Signs, Symptoms and Causes of Collapse of Building - Coursework Example

Fire Investigation Name: Roll No: Class: Subject: Teacher: Date: 25th July 2008 University Contents Contents 2 Signs, Symptoms and Causes of Collapse of Building 3 Approach and Execution of Information Gathering 6 Indicators of Arson and Management Actions 7 Works Cited 11 Signs, Symptoms and Causes of Collapse of Building A building that is going to collapse or is collapsed because of being set on fire intentionally or accidently incorporates a number of signs, symptoms and causes. Being on fire is such a dangerous accident that causes various hazards and risks to the lives of residents and accommodators of the building. According to “Fire Protection Handbook: Building Construction” by National Fire Protection Association, (2004b), if the building is an official building, the danger increases as the number of people increases because of the building’s commercialism (pp. 51). It is stated in “Fire Protection Handbook: Evaluating Structural Damage” by National Fire Protection Association, (2004c), that a building that is on fire or is secured by putting off the fire is hazardous to the people such as fire fighters, fire investigators, residents, police officials and other persons related to the building (pp. 43). Every person who is responsible for entering the building that is set on fire for safety purposes or for inquiring purposes should take into consideration many precautionary measures as if to ensure his/her safety. Signs of collapse of building during and after fire fighting operations are many as there are many chemical processes, physical damages and other injuries to the building that point towards its collapse. According to the data collected in “Fire Protection Handbook: Evaluating Structural Damage” by National Fire Protection Association, (2004c), the signs can be damaged staircases, gas and water pipeline leakages, electricity failure, burnt floors and ceilings, burnt wiring, burning furniture that may cause more damage and many other signs are there that indicate towards the collapsing of building (pp. 48). The people involved in fire operations during combustion such as fire fighters and the people who work after fire operations like investigators have to take care in terms of their safety, as there are many conditions and dangers that can harm them and their health. It has been reported in “Kirk’s Fire investigation”, (1997), by Brady that not only the fire fighters but also fire investigators have gone through health problems (pp. 68). They were also subjected to dangerous situations such as chemical spreading after fire operations. Due to the after affects of fire, the fire investigators are subject to same danger as that to fire fighters. The fire may be a reason for collapsing of a building as it damages the building badly if not controlled in time. Large fires need a strong fire fighting operation as to eradicate the risk of collapse of the building. According to Brady in “Kirk’s Fire investigation”, (1997), the fire investigators that enter the building after fire operations by the fire fighters need to take safety measures, as they are more in chance of endangerment in terms of building’s collapse (pp. 64). Due to fire, the building has ,ore chances of being collapsed because the floors, ceilings, wirings, furniture and other stuff present in the building is badly damaged that further endangers the lives of the fire investigators that reach the scene after the eradication of fire. There may be chemical reactions because of combustion. Hildebrand, Michael and Gregory state in “Hazardous Materials for Fire and Explosion Investigators”, (2000), that there can be chances of broken staircases, falling down ceilings, weak floors, broken wires, leaked water and gas pipelines and many other harmful and dangerous conditions that the investigators should keep in mind before entering the fire scene (pp. 89). According to Brady in “Kirk’s Fire investigation”, (1997), a complete evaluation and close examination of the fire-affected places is necessary to assess all the probable hazards and risks (pp. 59). The fire scene should be scrutinized from outside as well as from inside in order to judge all risky or hazardous factors. It has been stated in “Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations: Safety” by National Fire Protection Association, (2004a), that it has been considered by some of the fire investigators that because of fire extinguishing, there has been less perilous and unsafe conditions as compared to the situation, which was faced by the fire fighters (pp. 42). For them, fire investigation is much less perilous and troublesome as compared to fire extinguishing. It has been reported in “Introduction to Fire Origin and Cause” by International Fire Service Training Association, (1997), that there have been many reports and booklets for the information of fire investigators and other personnel linked to the issue of fire handling conditions that indicate that there are much more toxicological perils to those people who do their duty after extinguishment of fire (pp. 53). The toxicological perils are there because the place is not wholly free from combustion, which results in spread of toxic matters on the fire location. People working during fire operations or after fire operations are in need of some protective equipment set for their work. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is developed for fire fighters, fire investigators and other people who work in harmful conditions. According to Brady in “Kirk’s Fire Investigation”, (1997), that this equipment includes disposable overalls, eye protection, ear protection, hand and arm protection, feet and leg protection, head protection and breathing protection accessories that are needed by personnel working in dangerous conditions (pp. 65). Approach and Execution of Information Gathering To collect information regarding to an incident of fire spread in a locality or building whether it is commercial or residential, it is necessary for the investigator to plan a strategy as to record al the information to indicate towards the incident as a deliberately set fire or an accidental one. The process of information assemblage includes identification and recognition of people who are associated to the accident of fire. According to Brady in “Kirk’s Fire Investigation”, (1997), the persons who are associated to the accidental setting of fire are the security guards, property owners, security personnel, working staff, accommodators, police officials, fire fighters and other people who are related to the incident or who have witnessed the incident (pp. 69). For collection of information, it is necessary to question all the people present at that juncture or who have witnessed the fire accident. The fire investigators are also required to collect the information through interviewing and questioning all the related people mentioned above. The investigators also have a responsibility to check the documents of the building and the security measures taken in advance to safeguard the building from accidental combustions. In “Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations: Safety” by National Fire Protection Association, (2004a), it has been stated that for the evaluation and assessment of precautionary measures documented in the building papers, the investigators have to evaluate not only the documents but also they have to assess the physical presence of all precautionary measures (pp. 54). Assemblage of information related to the accident of fire should be done in stages. The threats and dangers that can be there should be identified. If the personnel of the building have not taken necessary measures, they should be recommended precautionary measures that they should take in future accidental conditions. Investigators are required to identity the threats and dangers that can be there while investigating the accident of fire. According to Brady in “Kirk’s Fire Investigation”, (1997), after recognition of all the threats and dangers that can be there, the next step comes of interviewing and interrogating the people linked to the accident (pp. 71). All the interrogation details should be recorded in order to reach at a point and to judge whether the incident was there because of some accidental situation or because of some deliberate action done by some criminal person. The location that has been on fire should be weighed up in terms of detection of reasons for blazing of fire. All the identified reasons and suspicions should be documented in order to record all major and minute details the ignition accident. Indicators of Arson and Management Actions To evaluate indicators of arson that is also known as deliberately set fire, the investigators need an in depth evaluation of the place where the accident has happened. They are required to identity all the risky situations considered in advance by the administration of the place or building. Bamford in “Arson Prevention Policy”, (2005), informs that scrutiny and cross-examination of the views presented by different people working or living at a place are required to be collected (pp.2). All the information that the investigator has collected or assembled during the information assemblage phase should be evaluated to be acquainted with the causes involved in the setting up of fire. There are many indicators of arson and the attack that is done intentionally to ignite a building. Bamford in “Arson Prevention Policy”, (2005), states that the investigators are required to detect all the possible enmities with the administration of the building (pp. 4). They should be able to assess the reasons that can cause an attack from some person. Fire Investigators also interrogate the administration of the building in order to know their suspicion on my person or company that can be involved in some criminal activity towards the building. The fire investigator needs to be fully aware of any confusion or disorder that exists between the employees and administration of a building because the hostility can be caused because of some adversity from the administration’s side. It is stated in “Fire Protection Handbook: Evaluating Structural Damage” by National Fire Protection Association, (2004c) that nowadays, fire investigators make use of forensic technology to capture or detect whether the set fire is intentional or accidental (pp. 63). They examine every affected part of the building in order to collect appropriate data related to the combustion. If there are cameras fixed in the building and they are still workable