ISFI 2010

Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology

National Association of Fire Investigators 857 Tallevast Road Sarasota, FL 34243 USA www.isficonference.com www.nafi.org

First Printing, 2010

Copyright ©2010

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National Association of Fire Investigators

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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Dedication This edition of the Proceedings of the International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, ISFI 2010, is lovingly dedicated to our late friend and colleague, Frank E. Florence, CFEI. Frank Florence began his career in the fire service with the Salt Lake City, Utah Fire Department in 1964 and retired as its Fire Chief in 1995. After his retirement, Frank became a full time staff member at the National Fire Protection Association and, until his untimely passing in July 2010, held the position Senior Fire Service Specialist. He served as the NFPA liaison to the NFPA 921 and 1033 committees; the NFPA Fire Science and Technology Educators Section, and many other NFPA technical committees and groups. During his tenure at NFPA he also served as a liaison to the NAFI/NFPA National Fire, Arson, and Explosion Investigation Training Programs and ISFI. Frank was a founding member of the ISFI steering committee and served as a trusted confidant, advisor, and tireless supporter of both the National Association of Fire Investigators and ISFI since ISFI’s founding in 2003. The professional fire investigation community has lost a valuable friend, and wise advocate and counselor.

In Memoriam

Our dear friend and colleague

Frank E. FlorenceNFPA Senior Fire Service Specialist

Retired Chief, Salt Lake City Fire Department

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Preface In August 2003, during the NAFI/NFPA National Fire, Arson, and Explosion Investigation Training Program in Sarasota, Florida, a small group of dedicated fire investigation educators met at the NAFI international offices. Their purpose was to discuss and ultimately to set in motion a new concept in fire investigation education. This innovation became the International Symposia on Fire Investigation Science and Technology (ISFI). That group consisted of Professor Ronald L. Hopkins, CFEI, CFPS, of Eastern Kentucky University’s Fire and Safety Engineering Technology Program (now retired) and former chairman of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors; Daniel L. Churchward, CFEI, then Chairman of the National Fire Protection Association’s Technical Committee on Fire Investigations (1996 to 2008); Station Officer Michael G. Beasley, CFEI, senior fire investigator of the London (England) Fire Brigade; Attorney Stuart A. Sklar, CFEI, fire litigation attorney; Divisional Officer Patrick G. Cox, CFEI, MIFireE, ASAESI, Director of Fire Investigation Training at the British Fire Service College (now retired); Fire Investigator Kathryn Kennedy, CFEI; Fire investigator Gregory E. Gorbett, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE, (now Assistant Professor of Eastern Kentucky University’s Fire and Safety Engineering Technology Program); the late Frank L. Florence, CFEI, Senior Fire Protection Specialist, National Fire Protection Association; and Patrick M. Kennedy, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE, Chairman of the National Association of Fire Investigators. These dedicated professionals became ISFI’s organizing and peer review committee. It is not mere coincidence that all of these original group participants are current or past members of the NFPA Technical Committees on Fire Investigations (NFPA 921) and/or Fire Investigator Professional Qualifications (NFPA 1033) and their respective Task Groups. Since 1985 the partnership between the NFPA and NAFI has been dedicated to and striving for the betterment of fire investigation, worldwide.

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Introduction ISFI 2010 is the current presentation of the biennial professional

symposium specializing in the application of modern fire science and technology research to fire investigations and analyses. The first ISFI, ISFI 2004, was held at the British Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucester, England in June 2004. In 2006 and 2008 ISFI moved to the University of Cincinnati in the United States for the second and third presentations of this truly international gathering of fire investigation experts from a worldwide spectrum of our professional community.

