The ignitability of petrol vapours and potential for vapour phase explosion by use of TASER (R) law enforcement electronic control device

摘要

An experimental study was made of the potential of the TASER-X26 (TM) law enforcement electronic control device to ignite petrol vapours if used by an officer to incapacitate a person soaked in petrol, or within a flammable atmosphere containing petrol vapour. Bench scale tests have shown that a wooden mannequin with pig skin covering the chest was a suitable representation of a human target. Full scale tests using the mannequin have shown that the arc from a TASER-X26 (TM) is capable of igniting petrol/air vapours on a petrol-soaked person. Further tests in a 1/5 scale and a full scale compartment have shown that if a TASER is used within a compartment, a petrol vapour explosion (deflagration) may be achieved. It is evident from this research that if used in a flammable vapour rich environment, the device could prove fatal not only to the target but the TASER (R) operator as well. (C) 2014 Forensic Science Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.