Electricity, Energy Systems, Fire Protection & Vertical Transportation

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from electricity basics, energy sources, electrical systems, HVAC, fire protection, elevators and escalators. Suitable for exam review.

Benjamin Franklin

18th-century American who proved lightning is electrical by flying a kite with a key.

Michael Faraday

English scientist who discovered electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and electrolysis; invented the transformer.

Alessandro Volta

Italian physicist who invented the first electric battery and studied “animal electricity.”

Electricity

Physical phenomena arising from the presence and motion of electric charge; basis of electric power and electronics.

Atom

Smallest unit of an element, consisting of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons.

Static Electricity

Electrical charge produced by an imbalance of electrons on a material’s surface.

Magnet

Object whose spinning electrons create a magnetic field with north- and south-seeking poles.

Renewable Energy

Clean energy continuously replenished by natural sources such as water, sun, wind, earth heat, and biomass.

Hydropower

Electricity generated from the energy of moving water.

Geothermal Power

Energy obtained from heat within the Earth, usually via drilled steam or hot-water wells.

Solar Power

Electricity or heat produced from sunlight using photovoltaic or thermal technologies.

Wind Power

Generation of electricity from kinetic energy of wind via turbines.

Biomass Power

Energy derived from organic plant or animal material such as wood, garbage, crops or landfill gas.

Non-renewable Energy

Energy sources like coal, oil, natural gas and uranium that deplete faster than they are formed.

Coal

Combustible sedimentary rock formed from ancient plants; major fossil fuel for electricity.

Anthracite

Highest-rank, hard, shiny coal with the greatest carbon content and heating value.

Bituminous Coal

Middle-rank coal; high heating value and most common fuel for power plants.

Sub-bituminous Coal

Dull black coal with heating value between lignite and bituminous grades.

Lignite

Lowest-rank ‘brown’ coal with least carbon concentration.

Petroleum (Oil)

Liquid fossil fuel from ancient marine organisms; refined into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc.

Crude Oil

Unrefined petroleum as pumped from the ground; must be processed before use.

Oil Refinery

Industrial plant that separates crude oil into usable fuels and by-products.

Gasoline

Primary refined product of crude oil used as motor fuel.

Natural Gas

Fossil gas composed about 90 % of methane; used for heating, power and as feedstock.

Propane

Liquefied gas extracted from natural gas and petroleum; portable fuel.

Nuclear Energy

Power released from atomic nuclei via fission or fusion; present reactors split uranium.

RA 9513

Philippine Renewable Energy Act of 2008 promoting accelerated use of renewables.

RA 9729

Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 recognizing climate vulnerability and adaptation needs.

Philippine Electrical Code (PEC)

National code that safeguards persons and property from electrical hazards.

Ampere (A)

SI unit of electric current, named for André-Marie Ampère.

Alternating Current (AC)

Current whose electrons rapidly reverse direction under alternating voltage.

Direct Current (DC)

Current that flows continuously in one direction through a closed circuit.

Volt (V)

Unit of electric potential difference between two points in a circuit.

Voltage

Electric ‘pressure’ that forces electrons to move; measured in volts.

Ohm’s Law

Relationship V = I × R linking voltage, current and resistance in a conductor.

Watt (W)

Unit of electrical power equal to one joule per second; named for James Watt.

Circuit

Complete conducting path through which electric current can flow.

Series Circuit

Circuit in which the same current passes sequentially through all components.

Parallel Circuit

Circuit where current divides into multiple paths before recombining.

Conductor

Material, such as metals or salt solutions, that allows electrons to flow freely.

Insulator

Material (e.g., rubber, glass) that resists electron flow.

Transformer

Electrical machine that transfers electrical energy between circuits via electromagnetic induction.

Service Drop Cable

Overhead cable running from the utility pole to a building’s weatherhead.

Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable (NM/“Romex”)

Plastic-sheathed cable widely used for residential interior wiring.

Metal Clad (MC) Cable

Cable with metallic covering that protects insulated conductors; suitable for exposed installations.

Coaxial Cable

Communication cable with concentric conductors used for RF signals and television.

Fiber-Optic Cable

Cable transmitting data as light pulses through glass or plastic fibers.

Cable Raceway

Surface-mounted pathway that routes and conceals wiring.

Electrical Conduit

Protective piping system (metallic or non-metallic) used to route electrical conductors.

