PROCEEDINGS

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON FIRE

INVESTIGATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
www.ISFIConference.com
ISFI 2014
Proceedings of the 7th
International Symposium on Fire
Investigation Science and
Technology

National Association of Fire Investigators, International

857 Tallevast Road
Sarasota, FL 34243 USA

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www.nafi.org
 ISFI 2014
International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology

First Printing, 2014

Copyright ©2014

All rights reserved

By

National Association of Fire Investigators, International

857 Tallevast Road
Sarasota, FL 34243 USA

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied,
recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or
property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise or from any use or operation of
any methods, products, instructions or ideas put forward in the material herein.

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ANALYSIS OF POST-FIRE CHARACTERISTICS OF

PORTABLE OIL FILLED ROOM HEATERS TO
DETERMINE PRE-FIRE ORIENTATION

K. Scott Barnhill, P.E.

Investigative Forensic Specialists, PLLC

ABSTRACT
A portable oil filled room heater is a steel vessel typically with 5 to 8 fins containing approximately 3 to 4 liters of
mineral oil. The mineral oil acts as the heat transfer fluid that is heated by an immersed electric heating element.
The outward appearance of an oil filled heater is that of an old steam radiator.

An oil filled heater (OFH) exposed to full room involvement conditions will commonly display fire effects to
include: rupture of the vessel’s spot welds, localized wavy deformations to the fins in the unwetted regions of the
vessel, and differential deformation of the vessel’s fins. This study addresses the post-fire characteristics of oil filled
heaters exposed to full room involvement conditions in two burn cells. A primary focus of the study is to determine
if the pre-fire orientation of the oil filled heater can be determined by analysis of the post-fire appearance. A
description of the dynamics that occur between the wetted and unwetted surfaces when the vessel is exposed to full
room involvement conditions is discussed.

Analysis of an OFHs’ post-fire characteristics, to include vessel dimensions and wavy deformations, compared to
the burn cell experiment results, allows an investigator to accurately interpret the normal reaction of an OFH to full
room involvement as well as to determine its pre-fire orientation (upright or otherwise).

INTRODUCTION
An oil filled heater (OFH) exposed to full room involvement conditions will commonly display fire
effects to include: rupture of the vessel’s spot welds, localized wavy deformations to the fins in the
unwetted regions of the vessel, and differential deformation of the vessel’s fins. This study addresses the
post-fire characteristics of OFHs exposed to full room involvement conditions in two burn cells. A
primary focus of the study is to determine if the pre-fire orientation of an OFH can be determined by
analysis of the post-fire appearance.

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By one estimate, OFHs comprise approximately 10 percent of the portable electric heater market. Due to
this small percentage, many fire investigators may not be familiar with how an OFH responds to a fully
involved room fire.

Analysis of an OFHs’ post-fire characteristics, compared to burn cell experiment results, allows an
investigator to accurately interpret the normal reaction of an OFH to full room involvement as well as to
determine its pre-fire orientation (upright or otherwise).

OIL FILLED HEATER (OFH) DESCRIPTION

A portable oil filled heater (OFH) is a steel vessel typically with 5 to 8 fin assemblies containing
approximately 3 to 4 liters of mineral oil. The mineral oil acts as the heat transfer fluid that is heated by
an immersed electric heating element. The heating element is located at the base of the vessel and is
typically comprised of two heating elements rated at 600 and 900 watts each. The OFH vessel is not
completely filled with mineral oil, leaving a vapor space of approximately 2 inches at the top. A location
where the mineral oil is in contact with the steel vessel is characterized as a wetted surface. A location
where the mineral is not in contact with the steel vessel (only vapor) is characterized as an unwetted
surface. The outward appearance of an OFH is that of an old steam radiator.

A typical OFH includes a control panel containing the power cord connection, thermostat, switches,
wiring and heating element connections. The control panel is attached to the first fin which contains no
mineral oil. Mineral oil properties are a flash point of in the 200°C range and a boiling point in the 300°C
range.