after the extinguishing of fire, they can also be employed in order to gain information related to arson or accidental fire. The administration or management is required to take enough precautionary measures in order to minimize the risk of arson or attack in terms of combustion of the building. According to Brady in “Kirk’s Fire Investigation”, (1997), for arson attack as well as accidental spread of fire, the administration should hire personnel to evaluate and scrutinize the building needs in order to reduce the above-mentioned threats in terms of conflagration (pp. 74). The fire investigators are required to propose or recommend effectual precautionary steps to the management that they can adopt to prevent arson attack. The management should hire people to evaluate any risky conditions in terms of arson attack or accidental dissemination of fire. These appointed personnel should generate reports related to the future threats for the arson attack or accidental fires. Administration should arrange guidance programs for the staff members of the building in order to instruct them about any mishap in terms of arson attack or accidental setting up of fire. Bamford in “Arson Prevention Policy”, (2005), highlights that people should be informed about the use of PPE (Personal Protective equipment) that is needed in dangerous conditions (pp. 5). The staff members should also be guided in terms of usage of effectual tools and equipment that can be used in case of arson attack or accidental combustion. They must be fully instructed about the probable threats and dangers that can be there in the building. There should be ways, which can be employed in order to make the building in case of any accident in terms of fire. Management or administration should inform the staff members about the safety steps that they can take while there is an accident. Bamford in “Arson Prevention Policy”, (2005), elaborates that there should be proper safety at the entrance and departure doorways and the persons entering and leaving the building should be allowed to enter and depart after proper checking to ensure security (pp. 6). Unauthorized personnel should not be allowed to enter places that are allocated for some specific personnel. The instructors of fire accidents should inform the staff members about all the usable stuff in the building that can be a cause of fire setting. The staff members should be properly instructed in order to evacuate the building in case there is combustion problem in the building. The evacuation routes that should be adopted or used in terms of combustion and should be fully informed to the staff members so that, there is no troublesome situation while evacuation. Due to combustion or ignition in any building, there are threats in terms of collapse of the building and the fire investigators can examine the signs and symptoms that can be there in case of the collapse of the building. The fire investigators should take precautionary measures in order to interrogate or investigate the whole incident and they should not forget that they are prone to danger similar to the fire fighters. Before entering a building, they should make sure that they are making use of personal protective equipment and the building that needs to be investigated should be fully evaluated in terms of future threats. The fire investigators are required to assemble all the data concerning the setting on of fire deliberately or accidentally. The information can be collected by interviewing and interrogating related people to the building. Furthermore, the information can also be obtained by assessing the building documents and the threats analyzed by the building personnel before the accident of fire. Arson attack can be identified by making use of technology that is used nowadays such as forensic methodology. Moreover, the arson attack or accidental conflagration can also be evaluated by examining the whole building in depth and by interrogating the people. The management or administration of any building is required to take precautionary steps in order to reduce the threat of arson attack or accidental fire. They should provide guidance and instruction to the staff members and should ensure effective security of the building. Works Cited Bamford, David E. (2005). Arson Prevention Policy. Newcastle: Newcastle Primary Care Trust. pp. 1-7. Brady, A. (1997). Kirk’s Fire Investigation. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Division. pp. 56-78. Hildebrand, Michael S. and Gregory, G. Noll. (2000). Hazardous Materials for Fire and Explosion Investigators. New York: Red Hat Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 89-96. International Fire Service Training Association. (1997). Introduction to Fire Origin and Cause. New Jersey: Fire Protection Publications. pp. 35-62. National Fire Protection Association. (2004a). Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations: Safety. Quincy Mass: National Fire Protection Association. pp. 38-57. National Fire Protection Association. (2004b). Fire Protection Handbook: Building Construction. Quincy Mass: National Fire Protection Association. pp. 42-60. National Fire Protection Association. (2004c). Fire Protection Handbook: Evaluating Structural Damage. Quincy Mass: National Fire Protection Association. pp. 40-64. Read More