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R&D |
Research and Development |
|
Rabbet |
A
rectangular longitudinal groove cut in the corner edge of a board or
plank. |
|
RAD |
Radiation
absorbed dose. |
|
Radiant energy
|
Any
of the forms of radiant energy (e.g., heat, light, electromagnetic
waves, ionizing radiation, etc.) radiating from a source. Energy that
travels outward in all direction from its source. |
|
Radiant heat |
Heat energy
carried by electromagnetic waves longer than light waves and shorter
than radio waves. Radiant heat (electromagnetic radiation) increases the
sensible temperature of any substance capable of absorbing the
radiation, especially solid and opaque objects. |
|
Radiant heat temperature |
The
temperature of an object as a result of its having absorbed radiant
energy. |
|
Radiant heat transfer |
The transfer
of heat energy in wave from a hot to a colder object |
|
Radiant heating |
A method of heating, usually consisting of a
forced hot water system with pipes placed in the floor, wall, or ceiling.
Also electrically heated panels |
|
Radiation |
Heat transfer by way of electromagnetic
energy. The emission and propagation of energy through space or through a
material medium in the form of waves in all directions from a center or
focal point; for instance, the emission and propagation of electromagnetic
waves, electric waves or other forms of electromagnetic radiation, as well
as ionizing radiation. |
|
Radiation
Heat |
The transmission of heat through
the medium of heat rays. See conduction and convection. |
|
Radiation illness |
Illness resulting from exposure to ionizing
radiation, including general malaise, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Also
referred to as radiation sickness. |
|
Radiation,
Nuclear |
The product of a process known as
radioactivity; the emission of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. |
|
Radiator
fill
line |
A small waterline leading from, the fire pump to the radiator of
the apparatus; used to refill the radiator during pumping at a fire scene. |
|
Radio frequency |
The frequency range from 300 kilohertz to 100
gigahertz electromagnetic band of frequencies used for man-made
communication. RF signals are modulated signals, generally carried on
coaxial cables. |
|
Radio
System
Regulations |
FCC rules that govern the operation of radio systems |
|
Radioactive |
A property of some materials/elements that is
characterized by their spontaneously emitting ionizing radiations.
|
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Radioactive contamination |
The deposition of radioactive material in any place where it may harm
persons or equipment. |
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Radioactive material
|
A naturally occurring or artificially
produced substance that is a solid, liquid, or gas, and that emits ionizing
radiation spontaneously. |
|
Radioactivity |
The process whereby isotopes of
certain elements spontaneously emit particles and/or rays from radioactive
materials. |
|
Radon |
Radioactive gas produced by the decay of
radium 226 or radium 224. |
|
Rafter
|
Lumber used to support the roof sheeting and
roof loads. Generally, 2 X 10's and 2 X 12's are used. The rafters of a flat
roof are sometimes called roof joists. |
|
Rafter, hip |
A rafter that forms the intersection of an
external roof angle. |
|
Rafter, valley |
A rafter that forms the intersection of an
internal roof angle. The valley rafter is normally made of double
2-inch-thick members. |
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Rail
|
Cross members of panel doors or of a sash.
Also, a wall or open balustrade placed at the edge of a staircase, walkway
bridge, or elevated surface to prevent people from falling off. Any
relatively lightweight horizontal element, especially those found in fences
(split rail). |
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Raise
|
Any of several accepted methods
of raising and placing ground ladders into service. |
|
Rake |
Slope or slanted. |
|
Rake fascia |
The vertical face of the sloping end of a
roof eave. |
|
Rake siding |
The practice of installing lap siding
diagonally |
|
Ranch |
A
single story, one level home. |
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Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) |
This will be a
crew who is established strictly for the purpose of rescuing emergency
personnel. Some form of RIT is required by NFPA 1500 and CFR 29 1910. They
will assemble a collection of rescue tools and spare breathing apparatus.
They cannot be used for firefighting unless a new crew is detailed to take
their place. These people can be rotated as relief to the fire if another
crew is detailed as the RIT. Note: While all of these versions of the name
for a firefighter rescue crew either have been used or continue to be used
in several areas, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) has
determined that Rapid Intervention Crew "RIC" will be the national term.
