
The large starting post to which the end of a
stair guard railing or balustrade is fastened. |
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Newton |
The force required to impart an acceleration
of one meter per second to a mass of one kilogram. |
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NIC |
NIMS Integration Center |
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NIMCAST |
National Incident Management Capability Assessment Support Tool |
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Nomex |
NOMEX® is
the brand name of a flame retardant meta-aramid material marketed and
first discovered by DuPont in the 1970s. It is sold in both fiber and
sheet forms and is use as a fabric wherever resistance from heat and
flame is required. Both the firefighting and vehicle racing industries
use Nomex to create clothing and equipment that can stand up to intense
heat. |
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Non-ambulatory |
A patient not capable of walking; bedridden. |
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Non-bearing wall |
A wall supporting no load other than its own
weight. A dividing wall that does not support a vertical load |
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Non-combustible material |
A material that, in the form in which it is
used and under the condition anticipated, will not ignite, burn, support
combustion, or release flammable vapors when subjected to fire or heat. Also
called incombustible material (not preferred). Incapable of combustion under
normal circumstances (a connotation generally associated with liquids or
solids). |
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Non-flammable |
a) Not
readily capable of burning with a flame. b) Not liable to ignite and
burn when exposed to flame. Its antonym is flammable. |
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Non-governmental Organization |
An entity with an association that is based on interests of its
members, individuals, or institutions and that is not created by a
government, but may work cooperatively with government. Such
organizations serve a public purpose, not a private benefit. Examples of
NGOs include faith-based charity organizations and the American Red
Cross. |
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Non-intervention tactics |
Essentially "no action." It is useful at
certain fire emergencies where the potential costs of action far exceed any
benefits (e.g., violent container failure scenario). |
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Nozzle |
An appliance on the end of a discharge hose
line to give a fire stream a definite shape and direction as well as
controlling the speed of the flow of water. |
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Nozzle man |
An individual assigned to operate a fire
department nozzle. |
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Nozzle pressure |
Velocity pressure at which water is
discharged from the nozzle. |
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Nozzle reaction |
The force or thrust directed backward from a
nozzle tip as a result of the force of the water being expelled out of the
nozzle; counterforce directed against a person holding a nozzle or a device
holding a nozzle by the velocity of water being discharged; roughly one
pound of nozzle reaction is produced for every two GPM flowing from an open
orifice; the human body can withstand approximately 125 PSI nozzle reaction;
expressed in formulas as NR. |
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NRC |
See National Response Center. |
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NRCC |
National Response Coordination
Center |
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Nurse tanker |
A water tank
truck used to supply a pumper or other equipment at a fire; a very large
mobile water supply apparatus that is stationed at the fire scene and serves
as a portable reservoir rather than as a shuttle tender. Also called Nurse
Tender. |
