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2 - fire

Risk Analysis (University of South Alabama)

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NOTES ON CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION

CDI-6: FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND ARSON INVESTIGATION

FIRE
- a rapid, self-sustaining oxidation process accompanied by the evolution of heat and light of varying
intensity
- an active chemical reaction that takes place between fuel, heat and oxygen in the form of light and
noticeable heat
- a chemical reaction; the rapid oxidation of a fuel producing heat and light
- an oxidation taking place with a rate rapid enough to produce heat and light

TECHNOLOGY
- the branch of knowledge that deals with industrial arts and sciences
- the application of such knowledge that is used to produce the material necessity of society

ELEMENTS OF FIRE OR TRIANGLE OF FIRE

FUEL
- anything that will burn when heated with sufficient oxygen

OXYGEN
- aids in combustion; comes from the atmosphere we breath; the atmosphere contains: 21% oxygen, 78%
nitrogen and 1% impurities
HEAT
- source of ignition

TRIANGLE OF FIRE
For many years, the fire triangle (oxygen, fuel and heat) was taught as the components of fire. While this
simple example is useful, it is NOT technically correct.

TETRAHEDRON OF FIRE
- a geometric representation of what is required for fire to exist, namely, fuel, an oxidizing agent, heat, and
an uninhibited chemical reaction

FIRE TETRAHEDRON

- Oxygen (oxidizing agent)

- Fuel
- Heat
- Self-sustained chemical reaction

Each component of the tetrahedron must be in place for combustion to occur. Remove one of the four
components and combustion will not occur. If ignition has already occurred, the fire is extinguished when
one of the components is removed from the reaction.

OXYGEN (Oxidizing Agent)

- a colorless, odorless gas and one of the compositions of air which is approximately 21% percent by
volume
Oxygen sources: Oxygen requirements:
1. 21% of normal oxygen 1. 12% no fire
2. 78% nitrogen 2. 14% flash point
3. 1% other gases 3. 21% fire point

FUEL
- the material or substance being oxidized or burned in the combustion process.

Fuel sources

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1. Solid - molecules are closely packed together
2. Liquid - molecules are loosely packed
3. Gas - molecules are free to move

HEAT
- the energy component of the fire tetrahedron
- when heat comes into contact with a fuel, the energy supports the combustion reaction
- heat energy is measured in units of Joules (J), however it can also be measured in Calories (1 Calorie =
4.184 J) and BTU's (1 BTU = 1055 J)

TEMPERATURE
- a measure of the degree of molecular activity of a material compared to a reference point
- a measure of the degree of molecular activity of a material compared to a reference point
- measured in degrees Farenheit or degrees Celsius

ºCºF Response
37 98.6 Normal human oral/body temperature
44 111 Human skin begins to feel pain
48 118 Human skin receives a first degree burn injury
55 131 Human skin receives a second degree burn injury
62 140 A phase where burned human tissue becomes numb
72 162 Human skin is instantly destroyed
100 212 Water boils and produces steam
140 284 Glass transition temperature of polycarbonate
230 446 Melting temperature of polycarbonate
250 482 Charring of natural cotton begins
300 572 Charring of modern protective clothing fabrics begins
600 1112 Temperatures inside a post-flashover room fire

Types of Energy (common sources of heat)

1. Chemical Energy
2. Electrical Energy
3. Nuclear Energy
4. Mechanical Energy

CHEMICAL ENERGY
- the most common source of heat in combustion reactions
When any combustible is in contact with oxygen, oxidation occurs. The reaction of this process results in
the production of heat.
ex. Heat generated from burning match, self heating (spontaneous heating)

ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- can generate temperature high enough to ignite any combustible material near the heated area
Examples:
1. over current or overload
2. arcing
3. sparking
4. static
5. lightning

NUCLEAR ENERGY
- generated when atoms either split apart (fission) or combine (fusion)
Ex.
1. fission heats water to drive steam turbines and produce electricity
2. solar energy is a product of a fusion reaction

MECHANICAL ENERGY
- an energy created by friction and compression
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1) Heat of friction - the movement of two surfaces against each other, thus producing sparks
2) Heat of compression - heat is generated when a gas is compressed in a container or cylinder

SELF-SUSTAINED CHEMICAL REACTION

Combustion is a complex reaction that requires a fuel (in the gaseous or vapor state), an oxidizer, and heat
energy to come together in a very specific way. Once flaming combustion or fire occurs, it can only continue
when enough heat energy is produced to cause the continued development of fuel vapors or gases.
Scientists call this type of reaction a “chain reaction”.
A chain reaction is a series of reactions that occur in sequence with the result of each individual reaction
being added to the rest.