Currently, U.S. federally required training programs, from DHS and FEMA, are
in the process of standardizing many terms and procedures under NIMS. |
|
Rappel |
A method of descending for
emergency escape by means of a rope and descending friction device from
locations above the reach of fire department ladders. |
|
Rate
meter |
A
nuclear-radiation detection device. |
|
Rate of explosion |
Rate of decomposition measured in feet per
second in relation to the speed of sound. If subsonic, the rate is described
as a deflagration. If supersonic, the rate of decomposition is defined as a
detonation. |
|
Rate
of
rise
alarm
system |
One of the systems installed to
detect fire by an abnormal rate of heat increase; operates when a normal
amount of air in a pneumatic tube expands rapidly when heated and exerts
pressure on diaphragms. |
|
Rating
Bureau |
See
Insurance Services Office. |
|
Reaction,
chemical |
Any change in the composition of
matter that involves a conversion of one substance into another. |
|
Reactive material |
A material that by itself is readily capable
of detonation or explosive decomposition, or explosive reaction at normal or
elevated temperature and pressure. Substances capable of or tending to react
chemically with other substances. |
|
Reactivity |
A measure of the tendency of a substance to
undergo chemical reaction with the release of energy; the susceptibility of
material to release energy. |
|
Reagent |
A substance used in a chemical reaction to
produce another substance or for the detection, measurement, or analysis of
other materials. |
|
Rebar, reinforcing bar |
Ribbed steel bars installed in foundation
concrete walls, footers, and poured in place concrete structures designed to
strengthen concrete. Comes in various thickness' and strength grade. |
|
Recall |
To call off-duty firefighters
back to duty. |
|
Receptacle |
An electrical outlet. A typical household
will have many 120 volt receptacles for plugging in lamps and appliances and
240 volt receptacles for the range, clothes dryer, air conditioners, etc. |
|
Recon |
Abbreviation for reconnaissance. An
exploratory or preliminary survey, inspection, or examination made to gain
information. A primary survey to gather information. |
|
Recorders |
Individuals within ICS
organizational units who are responsible for recording information.
Recorders may be found in Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration
Units. |
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Recovery
|
The development, coordination,
and execution of service- and site-restoration plans; the reconstitution of
government operations and services; individual, private-sector,
nongovernmental, and public assistance programs to provide housing and to
promote restoration; long-term care and treatment of affected persons;
additional measures for social, political, environmental, and economic
restoration; evaluation of the incident to identify lessons learned; post
incident reporting; and development of initiatives to mitigate the effects
of future incidents. |
|
Red Line |
Red line is a hose
that is usually one inch in diameter and rubber jacketed. This type of hose
is used on small fires using the water carried in an apparatus' booster tank
and are usually stored on reels. Same as booster line. |
|
Reducer |
An appliance that is attached to a hose line
so that a line of a smaller diameter can then be connected. |
|
Reducer
couplings |
Couplings with a large and small
connector for connecting hose couplings of two different sizes. |
|
Reducing wye |
Wye that has two outlets smaller in diameter
than the inlet valve. Sometimes called a Leader Line Wye. |
|
Reflective insulation |
Sheet material with one or both faces covered
with aluminum foil. |
|
Refrigerant |
A substance that remains a gas at low
temperatures and pressure and can be used to transfer heat. Freon is an
example and is used in air conditioning systems. |
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Regulated material |
A substance or material that is subject to
regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department
of Transportation, or any other federal agency. |
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Reinforced concrete |
Concrete in which steel bars or webbing has
been embedded for strength. |
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Reinforced response |
Those resources requested in
addition to the initial response |
|
Rekindle |
The re-ignition of a fire because of latent heat, sparks, or smoldering
embers; can be prevented by proper overhaul. An instance where fire
department is called back to a location because of re-ignition. A rekindle
is considered somewhat of a professional embarrassment due to inadequate
opening up or overhauling. Re-ignition seven or eight hours after a severe
fire is not unusual and is one reason why watch lines and details should be
maintained for a considerable time after a major fire. Residual heat and
hidden embers may restart a fire several hours after it has been declared
out if overhauling has not been sufficiently thorough. |
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Relative
Humidity |
The percentage of moisture in the
air compared with the maximum amount of moisture that air will hold at a
given temperature. Or relative humidity is the ratio of water vapor in the
air to the maximum amount of vapor the air can hold at a given temperature
and pressure. Fire behavior is dependent on, and can be predicted from,
relative humidity. |
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Relay |
The use of two or more pumpers to
move water distances that would require excessive pressures if only one
pumper were employed. |
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Relay operation |
Using two or more pumpers to move water over
a long distance by operating them in series. Water discharged from
one-pumper flows through hoses to the inlet of the next pumper, and so on.