This year, ISFI 2010 moves to the campus of the prestigious University of Maryland, University College. Designed to bring together fire investigation professionals from around the world to present and discuss the latest in fire investigation science, research, technology and methodology, ISFI 2008 is organized by the National Association of Fire Investigators, and co-sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science, Fire Science Program; Eastern Kentucky University, Fire and Safety Engineering Technology Program; The University of Maryland University College Fire Science Program and The Institution of Fire Engineers United States Branch. Since its inaugural presentation in England in 2004, ISFI has become the premier fire investigation science and technology transfer conduit for the profession – bringing fire investigation practitioners, educators, researchers, and attorneys together for the benefit of all. ISFI was born out of a perception that the international fire investigation profession needed a centralized, peer-reviewed, venue for the encouragement and dissemination of both established and cutting edge fire science and technology transfer. It is our hope and intention to be the most important and respected fire investigation science conference. ISFI 2010 held at University of Maryland, University College will be attended by as many as 200 delegates and speakers from countries around the world. The papers presented at the conference are presented here in this book of proceedings. The ISFI 2010 Book of Proceedings contains 50 papers representing the plenary and breakout sessions’ presentations of ISFI 2010. Patrick M. Kennedy, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE, ASSE Director, International Symposia on Fire Investigation Science and Technology September, 2010

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Table of Contents Dedication iii Preface iv Introduction v Plenary Sessions 1 ISFI 2010 KEYNOTE ADDRESS - INSIGHTS INTO 3 FIRE INVESTIGATION FROM FIFTY YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: What’s Wrong? What’s Right? What’s the Difference? Patrick M. Kennedy, BSc.(Hons), CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE, ASSE “PROGRESS” IN FIRE INVESTIGATION: MOVING 15 FROM WITCHCRAFT AND FOLKLORE TO THE MISUSE OF MODELS AND THE ABUSE OF SCIENCE

John J. Lentini, CFEI, D-ABC

THE ‘BENEFITS’ OF ARCING 27 Daniel L. Churchward, CFEI Ryan M. Cox, CFI, CFEI, CFPS DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF A DECISION 39 SUPPORT FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING THE FORENSIC ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF FIRE PATTERNS Gregory E. Gorbett, MScFPE, MSc, CFEI, CFPS, IAAI-CFI, MIFireE Brian Meacham, Ph.D., P.E., Christopher B. Wood, J.D., P.E., FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAFETY; UNINFORMED, 57 UNDER INFORMED, OR COMPLACENT Ronald L. Hopkins, MS, CFEI, CFPS NFPA 1033: 13 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 73 Stuart A. Sklar, CFEI Delegate Papers 79 PREFERENTIAL GAS FLOW AROUND A 81 SNOWCOVERED PIPE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE AND MODELING Robert W. Ashcraft Alfonso F. Ibarreta Timothy J. Myers EVALUATION OF CALORIMETER HEAT RELEASE RATE 93 AS INPUT TO FDS MODEL FOR SIMULATION OF UNDERVENTILATED COMPARTMENT FIRES Haavard R. Boehmer Jason E. Floyd Daniel T. Gottuk

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THE ADMISSIBILITY OF FORENSIC FIRE 105 INVESTIGATION TESTIMONY: JUSTIFYING A METHODOLOGY BASED ON ABDUCTIVE INFERENCE UNDER NFPA 921 Vincent M. Brannigan J.D Elizabeth C. Buc PhD, PE FIRE DAMAGE OR EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWN? 119 Vytenis Babrauskas, Ph.D. “CLEAN BURN” FIRE PATTERNS – 131 A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR INVESTIGATORS Steven W. Carman, IAAI-CFI, ATF-CFI (Retired) FAST IDENTIFICATION OF FIRE DEBRIS 143 BY ASTM 1412 WITH GC/MS-SIM Chin-Mei Yeh Show-Chuen Chen EFFECTIVENESS OF SHIELDING 153 VEHICLE HOT SURFACES Cam Cope John M. Stilson FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 169 FOR FIRE INVESTIGATORS Ryan M Cox, B.Sc. FPET, CFEI, CFI, CFPS ORGANIZING AND COMPLETING A FIRE SCENE 181 EXAMINATION WITH MULTIPLE INTERESTED PARTIES Ryan M Cox, B.Sc. FPET, CFEI, CFI, CFPS FIRE SCENE DOCUMENTATION: 189 AN EVER EVOLVING PROCESS Michael Dalton ADVANCED METHODS FOR DETERMINING 197 THE ORIGIN OF VAPOR CLOUD EXPLOSIONS CASE STUDY: 2006 DANVERS EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION Scott G. Davis Derek Engel Filippo Gavelli Peter Hinze Olav R. Hansen INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES USED TO DETERMINE 209 THE MASSIVE VAPOR CLOUD EXPLOSION AT THE BUNCEFIELD FUEL DEPOT Scott G. Davis Peter Hinze Olav R. Hansen Kees van Wingerden

