I just read an interesting article in the Fire & Arson Investigation Journal. It was under the Fire Investigation Standard Committee Bulletin Board. It talked about the new upcoming editions of 921 and 1033. In addition, it talked about a new standard being developed by NFPA. This standard it to be called, “Standard for the Organization and Operation of Fire Investigation Units”. It appears those involved are looking to replace the present ISO requirements for the accreditation of fire investigation units and private companies.

It appears National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) created OSAC to help advance the forensic sciences. OSAC is the Organization of Scientific Area Committees. One of the sub-committees is the Fire and Explosion Investigation Subcommittee. One objective of this subcommittee addresses matters relating to the investigation, analysis, and interpretation of fire and explosion incidents. According to the article the scope of this sub-committee will have primary responsibility for standards relating to the development and composition of Fire Investigation Units (FIU).

This article goes into detail much more than I will be going into. What it appears is that this is an attempt to develop a specific standard through the NFPA standard development process to replace what is being used, the ISO Standard, presently for the accreditation of private fire investigation companies and public fire investigation units.

Accreditation to an ISO certification is something that is accepted around the world. Presently, I know of no NFPA standard that is equally accepted when it comes to the fire service.

In the past the NFPA had developed specific requirement for fire department operations, which include manning, equipment and tools. From what I do see these standard are not being used to grade fire department. There does not seem to be a general acceptance of these NFPA documents. In majority of the cases, the fire departments are being graded using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Public Protection Classification. Where ISO uses NFPA Standards to some point in what an apparatus need to carry, the areas of training to be covered for firefighters, it retains the authority to designate the required number of hours the individual must be exposed to in a specific time.
When it comes to investigation ISO states, “All personnel assigned to perform investigation of the causes and origins of fires must be certified, in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator.” With this being ISO’s requirement what is this new standard attempting to accomplish?
I am sure my knowledge is limited compared to other, but let me suggest any one involved with fire investigations read this article.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group