Typical maximum surface temperatures on the vessel are 180°C on the lower portion at the heating
element area and 120°C at the top of the fins. Internal operating pressure is less than 10 psi. At the time
of manufacturing, each vessel is pressure tested to approximately 50 psi.
Figure 1 depicts a new OFH instrumented with a pressure gage and thermocouples. Figure 2 is a FLIR
image of a heater at equilibrium with the thermostat at a maximum setting.
Each fin assembly of the OFH is comprised of two stamped pieces of steel with two or three channels
parallel to the length of the fin and a reservoir area at the top and bottom. The channels allow a path for
the mineral oil to circulate within the vessel. Each fin assembly is sealed with a seam weld around the
perimeter and multiple spot welds on either side of the parallel channels. Five to seven fin assemblies are
welded to form a vessel.

Figure 3 depicts a fin assembly with a seam weld and spot welds adjacent to the parallel channels.

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Figure 1: Exemplar OFH Instrumented With Figure 2: FLIR Image of an OFH at Equilibrium
Pressure Gage and Thermocouples
F

Figure 3: OFH Fin Assembly - Smaller

Red Arrows Point to Spot Welds.
Larger Yellow Arrows Denote Fluid
Channel. The Blue Dashed Arrow
Points to the Reservoir Area. The
Dashed Red Line Denotes the Seam
Weld Around the Perimeter of the Fin
Assembly

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BURN CELLS
Four identical OFHs were exposed to full room involvement conditions in two burn cells. The oil filled
heaters were placed in the burn cells in different orientations.

Each OFH was instrumented with two thermocouples. A thermocouple tree was positioned at the center
of each burn cell. Each OFH was on a separate 20 ampere branch circuit, was energized with the
thermostat on a maximum setting, and was at operating temperature.

The first burn cell had two oil filled heaters (OFH 1 and OFH 2) in a normal upright orientation during
the fire.

The second burn cell had one oil filled heater (OFH 3) in the upright orientation and one oil filled heater
(OFH 4) oriented such that the control panel was in contact with the floor (i.e. control panel down or
CPD). This orientation is obviously contrary to the instructions and is an intuitively unwise use. After
suppression of the fire in burn cell 2, it was noted that OFH 3 had fallen over on its side such that the long
portion of fins 1 to 6 were in contact with the floor (cord set side up) relatively early in the fire. OFH 3
likely fell over because the plastic foot and wheel assembly were compromised by an adjacent burning
fuel package before full room involvement.

Figure 4 depicts burn cell 1 with OFH 1 and OFH 2 in an upright orientation. Figure 5 depicts burn cell 2
with the OFH 3 in an upright orientation and OFH 4 in a control panel down orientation.

In both burn cells, after transition to full room involvement, noises from the pressurized rupture and
release of vapor (spewing) were audible. The spewing noise was intermittent from each OFH. Flame jets
from the exiting mineral oil were noted from the spot weld rupture areas for OFH 2 and OFH 4, which
were viewable from the door opening of each burn cell.

The fires were suppressed at approximately 5 minutes (burn cell 1) and at approximately 3 minutes (burn
cell 2) after full room involvement. After suppression, the OFHs were removed and examined. All four
circuit breakers tripped during the fire. Electrical activity was noted on the interior control panel wiring
of OFH 3. Electrical activity was noted on the power cords of the other three heaters.

Graph 1 below is a sample plot of the thermocouple data for OFH 1. The other OFH data and room data
sets are not provided due to space limitations.

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OFH 1 OFH 3

OFH 2
OFH 4

Figure 4: Burn Cell 1; OFH 1 and OFH 2 F Figure 5: Burn Cell 2; OFH 3 in an
in An Upright Orientation Upright Orientation and OFH 4 in a
Control Panel Down Orientation (CPD)

OFH 1 Thermocouple Data

2000
1800
1600
1400
Temperature in °F

1200
1000
Unwetted
800
Wetted
600
400
200
0
170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310
Sample Number - 5 Second Interval

Graph 1: Graph Of The OFH 1 Thermocouple Data

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OIL FILLED HEATER (OFH) POST-FIRE ANALYSIS

Each OFH showed significant fire effects from the exposure to full room involvement. These included
rupture of the vessel’s spot welds, localized deformation to the fins (wavy deformations) in the unwetted
regions of the vessel, and differential expansion of the fins such that the heater had an accordion
appearance.

