What defines the maximum temperature for sustained combustion of vapors?

The fire point is the temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapors that can sustain combustion when exposed to an ignition source. It is an important parameter because it indicates the minimum temperature at which a substance can continue to burn once ignited.

Understanding the fire point is crucial in firefighting and safety protocols, as it helps in assessing the risks associated with various flammable materials. While the flash point indicates the lowest temperature at which vapor can ignite momentarily, the fire point defines the temperature required for vapors to not only ignite but also continue burning. This distinction is vital for creating effective fire prevention strategies and for ensuring that safety measures are in place to avoid situations where materials are at risk of sustaining combustion.

In contrast, flash point refers to a temporary ignition, combustion temperature generally refers more broadly to the temperatures involved in combustion, and vapor density relates to the weight of vapor compared to air, which is important for understanding how vapors behave but does not directly define combustion sustainability.