1. NFPA 1033 Stan- Facilitates safe, accurate investigations by specifying the job
performance requiredard for Profes- ments (JPRs) necessary to perform as a fire
investigator in both the private and sional Qualifica- public sectors. tions for Fire
Investigator
2. NFPA 921: Guide of fire and explosion incidents" (section 1.2.1). Familiarity
for Fire and with NFPA 921 is strongly recommended by National
Explosion Association of Fire Investigators and the International
Investigations Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). NFPA 921 forms a
large basis of the information which a professional fire
investigator must know to pass the various Fire Investigator
Certification (NAFI and IAAI) examinations.
is the destruction or alteration of evidence through intention
3. Spoliation or ignorance.
4. Qualification The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), through a
Guide for Fire and document known as NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional
Explosion Requirements for Fire Investigator, publishes minimum
Investigations", is a peer requirements for the knowledge skills and ability of a fire
reviewed document that investigator. Principal among these is a 16-point list of areas in
is published by the which a fire investigator is required to have education beyond
high school level. These 16 topics are:
National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA). Its
Fire science
purpose is "to establish
Fire chemistry
guidelines and Thermodynamics
recommendations for Thermometry
the safe and systematic Fire dynamics
investigation or analysis Explosion dynamics
, NFPA 921 Definitions Questions and Answers with Complete Solutions
Computer fire modeling Fire analysis
Fire investigation
Fire investigation methodology
Fire investigation technology
Hazardous materials
Failure analysis and analytical tools
5. Witnesses infor- The analysis of observations reported by persons who witnessed
the fire or were mation and/or aware of conditions present at the time of the fire
as well as the analysis of
Electronic Data electronic data such as security camera, footage, alarm system
activation, or other such data recorded in and around the time
of the fire event
6. Fire Patterns The analysis of effects and patterns left by the fire
7. ARC Mapping The analysis of the locations where electrical arcing has caused
damage and the documentation of the involved electrical circuits
8. Fire Dynamics The analysis of the fire dynamics[i.e., the physics and chemistry of
fire initiation and growth and the interaction between the fire and the buildings
system
9. Code A standard that is an extensive compilation of provisions covering broad
subject
matter or that is suitable for adoption into law independently
of other codes and standards.
10. Standard An NFPA standard, the main text of which contains only mandatory
provisions using the word "shall" to indicate requirements and that is in a form
, NFPA 921 Definitions Questions and Answers with Complete Solutions
generally suitable for mandatory reference by another standard or code or for
adoption into law. Includes all NFPA standards, including codes, standards,
recommended practices and guides.
11. Absolute Tem- A temperature measured in Kelvins or Rankines perature
12. Accelerant A fuel or oxidizer, often an ignitable liquid, intentionally used to initiate
a fire or increase the rate of growth or spread of fire.
13. Accident An unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes causes
injury or damage or a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an
unexpected happening due to carelessness, ignorance, and the like.
14. Active Fire Pro- A system that uses moving mechanical or electrical parts to
achieve a fire protec-
tection System tion goal
15. Ambient Someone's or something's surroundings, especially as they pertain to
the local environment; for example, ambient air and ambient temperature.
16. Ampacity The maximum current, in amperes, that a conductor can carry
continuously under the conditions of use without Exceeding its temperature rating.
17. Ampere The unit of electric current that is equivalent to a flow of one coulomb per
second, one coulomb is defined as 6.24 x 10 18th power electrons
18. Arc High temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through a
medium such as charred insulation.
19. Arc Mapping The systematic evaluation of the electrical circuit configuration, spatial
relationship of the circuit components and