FIRE DEVELOPMENT
When the four components of the fire tetrahedron come together, ignition occurs. For a fire to grow beyond
the first material ignited, heat must be transmitted beyond the first material to additional fuel packages.
Stages of Fire
- Ignition
- Growth
- Flashover
- Fully-developed
- Decay

IGNITION
- describes the period when the four elements of the fire tetrahedron come together and combustion begins
GROWTH
- shortly after ignition, a fire plume begins to form above the burning fuel. As the plume develops, it begins
to draw or entrain air from the surrounding space into the column.
FLASHOVER
- the transition between the growth and the fully developed fire stages and is not a specific event such as
ignition. During flashover, conditions in the compartment change very rapidly as the fire changes from one
that is dominated by the burning of the materials first ignited to one that involves all of the exposed
combustible surfaces within the compartment.
FULLY-DEVELOPED
- occurs when all combustible materials in the compartment are involved in the fire
DECAY
- as the fire consumes the available fuel in the compartment, the rate of heat released begins to decline.
THREE (3) STAGES OF FIRE
1. Incipient phase
2. Free burning phase
3. Smoldering

1. INCIPIENT STAGE
- initial stage of fire

Characteristics
- normal room temperature
- oxygen plentiful
- thermal updraft rise accumulates at higher point
- temperature at 1000 F
- Producing C02, CO, SO2, water and other gases

2. FREE BURNING PHASE

- a phase of burning in which materials or structures are burning in the presence of adequate oxygen

Characteristics
- fire has involved more fuel
- oxygen supply has depleted
- heat accumulates at upper area
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- temperature exceeds 1,330 F
- area is fully involved

3. SMOLDERING PHASE
- final phase of burning wherein flame ceases but dense smoke and heat completely fill the confined room

MODES OF HEAT TRANSFER

Heat is by-product of combustion that is of significant importance to the firefighter. It is heat that causes fire
to sustain its combustion and, more important, to extend. When heat given off as a product of combustion is
exposed to an unheated substance, certain changes occur that can make the new substance a contributing
factor in extending a fire.

CONDUCTION
- heat transfer within solids or between contacting solids
When a hot object transfers its heat, conduction has taken place. The transfer could be to another object or
to another portion of the same object. As we have discovered and will be constantly reinforced about,
combustion occurs on the molecular level. When an object heats up, the atoms become agitated and begin
to collide with one another. A chain reaction of molecules and atoms, like wave energy, occurs and causes
the agitated molecules to pass the heat energy to areas of non-heat.

CONVECTION
- heat transfer by the movement of liquids or gasses
Air that is hotter than its surroundings rises. Air that is cooler than its surroundings sinks. Air is made up of
many molecules floating about freely. Even so, it still has weight. Some molecules are made up of the same
element. For example, oxygen in its natural state will combine with another oxygen atom to form a stable
oxygen molecule. In a given volume, air at a given temperature will have the same density. When heated,
as in conduction theory, the molecules become agitated and begin to collide with one another. In the
process, the molecules are demanding more space to accommodate the vibrations and they push into one
another as they seek that space. When that happens, the density of a given volume is reduced and it
weighs less. Because it weighs less, it rises until it reaches equilibrium-the level at which the weight is the
same as the surrounding atmosphere.

RADIATION
- heat transfer by electromagnetic waves
The last form of heat transfer occurs by radiation. As we have already seen, heat energy can be transmitted
directly when molecules collide with one another and cause the waves of heat energy to travel.

