Fire/Arson Investigations : Fire/Arson Investigations
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Fire Chemistry Module
Posted by: dcarpenter (IP Logged)
Date: November 10, 2017 12:06PM
I have watched most of the modules on CFItrainer and find them to provide reasonably valuable in terms of educating fire investigators. However, I just completed the module on Fire Chemistry and found it to be significantly lacking in valuable content related to fire chemistry.
The goal of this module is:
"NFPA 1033 section 1.3.7 requires that fire investigators obtain and maintain an "up-to-date basic knowledge…beyond the high school level" of fire chemistry. This module addresses the foundations of fire chemistry and places it within the context of fire scene investigations. Topics discussed include fire, fuels, heat, ignition, flame, and flame spread. The program also discusses how fire chemistry knowledge may be applied in fire investigations."
The model contained almost no content related to chemistry and fires. The content was mostly related to the physics of fire and not the chemistry of fire. Admittedly, sometimes it is difficult to separate phenomenon into physics versus chemistry, so there is some crossover in the discussion of fire chemistry.
What is lacking in content is any discussion of the fundamentals of chemistry, thermochemistry, chemical equilibrium, thermal decomposition, and combustion kinetics. The fundamentals associated with these subject areas are required knowledge to understand combustion and fire (e.g. ignition, self-heating, production of toxic products of combustion). Thus, this module does not provide basic knowledge of fire chemistry. Actually, NFPA 921 does not provide a basic understanding of fire chemistry beyond providing a list of references in the appendices. The section on "How do fire investigators apply fire chemistry to investigations?" is 1:31 in duration and just provides references to other modules that should be viewed.
The point being the fire investigator should not rely on this module for basic knowledge of fire chemistry consistent with the requirements of NFPA 1033. The fire investigator should consult the references provided in Section A.5.2 (2017 Edition) for this basic understanding of fire chemistry related to NFPA 1033. "Principles of Fire Protection Chemistry and Physics" by Friedman or Drysdale's chapter in the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering titled "Chemistry Physics of Fire" would be the recommended initial references to start with.
Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com
The goal of this module is:
"NFPA 1033 section 1.3.7 requires that fire investigators obtain and maintain an "up-to-date basic knowledge…beyond the high school level" of fire chemistry. This module addresses the foundations of fire chemistry and places it within the context of fire scene investigations. Topics discussed include fire, fuels, heat, ignition, flame, and flame spread. The program also discusses how fire chemistry knowledge may be applied in fire investigations."
The model contained almost no content related to chemistry and fires. The content was mostly related to the physics of fire and not the chemistry of fire. Admittedly, sometimes it is difficult to separate phenomenon into physics versus chemistry, so there is some crossover in the discussion of fire chemistry.
What is lacking in content is any discussion of the fundamentals of chemistry, thermochemistry, chemical equilibrium, thermal decomposition, and combustion kinetics. The fundamentals associated with these subject areas are required knowledge to understand combustion and fire (e.g. ignition, self-heating, production of toxic products of combustion). Thus, this module does not provide basic knowledge of fire chemistry. Actually, NFPA 921 does not provide a basic understanding of fire chemistry beyond providing a list of references in the appendices. The section on "How do fire investigators apply fire chemistry to investigations?" is 1:31 in duration and just provides references to other modules that should be viewed.
The point being the fire investigator should not rely on this module for basic knowledge of fire chemistry consistent with the requirements of NFPA 1033. The fire investigator should consult the references provided in Section A.5.2 (2017 Edition) for this basic understanding of fire chemistry related to NFPA 1033. "Principles of Fire Protection Chemistry and Physics" by Friedman or Drysdale's chapter in the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering titled "Chemistry Physics of Fire" would be the recommended initial references to start with.
Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com
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