The archiving of extracts recovered from fire debris or liquids submitted in a fire investigation provides a mechanism to preserve extracts and liquids for reanalysis in the event that sample loss, sample degradation, or failure of the fire debris container occurs during post-analysis storage of fire debris evidence.

The nature of some extraction procedures, which may preclude reanalysis, is considered.

Changes to a preserved sample extract and the length of time it remains viable under storage conditions are unknown.

The concentration and composition of the ignitable liquid residue or the use of an alternate extraction/concentration technique used to preserve a sample extract of the fire debris sample may result in different findings between the analysis of the preserved sample and the original analysis.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes procedures for preserving residues of ignitable liquids in extracts obtained from fire debris samples and questioned ignitable liquid samples. Extraction procedures are described in the Referenced Documents.

1.2 This practice does not attempt to address all the issues regarding the short-term or long-term storage of ignitable liquid samples and ignitable liquid extracts from fire debris samples. The changes that may occur under various storage conditions have not been fully documented.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

E1386 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction

E1387 Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography

E1388 Practice for Sampling of Headspace Vapors from Fire Debris Samples

E1412 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration With Activated Charcoal

E1413 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration

E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation

E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory

E1618 Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

E2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)

Keywords

analysis; archiving; extract preservation; fire debris; forensic science; ignitable liquid residue; sample extract; sample preservation; storage;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.220.40 (Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products)

Citing ASTM Standards

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