FLAME CONTACT
- heat may be conducted from one body to another by direct flame contact

PROPERTIES OF FIRE
1. Physical properties
2. Chemical Properties

1. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
a. Specific gravity
- the ratio of the weight of a solid or substance to the weight of an equal volume of water
b. Vapor density
- the weight of volume of pure gas compared to weight of a volume of dry air at the same temperature and
pressure
c. Vapor pressure
- the force exerted by the molecules on the surface of the liquid at the equilibrium
d. Temperature
- the measure of the thermal degree of the agitation of molecules of a given substance; the measure of the
molecular activity within the substance
e. Boiling Point
- the constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to the atmospheric pressure
f. Ignition temperature
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- the minimum temperature to which the substance in the air must be heated in order to initiate or cause
self-contained combustion without addition of heat from outside sources
g. Fire point
- the temperature at which the material will give off ample vapors to keep burning
h. Flash point
- the temperature at which the material is not hot enough to keep burning, but still gives off enough vapors
to cause a flame across the surface
2. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
a. Endothermic reaction
- are changes whereby energy is absorbed or is added before the reaction takes place
b. Exothermic reaction
- reactions or changes that releases or give off energy
c. Oxidation
- a chemical change in which combustible material and an oxidizing material react
d. Combustion or flame
- the manifestation of fire is in its gas-phased combustion; matter that is produced by fire.

Material Ignition Temperature

FC
Gasoline 536 280
Kerosene 410 210
Turpentine 488 253
Paper 842 450
Wood 489 254
Coal 750 400

CLASSIFICATIONS OF FIRE
I. BASED ON CAUSE
a. Natural fire/ providential
b. Accidental fire
c. Intentional Fire/Incendiary
d. Undetermined

A. NATURAL FIRE - involves fires without direct human intervention

Examples:
- Earthquake
- Typhoon
- Lightning
- Spontaneous combustion arising from the storage of combustible materials in poorly ventilated places
- Explosion from petroleum products, alcohol and other substances
- Sun rays focused on glasses which may serve as a convex lens
B. ACCIDENTAL FIRE
- Carelessly discarded cigarettes
- Careless disposition of readily combustible materials
- Poorly managed or defective heating facilities
- Overheating, spark and electrical defects
- Overload electric circuits/ Octopus connections
- Children playing matches
- Use of candles

C. INCENDIARY FIRE - is one deliberately set under circumstances in which the person knows that the fire
should not be set

D. UNDETERMINED FIRE CAUSE- whenever the cause cannot be proven, the proper classification is
undetermined

II. BASED ON BURNING FUEL

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CLASS A
- ordinary solid materials such as wood, paper, fabrics, etc.
- this will be indicated by deep cited fire, leaves ashes and embers (glowing coals) after burning
CLASS B
- flammable liquids such as gasoline, lube oil, kerosene, paint thinner, etc.
CLASS C
- electrical appliances; causes electric shock
CLASS D
- metal fire such as magnesium (white element burning with dazzling light), sodium (a silver white metallic
element), etc.; creates violent reaction

CLASS E
- flammable gases such as LPG, LNG, etc.; also creates violent reaction

Fire Classes in the United Kingdom and Europe

A – ordinary combustibles
B – flammable or flammable liquids
C – flammable gasses
D – combustible metals
E – (this class is no longer existing in Europe)
F – cooking oils and fats

Fire Classes in Australia and Asia

A – everyday combustibles
B – combustible or combustible liquids
C – combustible gasses
D – combustible metals
E – electrical equipment
F – cooking fats and oils

Fire Classes in the U.S.A. (NFPA)

A – regular combustibles
B – flammable liquids and gasses
C – electrical appliances
D – combustible metals
K – cooking oils and fats

FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT
EXTINGUISHING AGENT
1. Class A – water (all agents)
2. Class B – foam/carbon dioxide (all agents)
3. Class C – carbon dioxide/powder (never use water, soda acid and foam)
4. Class D – special powder
5. Class E – all agents

METHODS OF EXTINGUISHMENT
1. COOLING – heat absorption.
2. SEPARATION – the removal of the fuel.
3. SMOTHERING – by expelling oxygen
4. Inhibition or the interruption of chemical chain reaction

Strategies Used in Firefighting:

1. Locate the fire
2. Confine the fire
3. Extinguish the fire
4. Exposures

Factors to Consider in Extinguishment:

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1. Time
2. Weather (temperature, humidity, wind)
3. Fire ( ex. Extent, location, bldg construction, contents involved)
4. Occupancy
5. Ventilation (used for clearing the bldg of smoke and gases)
Types of Ventilation:
a. Vertical ventilation - must be worked from the top to bottom
b. Cross or horizontal ventilation - used if gases have not reached the higher level through the opening of
windows
c. Mechanical force ventilation - a method whereby a device such as smoke ejector is utilized to remove
faster excessive heat and dense smoke

Factors to determine the location for the opening:

1. Location of intensity of fire
2. Highest point on the roof
3. Direction of wind
4. Existing exposure
5. Extent of fire
6. Obstruction

ADDITIONAL BASIC TACTICS USED IN EXTINGUISHING FIRE

1. RESCUE - any action taken by the firefighters to remove occupants/ persons from building/ hazards to a
safety place
2. OVERHAUL - a complete and detailed checked of the structures and materials involved in the fire to
make sure that every spark and ember has been extinguished and to have assurance against re-ignition
3. SALVAGE - an action taken by the firefighters in preventing excessive damage by fire, water with the use
of salvage cover or by removing materials out from the burning building

Types of ladder
1. Ground ladders (10 to 55 ft. long)
2. Aerial ladders

Purposes of ladders
a. for rescue
b. to stretch line into a fire building
c. to provide ventilation by giving access to places that are hard to reach

Forms of ground ladders

a. Wall
b. Extension
c. Hook or straight ladder
d. Attic ladder

LADDER TERMINOLOGY
1. Bed ladder - the lowest section of an extension ladder
2. Fly ladder - the top section of an extension ladder
3. Butt - the bottom end of a ladder
4. Heel - the part of the ladder that touches the ground
5. Halyard - a rope or cable used to raised the fly ladder
6. Pawl or dog - the mechanism located at the end of the fly ladder that locks to the bed ladder
7. Rung - the cross member of the ladder that is used for climbing
8. Top or tip - it is the top part of the ladder
9. Hooks - part of a ladder that is used to hook over a roof peak, sills, or walls where the heel does not rest
on a foundation. (roof type ladders)
10. Stops - made of metal or wood blocks used to prevent the fly of an extension ladder from extending out
further from the ladder

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11. Guides - light metal strips of an extension ladder that guides the fly ladder while it is being raised or
lowered

ARSON INVESTIGATIVE GUIDE AND PROCEDURES

ARSON
- the willful and malicious burning of all kinds of buildings and structures including personal properties

INVESTIGATION
- an art that deals with the identity and location of the offender and provides evidence of his guilt in criminal
proceedings

ELEMENTS OF ARSON
1. Actual burning took place
2. Actual burning is done with malicious intent
3. The actual burning is done by person(s) legally and criminally liable

LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

The law on arson in the Philippines is covered by Articles 320 to 326 of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended by PD No. 1613, PD No. 1744, and Sec. 50 Rule VIII IRR of RA 6975 which provides that the
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and, if necessary, file
the proper complaint with the City/Provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over arson cases.

LAWS ON ARSON
1. Article 320 – 326 of the Revised Penal Code
- defines arson, its forms and penalties
2. PD 1613 – the law amending the law on arson
- defining the prima facie evidence of arson
3. RA 7659
- An Act to Impose Death Penalty on Certain Heinous Crimes, amending for that purpose the Revised
Penal Code as amended, other special laws, and for other purposes
4. RA 6975 Sec. 54
- provides that the Fire Bureau shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and if necessary file
the proper complaint with the City/Provincial Prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case

What Constitutes Arson?

1. Burning
2. Willfulness – means intentional and implies that the act was done purposely and intentionally
3. Malice – denotes hatred or ill will or a desire for revenge; deliberate intention of doing unjustified harm for
the satisfaction of doing it
4. Motive – the moving cause which induces the commission of a crime; something that leads or influences
a person to do something
5. Intent – the purpose or design with which the act is done and involves the will; an essential element of
crime, motive is not

Why is arson very hard to investigate?

Arson is one of the most difficult offenses to investigate because the arsonist can be able to set a fire and
escape undetected. The fire can consume the scene and destroy much physical evidence of the offense.
Harder forms of evidence are often buried in debris and grossly altered in appearance.