Also called Relay Pumping. |
|
Relay valve |
Pressure-relief device on the supply side of
the pump designed to protect the hose and pump from damaging pressure surges
common in relay pumping operations. |
|
Relay valve, in line |
Special valve that is inserted in the middle of a long relay hose;
allows an additional pumper to connect to the line to boost pressure without
having to interrupt the current flow of water. |
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Relay supply hose |
Hose
between the water source and the attack pumper, laid to provide large
volumes of water at low pressure. Also called Feeder Line or Supply Hose. |
|
Relief
Valve |
A spring-loaded device used to
bypass water in a pump when pressures exceed preset operating pressures;
designed to eliminate hazardous conditions resulting from excessive
pressures by allowing this pressure to bypass to the intake side of the
pump. |
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RELs |
Recommended Exposure Limits (recommendations
made by NIOSH). |
|
Remedial actions |
As in the National Contingency Plan,
responses to releases on the National Priority List that are consistent with
permanent remedy to prevent or mitigate the migration of a release of
hazardous substances into the environment. |
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Replacement air
|
The air supplied to a space to replace
exhausted air; compensating air; makeup air |
|
Reportable quantity |
As set forth in the Clean Water Act, the
minimum amount (pounds or kilograms) of a substance that may be discharged
in a 24 hour period that require notification of the appropriate government
agency. |
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Reporting locations
|
Location or facilities where
incoming resources can check in at the incident. (See Check-in.)
|
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Rescue |
Saving a life from fire or
accident; removing a victim from an untenable or unhealthy atmosphere. |
|
Rescue company
|
A rescue company is a term used
to describe a rescue truck and the firefighters used to staff it. A
rescue company is equipped and trained to handle a variety of duties
including search and rescue, medical treatment of victims, suppression at
the scene of a fire and the extrication of victims in motor vehicle
accidents. The actual duties of a rescue company can vary in different parts
of the country as does the term to describe one. A Rescue Company is called
a Squad in some areas while other areas use the term when referring to their
ambulances. |
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Rescue pumper |
Specially designed apparatus that combines
the functions of both a rescue vehicle and a fire department pumper. |
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Rescue squad |
A fire company specially trained
and assigned for rescue work. |
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Reserve apparatus |
Apparatus not scheduled to
respond to fires in normal or first-line duty, but available for emergencies
or replacing first-line equipment. |
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Reset |
To return fire protection or
detection equipment to its original standby position after operation; to
reset a fire alarm box or a sprinkler system. |
|
Residual pressure |
Pressure
remaining at a given point in a system while water is flowing. |
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Resistor |
Any device of material that limits the flow
of current when voltage is applied. |
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Resource management |
Efficient incident management
requires a system for identifying available resources at all jurisdictional
levels to enable timely and unimpeded access to resources needed to prepare
for, respond to, or recover from an incident. Resource management under the
NIMS includes mutual-aid agreements; the use of special Federal, State,
local, and tribal teams; and resource mobilization protocols. |
|
Resources |
Personnel and major items of equipment, supplies, and facilities available
or potentially available for assignment to incident operations and for which
status is maintained. Resources are described by kind and type and may be
used in operational support or supervisory capacities at an incident or at
an EOC. The personnel and materials available to the fire department to aid
in providing fire service to the public. |
|
Resources Unit |
Functional Unit within the
Planning Section responsible for recording the status of resources committed
to the incident. The Unit also evaluates resources currently committed to
the incident, the impact that additional responding resources will have on
the incident, and anticipated resource needs. |
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Respiration |
See artificial resuscitation. |
|
Respirator |
A device usually worn over the nose and mouth
to prevent a person from inhaling harmful substances in contaminated air. |
|
Respiratory asphyxiant |
A
material that prevents or reduces the available oxygen necessary for normal
breathing. Divided into simple and chemical asphyxiants. |
|
Respiratory hazards |
Gases and by-products of
combustion that are hazardous to firefighters and rescue workers when
inhaled. |
|
Respiratory protection |
Equipment designed to protect the wearer from
the inhalation of contaminants. Respiratory protection is divided into three
types: positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), positive
pressure airline respirators (SARs), and air purifying respirators. |
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Responding to an Alarm
|
Fire company under way or traveling to a fire
in response to an official alarm or emergency call. |
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Response |
Activities that address the
short-term, direct effects of an incident. Response includes immediate
actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs.
