Citation

Crewe RJ, Stec AA, Walker RG, Shaw JE, Hull TR, Rhodes J, Garcia-Sorribes T. J. Forensic Sci. 2014; 59(1): 139-154.

Affiliation

Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, U.K.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.12268

PMID

24313226

Abstract

A fire experiment conducted in a British 1950s-style house is described. Measurements of temperature, smoke, CO, CO2 , and O2 were taken in the Lounge, stairwell, and front and back bedrooms. The front bedroom door was wedged open, while the door to the back bedroom was wedged closed. Contrary to expectations and despite the relatively small fire load, analysis and hazard calculations show permeation of toxic fire gases throughout the property with lethal concentrations of effluent being measured at each sampling point. A generally poor state of repair and missing carpets in the upper story contributed to a high degree of gas and smoke permeation. The available egress time was calculated as the time before the main escape route became impassable. Given known human responses to fire, such an incident could have caused fatalities to sleeping or otherwise immobile occupants.

Language: en