What Constitutes Burning?

 The mere fact that a building is scorched or discolored by heat is not sufficient nor will bare intention or
even an attempt to burn a house amount to arson, if no part of it is burned.
 Yet, if there is actual ignition of any part of the building, arson is committed, although there be no flame
or the fire immediately goes out of itself.
 To burn means to consume by fire and in the case of arson, if the wood is blackened but no fibers are
wasted, there is no burning, yet the wood need not be in flame or blaze, and the burning of any part,
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however, small is sufficient to constitute arson, and if the house is charred in a single place so as to destroy
the fibers of the wood, it is sufficient to constitute arson.

What is Attempted Arson?

 In attempted arson, it is not necessary that there be a fire before the crime is committed. No hard and
fast rule is laid down by the law as to the requirements for attempted arson. The peculiar facts and
circumstances of a particular case should carry more weight in the decision of the case. Thus, a person
intending to burn a wooden structure, collects some rags, soaks them in gasoline and places them beside
the wooden wall of the building. When he is about to light a match to set fire to the rags, he is discovered
by another who chases him away.

 The crime committed is attempted arson, because the offender begins the commission of the crime
directly by overacts (placing the rags soaked in gasoline beside the wooden wall of the building and lighting
a match) but he does not perform all the acts of execution (the setting of the fire to the rags) due to the
timely intervention of another who chases away) the offender.

What is Frustrated Arson?

 In frustrated arson, the fact of having set fire to some rags and jute sacks soaked in kerosene oil and
placed near the partition of the entire soil of an inhabited house, should not be qualified as a consummated
arson, in as much as no part of the house had begun to burn, although fire would have started in the said
partition had it not been extinguished on time. The crime committed was frustrated arson.

What is Consummated Arson?

 The offender did in fact set fire to the roof of the house and said house was partially burned. The crime
was consummated arson, notwithstanding the fact that the fire afterwards extinguished for once it has been
started, the consummation of the crime of arson does not depend upon the extent of the damage caused.
 Setting fire to the contents of a building constitutes the consummated crime of setting fire to a building
even if no part of the building was burned.

Basis of Liability in Arson:

1. Kind and character of the building, whether of public or private ownership.
2. Its location, whether in an uninhabited place or in a populated place.
3. Extent of damage caused; and
4. The fact of its being inhabited or not.
Some of the Arson Evidence that the Investigator should seek at the Fire scene are the following:
1. Unusually rapid spread of the fire.
2. Where it originated?
3. Separate fires – when two or more separate fires break-out within a building, the fire is certainly
suspicious.
4. Unusual odors – the odor of gasoline, alcohol, kerosene and other inflammable liquids are indicated by
their characteristics and oftentimes, arsonists are trapped because of this tell tale signs.
5. Objects that appear to be foreign to the scene such as cans, candles, matches, explosives, electrical
appliances such as irons, heating elements, clocks, radios, flammables, trailers, etc.
6. Charring pattern may indicate fire characteristics. The fact that the fire feeds on combustible while
propagating itself, indicates that the char will generally be deepest from where the fire originates. When a
fire is extinguished quickly, the charring is only slightly below the surface. Fire burning for a longer period of
time will indicate a char that is deep and pronounced. These facts are most apparent in the charring of
wood as a fire burns. The charring from fire on woods looks like the hide of a black alligator. Fire
extinguished quickly on wood will show a large alligatoring pattern that has not penetrate the wood to any
extent. Fire burning for a long period of time on wood will show small alligatoring pattern but the char will go
deep into the wood. The direction of fire can also be taken into consideration with charring. The exposed
side of combustible will have a deeper char than the unexposed side.
7. Evidence of forcible entry or lack of same may be important depending on the circumstances at the time
of the fire. If the investigator determines there was no forcible entry and finds that the building was secured
prior to discovery of the fire, he can reasonably suspect there is possibility that the person who sets the fire
entered the building with a key. Doors and windows showing signs of forced entry may point to arson
preceded by burglary or arson by someone without a key to the premises.

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Motives of Arson
Motive
 Motive is the moving cause which induces a person to commit a crime.