Response also includes the execution of emergency operations plans and of
mitigation activities designed to limit the loss of life, personal injury,
property damage, and other unfavorable outcomes. As indicated by the
situation, response activities include applying intelligence and other
information to lessen the effects or consequences of an incident; increased
security operations; continuing investigations into nature and source of the
threat; ongoing public health and agricultural surveillance and testing
processes; immunizations, isolation, or quarantine; and specific law
enforcement operations aimed at preempting, interdicting, or disrupting
illegal activity, and apprehending actual perpetrators and bringing them to
justice. |
|
Response Area |
Also known as First Due Area this is the
amount of land that is covered by one fire company. |
|
RESTAT |
Resources Status |
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Resuscitation |
See artificial resuscitation. |
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Retaining wall
|
A wall to hold back an earth embankment.
|
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Return air
|
The air removed from an occupied space and
returned to the air handler to be exhausted or recirculated |
|
Reveal
|
Side of an opening of a window or door. |
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Reverse lay
|
When supply hose is laid from
the fire to the water source, placing the pump at the source of water. This
method is used when the apparatus laying the hose does not pass the water
source when approaching the scene. It may also be used when an apparatus
making a Forward Lay from the water source runs out of hose before getting
on location. (See also forward lay) |
|
Ribbon |
Wood
strip let into the studs to provide a bearing for joists. |
|
Ribbon (girt) |
Normally a 1 X 4 board let into the studs
horizontally to support the ceiling or second-floor joists. |
|
Ridge |
The horizontal line at the junction of the
top edges of two sloping roof surfaces. |
|
Ridge board |
The board placed on the ridge of the roof
onto which the upper ends of other rafters are fastened. |
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Ridge cap |
A wood or metal cap used over roofing at the
ridge. |
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Ridge shingles |
Shingles used to cover the ridge board. |
|
Rig |
Any piece of fire apparatus. |
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Rigid metal conduit |
This conduit resembles plumbing pipe,
protecting wires from damage. |
|
Rim joist |
A joist that runs around the perimeter of the
floor joists and home. |
|
Riprap |
Stones placed on a slope to prevent erosion.
