UTILIZATION OF FIRE TESTING TO EFFECTIVELY FORMULATE AND/OR TEST HYPOTHESES RELATING TO FIRE ORIGIN AND PROGRESSION

摘要

The application of the scientific method in order to arrive at a reliable professional opinion regarding a fire or explosion is something that is required in the field of fire investigation. Using the scientific method, the testing of hypotheses may be cognitive or experimental (3). While cognitive testing is certainly essential, its ability to be effective during the evaluation process can be greatly enhanced through the utilization of fire testing. This article is intended to demonstrate the value of fire testing to formulate and/or test hypotheses, generate additional data for consideration, answer specific questions with minimal subjectivity and demonstrate scientifically for others the basis for the final selected hypothesis. For the purpose of this article the focus is testing the flammability characteristics of materials involved, the evaluation of fire spread through the use of compartmentalized and full-scale burn testing, and conducting and correlating case specific testing as part of the determination of a fire’s origin.