Investigate fire origin and cause with increased confidence and accuracy with the latest criteria provided by NFPA 921.
Investigation plays a critical role in determining and documenting the facts of a fire or explosion. NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, is the foremost resource for individuals with responsibilities investigating and analyzing such incidents. The guide provides insight into the scientific investigation methods used to formulate fact-based opinions on incident origin, cause, responsibility, prevention, and the damage and injuries which arise in such cases.
NFPA 921 is recommended by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), a collaborative body of more than 600 forensic science practitioners and experts, as the forensic science consensus guide for fire investigations.
Reference NFPA 921 for guidance in:
- Using the scientific method in origin and cause investigations
- Documenting an investigation so that all relevant facts are gathered for future use in court
- Handling fire-related evidence so that it's admissible in court
- Understanding many of the terms related to explosion and fire investigations
The 2021 edition marks some of the most substantial changes since the original publication of the document.
The Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations offers the most complete and relevant industry information and practices. The publication features full-color images that convey core concepts and examples to provide you with deeper insight into fundamental investigation methodologies.
Notable changes in the 2021 edition include:
- Relocation of fire pattern text found throughout NFPA 921 into Chapter 6
- Restructured and rewritten Chapter 6, including the combination of fire patterns and arc-mapping as a single process of origin determination to account for the reclassification of arc mapping as a form of fire pattern analysis
- Deletion of Chapter 20, Classification of Fire Cause, and addition to Chapter 19, Fire Cause Determination, directing investigators to other standards should they need to classify the fire cause
- Revision and addition of text covering ignitable liquid detection canines (IGL canines) including training and certification
- Revised Chapter 14, Sources of Information, and substantial rewrite in relation to non-scene data