The results of these burn cell experiments parallel the results of other burn cell experiments familiar to the
author.

Analysis of Vessel Dimensions and Appearance

The distance between fin 1 and fin 6 was measured at the top and the bottom of each burn cell OFH. Fin
1 is the fin adjacent to the control panel.

A circumferential measurement was also made at the top and bottom of each OFH with the control panel
removed. Figure 6 depicts the upper circumference measurement on OFH 1. The circumferential
measurement incorporates the overall deformation from fin 1 to fin 6 plus the deformation of the fin 6
reservoir area and is basically a supplemental measurement to the separation of fin 1 to fin 6
measurement.

Figure 6: Upper Circumferential Measurement Of OFH 1.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 depict the appearance and measurements of each of the burn cell OFHs.

Table 1 summarizes the measurement data (in inches) of a pre-fire OFH and the four burn cell OFHs.

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13 ¾” 13 ¼”

11”

11”

Figure 7: OFH 1 (Upright) Figure 8: OFH 2 (Upright)

11 ¼”
11 ¾”

11 ½” 11 ¼”

Figure 9: OFH 3 (Originally Upright Figure 10: OFH 4 (Control Panel Down
Then Fell Over) (CPD))

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Table 1: OFH Vessel Measurements

HEATER Fin 1 to Fin 6 Fin 1 to Fin 6 Circumference Circumference

Top Bottom Top Bottom
Pre-Fire OFH 11 11 32 7/8 32 7/8
OFH 1 (Upright) 13 ¾ 11 38 5/16 33 ¼
OFH 2 (Upright) 13 ¼ 11 37 ¾ 33 ¼
OFH 3 (Upright then Fell Over) 11 ¾ 11 ½ 34 ¼ 33 ¾
OFH 4 (Control Panel Down) 11 ¼ 11 ¼ 34 33 ¾

The data in Table 1 quantifies the degree of differential deformation. OFH 1 (Upright) and OFH 2
(Upright) have a notable visible accordion appearance. OFH 3 (Originally upright then fell over) has top
and bottom measurements that are basically the same. OFH 4 (CPD) has top and bottom measurements
that are the same and does not show an accordion appearance.

The experiments demonstrate that the presence of an accordion appearance indicates that an OFH was in
the upright orientation during the fire.

Analysis of Wavy Deformations

The location and distribution of the wavy deformations to the OFH fins was analyzed. For simplicity, the
wavy deformations are characterized as prominent or minor.

OFH 1 (Upright) and OFH 2 (Upright) had prominent wavy deformations to the top of the fins and to the
upper side portions of the fins (consistent with the unwetted volume near the top of the fins). These
locations correspond to the unwetted portion of the vessel (i.e. vapor space). OFH 2 also had some minor
wavy deformations on both sides of the middle portion of the fins.

OFH 3 (Originally upright then fell over) had minor wavy deformations to the edges of the fins that were
pointing up (i.e. the unwetted portion of the fins had the wavy deformation.) The other side of the fins
had no wavy deformations.

OFH 4 (Control Panel Down) had minor wavy deformations to essentially the entire length of both sides
of each fin; especially the “upper fins” (fin 3 to fin 6). Additionally, there was a prominent wavy
deformation to the top and bottom of fin 6. When an OFH is CPD, fin 6 contains no mineral oil.

Once one or more spot welds fail, mineral oil vapor is released. As the mineral oil continues to boil from
exposure to full room involvement, the liquid level in the fins drops and more of the fin becomes
unwetted, allowing for the creation of minor wavy deformations.

Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 depict the wavy deformations on each of the burn cell OFHs.

OFHs exposed to full room involvement conditions will have wavy deformations to the unwetted portions
of the fins. Analysis of the location and nature of the wavy deformations provides an indication of the
OFH’s original orientation.

