Unit 1: NFPA and the scientific method Flashcards
A document, advisory or informative in
nature and contains only nonmandatory
provisions.
Guide
A document containing mandatory
provisions, using the word “shall” to indicate
requirements. It is generally suitable for
mandatory reference by another standard or
code or for adoption into law.
Standard
A level of conduct exercised
by a reasonably prudent professional. A judicial
term with legal implications.
Standard of care
NFPA 921 committee members are
made up of interested parties:
Public sector. ‒ Private sector. ‒ Manufacturers. ‒ Attorneys.
Standards are revised every
5 years (shall)
Guides are revised every
3 years (should)
NFPA 1033 is revised every
5 years
NFPA 921 is revised every
3 years
• Identifies minimum job performance requirements (JPRs) for both public and private sector investigators. • Failure to meet these minimum JPRs or comply with this document can preclude you from testifying.
NFPA 1033
How many chapters does NFPA 1033 contain?
4
What are they?
‒ Administration (Scope/Purpose). ‒ Referenced Publications. ‒ Definitions (20). ‒ Fire Investigator (requisite knowledge/skills, JPRs).
NFPA 1033
Chapter 1 states the investigator shall have and
maintain, at a minimum, an up-to-date basic
knowledge of the following ____ topics beyond the high-school level.
16
The body of knowledge concerning the study of fire and related subjects (e.g., combustion, flame, heat transfer, thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics, fire safety), and their interaction with people, structures and the environment.
Fire Science
The study of chemical processes that occur in fires, including changes in state, decomposition and combustion (e.g., pyrolysis).
Fire chemistry
The science of energy conversion involving
heat (e.g., heat transfer).
Thermodynamics
• The science and practice of temperature measurement (heat versus temperature). • Heat is energy. • Temperature is a measurement of energy. • Fahrenheit, Celsius, Rankin, Kelvin.
Thermometry
The detailed study of how chemistry, fire science, and the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact to influence fire behavior.
Fire Dynamics
The study of explosions and their associated
effects.
Explosion Dynamics
Using quantitative information to provide an understanding of the complexities of fire and the factors that influence fire growth and spread.
Computer Fire Modeling
The process of determining the origin, cause
and development of a fire or an explosion.
Fire Investigation
The process of determining the origin, cause, development, responsibility and, when required, failure analysis of a fire or an explosion.
Fire Analysis
The organizational and analytical process necessary in a successful fire investigation (i.e., the scientific method).
Fire Methodology
Describe what equipment is used to process the scene, and analyze evidence collected from the scene (e.g., cameras, thermocouples and meters).
Fire Investigation Technology
Safety recommendations for environments containing hazardous substances and proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
Hazardous Materials
Methods and tools used to analyze fires of any size and organize information collected during the investigation
Fire analysis and analytical tools
An understanding of the role that fire protection systems play in detection and suppression, as well as how fire growth and spread were affected (added in 2014).
Fire Protection Systems
Accepted principles and practices to properly document, collect and package fire scene evidence to support origin and cause determinations (added in 2014).
Evidence collection, preservation and documentation
An understanding of the role that electricity and electrical equipment play in fire causation (i.e., victim versus cause) (added in 2014).
Electricity and electrical systems
“This document is designed to produce a systematic,
working framework or outline by which effective fire and
explosion investigations and origin-and-cause analysis
can be accomplished. …
Deviations from these
procedures, however, are not necessarily wrong or
inferior, but need to be justified.”
NFPA 921
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_defines a guide as a document that is advisory or informative in nature and that contains only nonmandatory provisions. Not suitable for adoption into law.
NFPA 921, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.3
WHO USES NATIONAL FIRE
PROTECTION ASSOCIATION 921?
• Fire investigators to support their conclusions. • Attorneys to support or contest opinions. • Judges to qualify witnesses. • Agencies as the basis for training and education programs.
a level of conduct, exercised by a reasonably prudent professional. Courts have held NFPA 921 and 1033 as the “standards of care” for fire investigation.
Standard of Care
An extensive resume-style document listing of
your experience, training and education.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Challenges in the courtroom include?
• Investigator qualifications. • Methodology used. • Knowledge of fire science. • Quality of documentation. •Opinion reached and how.
The systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and definition of a problem ; the collection of data through observation and experimentation; analysis of the data ; the formulation, evaluation and testing of a hypothesis ; and, when possible, the selection of a final hypothesis.
Scientific Method
What are the 7 steps in the scientific process?
Recognize the need Define the problem Collect data Analyze the data Form a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Select a final hypothesis
The scientific method is applied to fire
investigation by using a
Systematic approach
A rapid oxidation process, which is a chemical reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying intensities.
Fire
What is the purpose of testing the hypothesis?
To disprove your hypothesis
