Which term is used for the spontaneous ignition of materials due to heat generation?

The appropriate term for the spontaneous ignition of materials due to heat generation is self-ignition. This phenomenon occurs when a material reaches its ignition temperature without an external ignition source, typically as a result of ongoing chemical reactions, biological processes, or oxidation that generates heat internally.

Self-ignition is critical in fire investigations as it provides insights into potential ignition sources and helps investigators understand how and why a fire may have started in the absence of an identifiable arson or direct spark.

While self-heating refers to the process of heat accumulation leading up to ignition and combustion describes the chemical reaction of burning when a fuel combines with an oxidizing agent, those terms do not specifically denote the point of ignition itself. Flashover, on the other hand, describes a rapid transition during a fire when all combustible materials in an area ignite almost simultaneously, but this term does not pertain to the initial process of spontaneous ignition. Understanding these distinctions is vital for accurately assessing fire incidents and their origins.