Also broken stone used for foundation fill. |
|
Rise
|
The vertical distance from the eaves line to
the ridge. Also the vertical distance from stair tread to stair tread (and
not to exceed 7 ½") |
|
Rise |
The vertical height of a roof. |
|
Riser |
a) A vertical water pipe used to
carry water for fire protection systems above grade, such as a standpipe
riser, or sprinkler riser. b) Each of the vertical boards closing the
spaces between the treads of stairways. |
|
Riser and panel |
The exterior vertical pipe (riser) and metal
electric box (panel) the electrician provides and installs at the "Rough
Electric" stage. |
|
Risk |
a) The degree of peril; the possible harm
that might occur. b) The statistical probability or quantitative estimate
of the frequency or severity of injury or loss. |
|
Risk analysis |
A process to analyze the probability that
harm may occur to life, property, and the environment and to note the risks
to be taken to identify the incident objectives. |
|
Risk assessment |
The use of factual base to define the health
effects of exposure of individuals or populations to hazardous materials and
situations. |
|
Risk management |
The complex judgment and analysis that uses
the results of risk assessments to produce decisions about environmental
actions to be initiated. The process of weighing policy alternatives and
selecting the most appropriate regulatory action integrating the results of
risk assessment with engineering data and with social and economic concerns
to reach a decision. |
|
Risk management programs |
Required under EPA's proposed 40 CFR Part 68, risk management programs
consist of three elements: (1) hazard assessment of the facility; (2)
prevention program; and (3) emergency response considerations. |
|
Risk-benefit analysis |
The process of analyzing and comparing, on a
single scale, the expected positive (i.e., benefits) and negative (i.e.,
risks/costs) results of an action. |
|
RIT (Rapid Intervention Team)
|
Same as FAST Truck |
|
Road performance test |
A series of tests required to determine the performance ability of
fire apparatus |
|
Road tests |
Pre-service apparatus maneuverability tests
designed to determine the road-worthiness of a new vehicle. |
|
Rock wool
|
An insulating material that looks like wool
but is composed of such substances as granite or silica. |
|
Roentgen [R]
|
A unit of exposure to ionizing radiation. The
amount of gamma or X-radiation required to produce ions carrying 1
electrostatic unit of electrical charge in 1 cubic centimeter of dry air at
standard conditions. |
|
Roll roofing |
Asphalt roofing products manufactured in roll
form. 36-inch wide rolls with and 108 square feet of material. Weights are
generally 45 to 90 pounds per roll. |
|
Rollover |
Condition that occurs when a portion of the
fire gases trapped at the upper level of a room ignites, spreading flame
across the ceiling of the room. See Flame over |
|
Romex |
A
nonmetallic sheathed cable consisting of two or more insulated conductors
having an outer sheath of moisture resistant, nonmetallic material. The
conductor insulation is rubber, neoprene, thermoplastic or a moisture
resistant flame retardant fibrous material. There are two types: NM and NMC
- described earlier. Romex should be secured between boxes with straps. It
is not used underground but can be used in residential garages. One
disadvantage is that it can be mechanically broken. It can not be used in
commercial structures, nor in concrete and can not be buried. |
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Roof jack |
Sleeves that fit around the black plumbing
waste vent pipes at, and are nailed to, the roof sheeting. |
|
Roof joist |
The rafters of a flat roof. Lumber used to
support the roof sheeting and roof loads. Generally, 2 X 10's and 2 X 12's
are used. |
|
Roof ladder |
A
straight ladder with folding hooks at the top end; the hooks anchor the
ladder over the roof ridge. |
|
Roof sheathing or
sheeting |
The wood panels or sheet material fastened to the roof rafters or
trusses on which the shingle or other roof covering is laid. |
|
Roof valley
|
The "V" created where two sloping roofs meet. |
|
Rookie academy |
A special school to indoctrinate
newly-appointed firefighters in the rudiments of all fire service subjects. |
|
Rope hose tool |
A piece of rope spliced to form a
loop through the eye of a metal hook; used to secure hose to ladders or
other objects. See hose strap and hose belt. |
|
ROSS |
Resource Ordering and Status System |
|
Rotary gear positive displacement pumps |
Type of positive
displacement pump commonly used in hydraulic systems. The pump imparts
pressure on the hydraulic fluid by having two intermeshing rotary gears that
force the supply of hydraulic oil into the pump casing chamber. |
|
Rotary vane pump |
Type of positive displacement pump used
commonly in hydraulic systems. A rotor with attached vanes is mounted
off-center inside the pump housing. Pressure is imparted on the water as the
space between the rotor and the pump housing wall decreases. |
|
Rotary wing aircraft |
Commonly referred to as a helicopter. Unlike
a conventional airplane (known as fixed wing aircraft), lift is provided by
the use of rotating wings, acting as airfoils. These airfoils are sometimes
called blades. |
|
Rough floor |
The sub floor on which the finished floor is
laid. |
|
Rough hardware
|
All the concealed fasteners in a building,
such as nails, bolts, and hangers. |
|
Rough lumber
|
Lumber as it comes from the saw.
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