Is Motive Necessary to be Proven in Criminal Proceedings?

 No. motive is not necessary to be proven in criminal proceedings but once motive is shown, then intent
can easily established.
 In the crime of arson, the distinction between motive and intent is clearly defined. INTENT is a material
element of arson while motive is not. INTENT is the purpose of design with which the act is done and
involves the will while MOTIVE is what induces the criminal.

Motive Can Be Established By:

I. Economic Gain
A. Insurance fraud with the assured directly benefiting:
1. Desire to move
– the premises may no longer be desirable because of the condition of the building, the fact that the
quarters are outgrown or because of the locality.
2. Disposing of Merchandise
– the stocks on hand may have lost value by reason of the seasonal nature of the business, obsolesce,
scarcity of materials necessary to complete the contracts, overstock in the absence of expected order or a
changing market.
3. Property Transaction
– the business itself may no longer be desirable because of impending liquidation, settlement of an estate
of which it is a part, the need for cash, prospective failure, the comparatively greater value of the land, or
the comparatively greater value of the insurance benefits.
B. Profit by the Perpetrator other than the assured:
1. Insurance agents wishing business
2. Insurance adjusters desiring to adjust a loss by securing a contract
3. Business competitors
4. Persons seeking jobs as protection personnel
5. Salvagers
6. Contractors wishing to rebuild or wreck

Concealment of Crime:
 the arsonists may set fire to a building in order to conceal a projected or past crime. He may wish to
divert attention in order to loot the burning premises or steal in other places. The burning may be for the
purpose of destroying evidences.
Punitive Measure:
- An arsonists may use fire as a means of punishing another person for reason of jealousy, hatred or
revenge.

Intimidation or Economic Disabling:

- The fire may be used as a weapon of the saboteurs, the strikers or the racketeers to intimidate or to
disable economically as a step toward forcing submission to certain demands.

Pyromania
– is the uncontrollable impulse of a person to burn anything without motivation. Pyromaniacs usually do not
run away from the scene of the crime, usually alone and feel satisfied watching the flame

Types of Pyromaniacs:
1. Abnormal Youth – Epileptics, imbeciles and morons may set fire without knowing the seriousness of the
act.
2. The Hero Type – a person may set fire on a building, subsequently pretends to discover it and turn in the
alarm so that he will appear a hero to the public. A person may burn a building and endeavor to achieve
spectacular rescue in order to attract the attention of spectators.
3. Alcoholics and Drug Addicts – persons who subject themselves to intense artificial stimulants such as
narcotics sometimes develop a strong urge toward incendiaries.

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4. Sexual Deviates – some sex perverts derive sexual stimulation from setting a fire and watching the
flame. Frequently, he is chronic masturbator who stimulates and enhances his sexual gratification by
means of arson.

Public Disturbance
- an offender may resort to arson as a means of a public disturbance because a fire attracts people and
destruction causes confusion that gives rise to attendant problems that divert police attention.
Vandalism
– is a general term denoting intentional burning to destroy properties.
In determining motive, a fire investigator concentrates on three major factors:
1. Points of origin of the fire
2. Modus operandi of the arsonist
3. Identify of persons who might benefits from the fire.

Incendiary Materials
- materials used to start a fire; combustible fuels
1. Arson Chemicals (liquids) – are incendiary materials often used by arsonists as accelerants. Possess
excellent properties. Examples: alcohol, benzene, petroleum ether, gasoline, kerosene, naptha, turpentine.
2. Gases as acetylene, butane, CO, ethylene, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, these are common gases
resulting in fires from explosion. These when mix with air possess excellent in ignition properties and when
present in an enclosed area can lead to explosion.
3. Solids as chlorates, perchlorates, chromates, bichromates, nitrates, permanganates – are typical families
of oxidizing agents which give off oxygen on decomposition thus aiding in combustion.

FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Republic Act No. 9514

- Approved on December 19, 2008
- Repealed PD 1185
- known as the "Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008".

