Development of an Approach for the Investigation of Fire in Facilities - Research Proposal Example

Development of an Approach for the Investigation of Fire in Facilities Introduction According to Brannington et al. (2005), there are several approaches to the determination of the causes of fire. A popular approach is the process of elimination that allows elimination of all known causes of fire until only ht possible causes remain. The second approach is a reverse approach such as determination of conditions present that could produce ignition; presence of heating equipment; possibility of electrical short circuit; smoking materials; and signs of explosion. Aims and Objectives A study on fire investigation has been envisaged with the aim of gaining a comprehensive understanding of fire investigation techniques. The objectives of the study are: 1) review techniques and approaches used in the investigation of fires in facilities; 2) develop an approach for the investigation of fire in facilities; and 3) recommend good practices for the investigation of fire in facilities. Literature Review According to Burgoyne (1982), fire investigations are conducted in various circumstances for various purposes. However, the sole objective is to determine the cause of fire. Fire investigation is best conducted like a scientific research project, where a hypothesis is formed and refined in steps. The process involves the collection of evidence. These results in conclusion that is in closest conformity with the evidence ascertained, and expressed in a report that is well constructed. Often, practical considerations may lead to curtailing of the process. However, the different sources and kinds of evidence require balanced attention. According to Kobes et al. (2010), a critical aspect of safety in a building is the possibility of safe escape in the event of a fire. Fire safety facilities must enable independent and adequate fire response performances by the occupants of the building. Practically, legal measures do not always provide support for people in burning buildings. This has necessitated the understanding of how individuals behave in the event of fire, and fire evacuation becomes essential. This enables bringing fire safety measures in line with occupants needs in the event of fire. Critical factors that determine occupants’ fire response performances include characteristics of fire; human beings; and buildings. Psychonomics has a significant influence on occupants’ fire response performances. The traditional approach to fire safety must be supplemented by scientific knowledge from the field. Critical factors that determine fire response performance include fire response performance; danger factor of fire; the human factor; and the environmental factor. Fire response performance includes survival strategies in case of fire; human capacity for survival in case of fire; and critical factors for survival in case of fire. The danger factor of fire includes perceptual features; fire growth rate and heat; and smoke yield and toxicity. The human factor includes individual features; social features; and situational features. The environmental factor includes situational features; and engineered features. Holborn et al. (2002) classified fire occurrences in workplace premises group type as residential; residential-institutional; entertainment; industrial and storage; assembly and recreation; shop and commercial; and office. Fire investigation should not be limited to solely determining the cause of the fire, but should include the examination of all the circumstances of growth and extension of fire. Fire ground procedures include determination of the origin and cause; detection of hydrocarbon accelerants; tools and equipment; equipment – gathering, marking and safeguarding; fire investigation photography; fire investigation recordkeeping; and the firefighter’s role (Brannington et al., 2005). Post-fire interviews include development of information from eyewitnesses; and legal issues. Determination of the building and its makeup include determination of building construction; materials; and utility systems. Ignition sources include flaming ignition; smouldering combustion; spontaneous ignitions; electricity as an ignition source; and explosions. Chemistry and the physics of fire include determination of friendly and unfriendly fires; fuel, oxygen, and ignition sources; chemistry of fire; heat transfer in fires; and fire development (Brannington et al., 2005). Combustion is defined as a chemical and physical reaction between fuel and oxygen from the air that generates heat. Controlled combustion, also known as friendly fires, has been of benefit to mankind. On the other hand uncontrolled fires can be a destructive force. Conditions necessary to have a fire include the presence of a fuel; contact with oxygen; and there must be a source of energy for raising the temperature of fuel and oxygen to the point where they ignite. In nature, fuels and oxygen coexist safely. Fuels are classified as gases; liquids; or solids. The majority of fuels are organic in nature. They could be natural products such as coal; oil; or plant materials. They could also be products derived from sources such as coke; gasoline; lumber; paper; or a wide range of chemicals and plastics (Brannington et al., 2005). The primary objective of a fire investigation is to determine the cause of