Parallel Outlet (Type A)

Common Philippine socket with two flat prongs; ungrounded.

Universal Outlet

Socket that accepts multiple plug types (A, B, C, G) with less sturdy grip.

Junction Box

Enclosure that houses electrical connections and branch points.

Single-Pole Switch

Basic wall switch that controls a circuit from one location using two terminals.

Three-Way Switch

Switch that allows control of a load from two different locations.

Circuit Breaker

Automatic switch that disconnects a circuit when overcurrent or fault conditions occur.

GFCI Breaker

Breaker that trips on ground-fault currents, providing shock protection in wet areas.

AFCI Breaker

Breaker that trips on detected arcing to prevent electrical fires.

Electric Meter

Device that measures a building’s electrical energy consumption.

HVAC

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system providing indoor thermal comfort.

Supply Fan

HVAC component that forces conditioned air into the supply ductwork.

Cooling Tower

Heat-rejection device that dissipates waste heat from water-cooled chillers.

Chiller

Machine that removes heat from water to supply cooling to a building.

Central HVAC System

System whose major equipment is located outside served zones and distributes conditioned air or water.

Single-Zone System

All-air HVAC serving one thermal zone with common supply air.

Fan-Coil Unit

Small terminal device containing a fan and heating/cooling coil to condition local air.

Water-Source Heat Pump

Unit that exchanges heat with a water loop to heat or cool spaces efficiently.

Decentralized HVAC System

Local system such as window or split AC serving individual zones without central plant.

Air Conditioning (AC)

Simultaneous control of air temperature, humidity, cleanliness and motion for comfort.

Willis Carrier

Engineer known as the ‘Father of Air Conditioning’ who built the first modern AC (1902).

Inverter AC

AC unit that varies compressor speed for energy-saving, precise temperature control.

Window-Type AC

Self-contained AC unit installed in a wall/window opening; most economical option.

Split-Type AC

AC consisting of an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor evaporator unit.

Compressor

Outdoor-unit component that raises refrigerant pressure and temperature.

Condenser

Heat-exchange coil where hot, high-pressure refrigerant releases heat and condenses.

Expansion Valve

Device that drops refrigerant pressure before it enters the evaporator coil.

Evaporator Coil

Indoor coil where liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates, cooling indoor air.

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)

Ratio of cooling output to power input; higher EER indicates more efficient AC.

Fire Protection System

Building systems designed to detect, suppress or contain fires and protect occupants.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)

Government fire service agency of the Philippines under DILG.

RA 9514 (Fire Code)

Comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines establishing fire safety regulations.

Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS)

Network of detectors, control panels and notification devices that alert occupants to fire.

Control Panel Unit (FACP)

“Brain” of an FDAS that monitors inputs and activates alarms and outputs.

Heat Detector

Fire sensor that activates when a set temperature or rate-of-rise is reached.

Ionization Smoke Detector

Detector using ionized air chambers to sense combustion particles.

Photoelectric (Light Scattering) Detector

Smoke detector using the Tyndall effect to sense light scattered by smoke.

Light-Obscuring Detector

Smoke detector that measures decrease in light between a source and photocell.

Carbon Monoxide Detector

Sensor that triggers alarm when elevated CO, a poisonous combustion gas, is detected.

Multi-Sensor Detector

Alarm device combining smoke and heat sensing for wider fire detection range.

Manual Call Point

Break-glass station allowing occupants to manually trigger a fire alarm.

Conventional Fire Alarm

System where zones of detectors are hard-wired without individual device addresses.

Addressable Fire Alarm

System where each detector has an electronic address, enabling pinpointed alarms.

Passive Fire Protection (PFP)

Fire-resistant building components that contain fire and smoke without active intervention.

Fire Door

Special door rated to resist fire spread for a specified period.

Fire Blanket

Fiberglass or wool sheet used to smother small fires or wrap burning victims.

Fire Extinguisher

Portable device that expels an agent to suppress or extinguish incipient fires.

Fire Extinguisher Ball

Self-activating spherical extinguisher that bursts and releases agent when exposed to flame.

Standpipe

Fixed vertical/horizontal piping system that supplies water for hose connections inside a building.

Dry Standpipe

Standpipe without permanent water; relies on fire engine pumping during emergencies.

Wet Standpipe

Standpipe permanently filled with water and equipped with hoses for quick use.

Sprinkler System

Automatic water-based fire suppression network fed by a dedicated supply.