Fire Investigation Testing and Combustion By-Products
Contact UsFire, either wildfire or structure burning, happens often in our world. It can impact property, the environment and public health. The residues of the fire, or combustion by-products, are gases and small particles that are emitted through the incomplete burning of fuels such as oil, gas, kerosene, wood, coal, and propane. The particulate matter components will include drops of condensed soot, char, ash, metal oxides and inorganic solids.
Fire investigation testing of any fire damage should include the combustion-by-products evaluation. It also becomes part of insurance companies’ requirement in a typical fire damage restoration. Testing can be done after a fire event in order to determine what areas might have been impacted, or the testing can be used during or after a cleaning or remediation in order to guide professionals in their remediation efforts.
Sampling
The value of sample data is dependent on the quality of and reliability of the collection method and sampling procedure used.
There are a few commonly used methods for the sampling of combustion by-products, including Tape Lifts, Wipes, MicroVac, and Air. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below is a brief summary of the methods:
| Sampling Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Tape Lifts | Good collection efficiency for particles with typical dust loading; Defined sample area for analysis; Maintains particle integrity during collection; Little to no damage to captured particles |
Low collection efficiency for rough surfaces; Extremely fine particles (e.g., soot) can be obscured by the tape adhesive; TEM confirmation of soot cannot be applied; Limited sampling area per tape lift |
| Wipe | Able to sample relatively large area; Efficient for relatively smooth nonporous surfaces with low or heavy loading; Can be used for TEM soot confirmation analysis and chemical analysis (e.g., PAHs) |
Not appropriate for porous surface; Physical separation of particles collected as agglomerates often results; Liquid agents may degrade or solubilize the particles; Can remove finishes (e.g., paint), affecting analytical results |
| Microvac | Easy sample preparation in the lab; Effective for collecting particles from porous and uneven surfaces; Permits the confirmatory identification of soot by TEM; Permits chemical analysis of collected material |
Ineffective for collecting particles from relative smooth, nonporous surfaces with low loading; Does not preserve positions of particles on the original surface; Can induce damage to delicate structures or agglomerates such as char and ash |
| Air | Easy sample preparation in the lab; Can determine if combustion-by-products is airborne; Can have direct respiratory health implication; Can be used for soot confirmation by TEM |
Limited to airborne particles only; Can be significantly reduced if sampling is done after extensive period from the fire damage |
Analyzing for Combustion-by-Products
Eurofins Built Environment Testing offers a comprehensive suite of testing services for combustion by-products particulates, from simple presence or absence analysis through potential sourcing analysis using advanced chemical and microscopic techniques.
Fire Investigation Testing Service Packages
| Fire Source | Recommended Testing |
| Wildfires - initial inspection and post cleanup verification | PLM, Corrosivity, Anion panels |
| Wildfires - structural impact assessments | PLM, Corrosivity, Anion panel, Chloride |
| Structural fires | PLM, Corrosivity, TEM/SEM confirmation, Chloride |
| Disaster fires | PLM, Corrosivity, Anion panel, Chloride |
| Smoke impact from nearby fire (wildfire or structure fire) | TO-13A, TO-15 |
| Forensic investigation of fire origin | Assemblage |
View our Additional Fire Investigation Resources
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