fire; and whether it was accidental or incendiary. The first step is to make a determination of where the fire originated. This requires development of detailed information on various factors that led to or caused the fire. This includes the source of heat of ignition such as specific equipment that provided the heat which started the fire; the form of that heat such as flame; spark; or hot surface. All these information provide a detailed description of the cause of fire. It is often helpful to group detailed information into categories on what caused the fire enabling the investigator eliminate possible reasons that started a fire, or determine the probable reason, without developing detailed information on the sequence of events that led to ignition (Brannington et al., 2005). Determination of the point of origin could range from being obvious to impossible. Sometimes, eyewitnesses accounts enable determine the origin of the fire. Examination of the exterior of the structure includes fire damaged areas such as charring or smoke deposits and windows; charring or smoke deposits around attic vents and eaves or soffits. Other factors include determination of whether doors of windows are open or closed at the time of fire. Other evidence includes determination of what might have started the fire such as trash and bush fires; lumber yard or row of buildings; wind; etc. Thus, the first step in establishing the cause of fire is the determination of the origin of fire. This can be achieved by a systematic study. The evidence is checked against the statement of witnesses, with the aim of resolving conflicts (Brannington et al., 2005). Methodology The study has been envisaged in several stages. Stage one includes the development of proposal. Stage two includes a review of relevant literature. Stage three includes the design of the study. The study would be designed based on the findings from the review of literature. Stage four includes a review of case studies. Findings from the case studies would be synthesized to develop an approach for the investigation of fire. Stage five includes the development of conclusions and recommendations. Stage six includes the development of dissertation. A case study method has been considered for the study. Publications would be reviewed. These include literature in the form of publications in journals; white papers; reports; standards; and other relevant documents. Findings from these publications would be synthesized to develop an approach for the investigation of fire. Recommendations would be developed based on good practices. The resources available at the University have been considered adequate for the study. Resources include human resources and other resources. Human resources include faculty for expert advice; and library assistants for finding relevant literature. Other resources include computing resources such as access to online libraries, printing, and computing tools; papers; reports; standards; and other publications. Timescale The schedule for the study has been illustrated in the table below. The duration of the study is approximately four and half months. The proposal has been developed over a period of two weeks in May 2010. The review of relevant literature would be carried out in June 2010. The study design would be carried out the first two weeks of July 2010. Case studies would be reviewed over a period of four weeks until mid August 2010. The conclusions and recommendations would be developed in the final two weeks of August 2010. The dissertation would be developed in a period of two weeks in the beginning of September 2010. Table 1. Study Schedule Stage Activity Date Deliverable One Development of proposal 05-15-2010 to 05-26-2010 Proposal Two Review of relevant literature 06-01-2010 to 06-30-2010 Literature review Three Study design 07-01-2010 to 07-15-2010 Study Design Four Review of case studies 07-15-2010 to 08-15-2010 Findings Five Development of conclusions and recommendations 08-15-2010 to 08-30-2010 Conclusions and recommendations Six Development of dissertation 09-01-2010 to 09-15-2010 Dissertation Conclusion An approach will be developed for the investigation of fire in facilities. Regulations are aimed at protection of life and property. However, fire incidents are not uncommon. Fire investigation serves as an important technique to understanding the causes of fire. Brannington et al. (2005) described fire investigation as being perceived differently by each investigator and the objective should be the determination of the specific cause of fire. Fire investigation is not limited to the sole investigation of the cause of fire. The investigation of fire includes examination of the circumstances leading to the growth, and extension of fire. It is common that the cause of fire is one matter while the conflagration is another. References Brannington, F., Bright, R. & Jason, N. (2005). Fire Investigation Handbook.US Department of Commerce. Nataional Bureau of Standards:Washington. 201. Burgoyne, J. (1982). The scientific investigation of occurrences of fire. Fire Safety Journal. 4(3): 159-162 Holborn, P., Nolan, P., Golt, J. & Townsend, N. (2002). Fires in workplace premises: risk data. Fire Safety Journal. 37(3): 303-327. Kobes, M., Helsloot, I., Vries, B. & Post, J. (2010). Building safety and human behaviour in fire: A literature review. Fire Safety Journal. 45(1): 1-11 Read More