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BURNING FOR PROFIT: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 221 John D. DeHaan, PhD, CFEI, CFI David J. Icove, PhD, PE, CFEI Randy Crim, CFEI John L. Blankenship HOW DOES AIR GET INTO A SEALED GAS SYSTEM – 231 TESTING VS. THEORY John M. Freeman, Jr, MS, PE John L. Schumacher, MChE, PE, CFI Dennis E. Shelp, MS, PE, CFI, CFEI Zachary J. Jason, BS, CFEI A MODERN TOOL FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF 243 INDOOR FLAMMABLE GAS MIGRATION Filippo Gavelli Scott G. Davis Olav R. Hansen PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NONENERGIZED 255 AND ENERGIZED CABLES IN SCALED COMPARTMENT FIRES Adam Goodman, BScFPE Christopher Schooler, BScAE Jamie L. McAllister, P.E., Ph.D. FIRE PATTERNS ANALYSIS WITH LOW HEAT 269 RELEASE RATE INITIAL FUELS Gregory E. Gorbett, MScFPE, MSc, CFEI, CFPS, IAAI-CFI, MIFireE William Hicks, MSc, CFEI, CFPS, IAAI-CFI, EFO, CFO, MIFireE Ron Hopkins, MSc, CFEI, CFPS Patrick M. Kennedy, BSc (Hons), BSc, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE THE DAUBERT DISASTER: UNINTENDED 295 CONSEQUENCES AFFECTING EXPERT WITNESSES Brian P. Henry, Esq., CFEI HOW TO LEARN NFPA 921 305 Terry-Dawn Hewitt, C.I.P., B.A. (Spec.), LL.B., LL.M. Wayne J. McKenna, B.A (Spec.), LL.B. FIRE MODELING: BEST PRACTICES FOR 313 CONSTRUCTING ACADEMIC HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING CLUSTERS David J. Icove, PhD, PE, CFEI Gregory E. Gorbett, MS, CFEI J. Douglas Birdwell, PhD Richard E. Merck, PE, CFEI EXPERT REPORT WRITING: BEST PRACTICES 319 FOR PRODUCING QUALITY REPORTS David J. Icove, PhD, PE, CFEI Brian P. Henry, Esq., CFEI

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EXPERTS BEWARE: WHAT YOU SAY (AND DO) 327 CONTINUES TO BE USED AGAINST YOU IN A COURT OF LAW IN 2008, 2009, AND 2010 Patrick J. Kenny, J.D. Karrie J. Clinkinbeard, J.D., CFEI EXPERTS BEWARE: IGNORING THE SCIENTIFIC 341 METHOD CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR TESTIMONY Gerald A. King, J.D., CFEI Karrie J. Clinkinbeard, J.D., CFEI CHAR DEPTH MAPPING OF FLOOR STRUCTURE 353 TO DETERMINE FIRE ORIGIN Harri K. Kytomaa, PhD, PE, CFEI, CFI, Alfonso F. Ibarreta, PhD, PE, CFEI John Loud, MSEE, PE, CFEI CASE STUDY: A FAILED CRIMP CONNECTOR 361 ON A SHADED-POLE FAN MOTOR AS A FIRE CAUSE AND THE LEGAL MANEUVERINGS TO EXCLUDE THIS EVIDENCE Kevin H. Lewis, P.E., CFEI, CFI William E. Pierson, Jr. Esquire FIRE PATTERN REPEATABILITY: 381 A LABORATORY STUDY ON GYPSUM WALLBOARD Daniel Madrzykowski Charles Fleischmann, PhD NFPA 921 IN CRIMINAL CASES 393 Wayne J. McKenna, B.A (Spec.), LL.B. Terry-Dawn Hewitt, C.I.P., B.A. (Spec.), LL.B., LL.M. FIRE DYNAMICS AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS 399 OF LIQUID FUEL FIRES Christopher L. Mealy Mathew E. Benfer Daniel T. Gottuk USING NFPA 70B AS A TOOL IN THE 411 INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRICAL FIRES Robert A. Neary, P.E. CFEI RE-VISITING THE MICHAEL LEDFORD FIRE INCIDENT 417 Stephen M. Olenick, MSFPE, CFEI, P.E. Richard J. Roby, Ph.D, P.E. Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, P.E. SURVIVAL SCROLL CABLE AS THE FIRE 431 TRIGGER IN NIGHT CLUB FIRE Ir. Adrianus Pangaribuan, MT,CFEI SPACE HEATERS AS AN IGNITION SOURCE: 447 POSSIBLE, PLAUSIBLE OR PROBABLE Christopher W. Parrish, CFEI Amanda L. Moore, CFEI, CFII Jason A. Griest, CFEI, CVFI, CFII, FIT

