Things are slowly changing within 1033. The influx of NAFI members and members of the 921 Technical Committee has, to a great extent, fueled this change. In addition, the wide acceptance of 921 in the fire investigation and legal communities (plaintiff and defense trial lawyers, and judges) has also caused some of these changes.

There currently is an ROP out for the 2008 version of 1033. (www.nfap.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=1033)

The deadline for public comments on that ROP is August 31, 2007

As for NAFI’s input into the document, NAFI put forward 14 public proposals, the major ones are included here (presented here in their finalized form as accepted by the Technical Committee):

“1.3* The investigator shall have and maintain at a minimum an up-to date
basic knowledge of the following topics beyond the high school level at a postsecondary
education level: Fire Science: Fire Chemistry: Thermodynamics; Thermometry; Fire Dynamics; Explosion Dynamics; Computer Fire Modeling; Fire Investigation; Fire
Analysis: Fire Investigation Methodology: Fire Investigation Technology; Hazardous Materials; and Failure Analysis and Analytical Tools.”

“A.1.3 Basic up-to-date information on these topics can be found in the current
edition of NFPA 9 1, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations.”

“Delete NFPA 47 as a referenced document and add it to the Annex C
Informational References.”

“3.3.3 Fire Investigator. An individual who has demonstrated the skills and
knowledge necessary to conduct, coordinate, and complete an a fire
investigation.”

“Delete Section 4.1. and the attendant Annex A Explanatory Material.”

“4.7.1* Prepare a written report, given investigative findings, documentation,
and a specific audience, so that the report accurately reflects the investigative
findings, is concise, expresses the investigator’s opinion, contains facts and
data that the investigator relies upon in rendering an opinion, contains the
reasoning of the investigator by which each opinion was reached, and meets
the needs or requirements of the intended audience(s).”

“A 4.7.1 For additional information regarding the contents of a written report
and evaluation methods, see ASTM, E620, Standard Practice for Reporting
Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts and ASTM E678, Standard Practice
for the Evaluation of Technical Data.”

Pat Kennedy, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE
Fire and Explosion Analyst
Sarasota, Florida
[www.kennedy-fire.com]