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Figure 11: OFH 1 (Upright) – Arrows Point To Figure 12: OFH 2 (Upright) – Arrows Point To
Prominent Wavy Deformations Prominent Wavy Deformations

Figure 14: OFH 4 (Control Panel Down (CPD))

– The Smaller Arrows Point To Minor Wavy
Deformations Which Are On Both Sides. The
Larger Arrow Points To A Prominent Wavy
Deformation.

Figure 13: OFH 3 (Upright Then Fell Over) –

Arrows Point To Minor Wavy Deformations
Which Are On This Side Only

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Analysis of Spot Weld Failures

Each of the burn cell OFHs had one or more spot weld failures. The spot weld failures are associated
with the deformation of the fin assemblies. Figures 15 and 16 depict typical spot weld failures.

Figure 15: OFH 4 (CPD) Spot Weld

Failures On Top Of Fin 6 Marked By
Yellow Wire Ties
Figure 16: OFH 1 (Upright) Typical
Spot Weld Failures

DISCUSSION
An OFH’s post-fire accordion appearance is a result of an external fire increasing the pressure within the
OFH vessel, while also causing a reduction in the strength of the steel at the top of the vessel. This
reduction in strength allows the upper portion of the vessel to expand relative to the lower portion,
resulting in an accordion appearance.

Exposure of the OFH’s steel vessel to full room involvement conditions causes the temperature of the
steel to increase and lose mechanical strength. The loss of mechanical strength is inversely proportional to
the temperature. At wetted surfaces (i.e. locations where the mineral oil is in contact with the steel
vessel) heat is transferred to the mineral oil, raising the temperature of the oil while keeping the wetted
portion of the steel vessel relatively cool. At the unwetted surfaces (i.e. locations in the upper portion of
the vessel where there is no mineral oil, only vapor) the temperature of the steel rises quickly because the
specific heat capacity of the vapor is significantly lower than the specific heat capacity of the mineral oil.
In other words, the vapor is a relatively poor heat transfer medium compared to the mineral oil and the
temperature of the steel in contact with the vapor rises faster than the steel in contact with the liquid
mineral oil. Thus, full room involvement conditions cause the unwetted portions of the steel vessel to rise
faster and to a higher temperature than the wetted portions of the steel vessel. This increased temperature
results in a loss of strength of the unwetted steel.

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The internal pressure of the vessel increases as the mineral oil heats up from the room fire. This increase
in internal vessel pressure, in conjunction with the reduced mechanical strength of the steel in the
unwetted portion, causes expansion and deformation of the unwetted portion of the steel vessel. This
phenomenon is similar to inflating a balloon. At some point, the deformation, reduction in strength of the
material, and increased internal pressure become such that one or more spot welds fail. A spot weld
failure compromises the integrity of the vessel.

A spot weld failure relieves the pressure somewhat, but as the mineral oil continues to be heated, boil and
liberate vapor at a greater rate, additional spot welds may fail. Obviously, the escaping mineral oil vapor
is ignited by the room fire.

After the fire, the vessel cools and the steel vessel contracts. This contraction causes the wavy
deformations to form along the edges of the fins. Greater amplitude waviness is noted at the location of
the unwetted portions of the steel vessel.

CONCLUSIONS
An OFH exposed to full room involvement conditions will commonly display fire effects to include:
rupture of the vessel’s spot welds, localized wavy deformations to the fins in the unwetted regions of the
vessel, and differential deformation of the vessel’s fins.
Analysis of an OFHs’ post-fire characteristics, to include vessel dimensions and wavy deformations,
compared to the burn cell experiment results, allows an investigator to accurately interpret the normal
reaction of an OFH to full room involvement as well as to determine its pre-fire orientation (upright or
otherwise)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

K. Scott Barnhill, P.E. is the principal of Investigative Forensic Specialists, PLLC, a consulting
engineering firm with laboratory facilities in Raleigh, NC. Mr. Barnhill has been involved in forensic fire
investigations for 30 years. He concentrates in the areas of origin and cause determinations, primarily
associated with major and portable appliances, as well as product testing and analysis.

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