Well said. I understand the dirty 16 is no longer were it was in the document. Some of the 15 has been completely removed. This is why in the beginning I was in agreement that 921 should be a Guide and not a Standard. I do believe in the scientific method. When in came up in the first meeting of the 921 committee Pat Kennedy showed me how I was already using it in my investigations. His explanation made me not only comfortable with it being in the document but agreeing it was something that fire investigators should follow. He told me to know the scientific method and be able to explain it and to use the remainder of the test as reference material.

1033 is different in that it is a standard. I believe the committee for that document is making necessary changes that will prevent some attorney picking it up and asking the 16 questions in an effort to have you disqualified. This new revision will not be perfect but it is going iin the right direction.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group