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 opinionregarding a fire or explosion is something that is required in the field of fire investigation. Using thescientific method, the testing of hypotheses may be cognitive or experimental (3). While cognitive testingis certainly essential, its ability to be effective during the evaluation process can be greatly enhancedthrough the utilization of fire testing. This article is intended to demonstrate the value of fire testing toformulate and/or test hypotheses, generate additional data for consideration, answer specific questionswith minimal subjectivity and demonstrate scientifically for others the basis for the final selectedhypothesis. For the purpose of this article the focus is testing the flammability characteristics of materialsinvolved, 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.