The influence of fire accelerants on the fire behavior during living room fires was experimentally investigated by performing 5 different room fire scenarios. During the tests flre-technological quantities were determined as well as chemical-analytical studies were carried out. The focus was on the detection of smoke gases and the proof of used fire accelerants. The evaluation of traceable fire accelerants and the reconstruction of the fire development are based on a precise Chemical analysis of the combustion products.
In this work an innovative methodology was developed to combine available analyticai techniques to draw conclusions from solid, liquid and gaseous fire residues about the fire process. Each ofthe fire rooms was equipped with the same living room inventory. The location and amount of fire accelerant (a mixture of diesel/gasoline) differed in 4 of 5 tests. Orte room fire experiment was carried out without fire accelerant.
The following fire technological characteristics were determined during the room fire experiments: mass loss (of the complete room), temperatures (at several locations in the room), heat release and smoke gas emission (measured at three different locations: in the chimney, in the fire room and at the door opening).
While the smoke gases were analysed by using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, the fire residues and swipe samples (particles) were examined by Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction-
Gaschromatography-Mass spectrometry. These procedures make it possible to detect low concentrations of volatile components of the fire accelerants. The Chemical analyticai results of the fire accelerant detection are presented.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) DocCenter has received more and more reports of cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, some even with fatal outcomes after indoor use of charcoal grills. CO is odorless, colorless, non-irritant and does not produce any other warning effect perceptible to humans. The BfR and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) have completed a cooperative research project to investigate the toxic concentrations of CO that are reached when charcoal grills or open fires are used indoors.