Autoextension

nounStandard termFire & Safety

The vertical spread of fire on the exterior of a building from a lower window to an upper window.

A fire behavior phenomenon where flames vent out of a window, travel upward along the exterior wall, and shatter the glass of the window directly above. The fire then enters the upper floor, bypassing internal fire barriers. This rapid exterior spread is a major threat in multi-story structures.

Heard on the job

We have heavy fire showing on floor three with autoextension to floor four.

Also heard as

  • lap-around