Definition of terms
Abatement - Any act that would remove or neutralize a fire hazard.
Administrator - Any person who acts as agent of the owner and manages the use of a building for him.
Blasting Agent - Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used to set off explosives.
Cellulose Nitrate Or Nitro Cellulose - A highly combustible and explosive compound produced by the
reaction of nitric acid with a cellulose material.
Cellulose Nitrate Plastic (Pyroxylin) - Any plastic substance, materials or compound having cellulose
nitrate (nitro cellulose) as base.
Combustible, Flammable or Inflammable - Descriptive of materials that are easily set on fire.
Combustible Fiber - Any readily ignitable and free burning fiber such as cotton, oakum, rags, waste cloth,
waste paper, kapok, hay, straw, Spanish moss, excelsior and other similar materials commonly used in
commerce.
Combustible Liquid - Any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8_C (100_F).
Corrosive Liquid - Any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with certain
chemicals.
Curtain Board - A vertical panel of non-combustible or fire resistive materials attached to and extending
below the bottom chord of the roof trusses, to divide the underside of the roof into separate compartments
so that heat and smoke will be directed upwards to a roof vent.
Cryogenic - Descriptive of any material which by its nature or as a result of its reaction with other elements
produces a rapid drop in temperature of the immediate surroundings.
Damper - A normally open device installed inside an air duct system which automatically closes to restrict
the passage of smoke or fire.
Distillation - The process of first raising the temperature in separate the more volatile from the less volatile
parts and then cooling and condensing the resulting vapor so as to produce a nearly purified substance.
Duct System - A continuous passageway for the transmission of air.
Dust - A finely powdered substance which, when mixed with air in the proper proportion and ignited will
cause an explosion.

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Electrical Arc - An extremely hot luminous bridge formed by passage of an electric current across a space
between two conductors or terminals due to the incandescence of the conducting vapor.
Ember - A hot piece or lump that remains after a material has partially burned, and is still oxidizing without
the manifestation of flames.
Finishes - Materials used as final coating of a surface for ornamental or protective purposes.
Fire - The active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion.
Fire Trap - A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks adequate exits or
fire escapes.
Fire Alarm - Any visual or audible signal produced by a device or system to warm the occupants of the
building or fire fighting elements of the presence or danger of fire to enable them to undertake immediate
action to save life and property and to suppress the fire.
Fire Door - A fire resistive door prescribed for openings in fire separation walls or partitions.
Fire Hazard - Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the probability of the
occurrence of fire, or which may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with fire fighting operations and the
safeguarding of life and property.
Fire Lane - The portion of a roadway or public way that should be kept opened and unobstructed at all
times for the expedient operation of fire fighting units.
Fire Protective And Fire Safety Device - Any device intended for the protection of buildings or persons to
include but not limited to built-in protection system such as sprinklers and other automatic extinguishing
system, detectors for heat, smoke and combustion products and other warning system components,
personal protective equipment such as fire blankets, helmets, fire suits, gloves and other garments that
may be put on or worn by persons to protect themselves during fire.
Fire Safety Constructions - Refers to design and installation of walls, barriers, doors, windows, vents,
means of egress, etc. integral to and incorporated into a building or structure in order to minimize danger to
life from fire, smoke, fumes or panic before the building is evacuated. These features are also designed to
achieve, among others, safe and rapid evacuation of people through means of egress sealed from smoke
or fire, the confinement of fire or smoke in the room or floor of origin and delay their spread to other parts of
the building by means of smoke sealed and fire resistant doors, walls and floors. It shall also mean to
include the treatment of buildings components or contents with flame retardant chemicals.
Flash Point - The minimum temperature at which any material gives off vapor in sufficient concentration to
form an ignitable mixture with air.
Forcing -A process where a piece of metal is heated prior to changing its shape or dimensions.
Fulminate - A kind of stable explosive compound which explodes by percussion.
Hazardous Operation/Process - Any act of manufacturing, fabrication, conversion, etc., that uses or
produces materials which are likely to cause fires or explosions.
Horizontal Exit - Passageway from one building to another or through or around a wall in approximately
the same floor level.
Hose Box - A box or cabinet where fire hoses, valves and other equipment are stored and arranged for fire
fighting.
Hose Reel - A cylindrical device turning on an axis around which a fire hose is wound and connected.
Hypergolic Fuel - A rocket or liquid propellant which consists of combinations of fuels and oxidizers which
ignite spontaneously on contact with each other.
Industrial Baking And Drying - The industrial process of subjecting materials to heat for the purpose of
removing solvents or moisture from the same, and/or to fuse certain chemical salts to form a uniform
glazing the surface of materials being treated.
Jumper - A piece of metal or an electrical conductor used to bypass a safety device in an electrical system.
Occupancy - The purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or intended to be used.
Occupant - Any person actually occupying and using a building or portions thereof by virtue of a lease
contract with the owner or administrator or by permission or sufferance of the latter.
Organic Peroxide - A strong oxidizing organic compound which releases oxygen readily. It causes fire
when in contact with combustible materials especially under conditions of high temperature.
Overloading - The use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume electrical
current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.
Owner - The person who holds the legal right of possession or title to a building or real property.
Oxidizing Material - A material that readily yields oxygen in quantities sufficient to stimulate or support
combustion.