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ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE FIRES AT 457 RETAIL FUEL TRANSFER FACILITIES REVISITED James L. Pharr Stephen L. Fowler Timothy R. Jonas FIRE INVESTIGATION PEER REVIEW: 475 C/O COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA V. DANIEL DOUGHERTY Angelo L. Pisani, Jr. Ph.D., CFEI TELLTALE SIGNS OF WATER HEATER GAS 487 CONTROL VALVE OVERPRESSURIZATION John L. Schumacher, MChE, PE, CFI Dennis E. Shelp, MS, PE, CFI, CFEI John M. Freeman, Jr., MS, PE Zachary J. Jason, BS, CFEI FORENSIC FAILURE ANALYSIS AND FIRE IGNITION 499 SEQUENCE OF FRACTIONAL HORSEPOWER, SHADED POLE MOTORS USED IN APPLIANCES James H. Shanley, Jr., PE FUEL GAS OVERPRESSURE AS IT RELATES 511 TO REGULATOR FUNCTION Dennis E. Shelp, MS, PE, CFI, CFEI John L. Schumacher, MChE, PE, CFI John M. Freeman, Jr., MS, PE Zachary Jason, BS, EIT, CFEI INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS AND THE 2010 523 AMENDMENTS TO THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE David M. Smith, CFI. , RFP Joseph Carey, BS, JD. VEHICLE FIRE BURN PATTERN STUDY 533 Nicholas J. Smith, BS, CFEI, CVFI, IAAI-CFI William Hicks, MS, CFEI, CVFI, IAAI-CFI, EFO, CFOD, MIFireE Gregory E. Gorbett, MScFPE, CFEI, CVFI, IAAI-CFI, MIFireE Ronald L. Hopkins, MS, CFEI, CVFI, CFPS Patrick M. Kennedy, BS (Hons), CFEI, CVFI, MIFireE CRIMP CONNECTOR FAILURES: 545 QUANTIFYING THE CAUSE OF RESISTIVE HEATING Vijay Somandepalli John Wise Brian Arena Scott Davis ANALYSIS OF HAY CLINKER AS AN 555 INDICATOR OF FIRE CAUSE Andrew T. Tinsley, MS, EI, CFEI Michael Whaley David J. Icove, Ph.D., PE, CFEI

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BELT---A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN 565 CONVEYOR BELT FIRE SAFETY Harry C. Verakis, CFEI LOW VOLTAGE THE INCOMPETENT IGNITION 577 SOURCE DISPELLING THE MYTH Richard J. Vicars, BSEE, MBA, CFEI James E. Small, BSEE, MBA Terry Munson Christopher Parrish, BScFS, CFEI ANALYSIS OF A DOUBLE FATALITY FIRE 591 ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY A PORTABLE ELECTRIC HEATER: HOW POOR METHODOLOGY CAN LEAD TO THE WRONG CONCLUSION Jeffery H. Warren, Ph.D., P.E., CSP, CFEI Jerry R. Tindal, MS, P.E., CFEI John Holecek, MS, P.E., CFEI FIRE DYNAMICS OF LIMITED VENTILATION 603 COMPARTMENT FIRES Andrew J. Wolfe Christopher L. Mealy Daniel T. Gottuk, P.E. A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF FULL-SCALE 615 ARC MAPPING TEST RESULTS Christopher B. Wood Amanda Kimball CONSIDERATION ON THE USE OF HEAT RELEASE 629 DATA FROM THE CONE CALORIMETER Neil P. Wu, P.E., CBO, CFEI Yunyong Utiskul, Ph.D., CFEI Joel E. Sipe, Ph.D., CFEI Index of Authors 641

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