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Pressurized Or Forced Draft Burning Equipment - Type or burner where the fuel is subjected to
pressure prior to discharge into the combustion chamber and/or which includes fans or other provisions for
the introduction of air at above normal atmosphere pressure into the same combustion chamber.
Public Assembly Building - Any building or structure where fifty (50) or more people congregate, gather,
or assemble for any purpose.
Public Way - Any street, alley or other strip of land unobstructed from the ground to the sky, deeded,
dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated for public use.
Pyrophoric - Descriptive of any substance that ignites spontaneously when exposed to air.
Refining - A process where impurities and/or deleterious materials are removed from a mixture in order to
produce a pure element of compound. It shall also refer to partial distillation and electrolysis.
Self-Closing Doors - Automatic closing doors that are designed to confine smoke and heat and delay the
spread of fire.
Smelting - Melting or fusing of metallic ores or compounds so as to separate impurities from pure metals.
Sprinkler System - An integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building, structure
or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern which automatically discharges water when activated
by heat or combustion products from a fire.
Standpipe System - A system of vertical pipes in a building to which fire hoses can be attached on each
floor, including a system by which water is made available to the outlets as needed.
Vestibule - A passage hall or antechamber between the outer doors and the interior parts of a house or
building.
Vertical Shaft - An enclosed vertical space of passage that extends from floor to floor, as well as from the
base to the top of the building.

Collection of Liquid Samples for Accelerant Testing

Liquid accelerants may be collected with
a. New syringe
b. Siphoning device
c. Evidence container itself
d. Sterilize cotton balls or gauge pads may also be used to absorbed the liquid

Where liquid accelerants are believed to have become trapped in porous materials such as concrete floor:
a. Lime
b. Diatomaceous earth
c. flour

Collection of liquid evidence absorbed by solid materials including soils and sand:
a. Scooping
b. Sawing
c. Scraping
d. Core drilling
Collecting of Solid samples for accelerant testing
Solid accelerant may be common household materials and compounds or dangerous chemicals. When
collecting solid accelerants:
a. The fire investigator must ensure that the solid accelerant is maintained in physical state in which is
found
b. Some incendiary materials remain Corrosive and Reactive
c. Ensure the corrosive nature of these residue does not attack the packaging container

Collection of Gaseous samples

Method of Collection:
a. Use of commercially available mechanical sampling device
b. Utilization evacuated air sampling cans. These cans are specifically designed for taking gaseous
samples
c. Use of clean glass bottled filled with distilled water. Distilled water use as it has had most of the
impurities removed from it. This method simply require the investigator poured the distilled water out of its
bottle in the atmosphere to be sampled. As distilled water leaves the bottle it is replaced by the gaseous
sample

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Guide on Interpreting the Damage on Electrical Wire

Collection of Electrical Equipments and Components

Before wires are cut, a photograph should be taken of the wires, and the both ends of the wire should be
tagged and cut so that they can be identified as one of the following:
a. The device or appliance to which it was attached or from which it was severed
b. The circuit breaker or fuse number or location to which the wire was attached or from which it was
severed
c. The wire’s path or the route it took between the device and the circuit protector,
electrical switches, receptacles, thermostats, relays, junction boxes, electrical distribution panels, and
similar equipment and components are often collected as physical evidence.

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