NFPA 921

Abstract

Scope: This document is designed to assist individuals who are charged with the responsibility of investigating and analyzing fire and explosion incidents and rendering opinions as to the origin, cause, responsibility, or prevention of such incidents and the damage and injuries that arise from such incidents. The completion of reports for the United States National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) are outside the scope of this guide. This guide considers NFIRS reports as incident reports and not as investigation reports. The information contained in an NFIRS report should generally be considered as the preliminary report of the fire department concerning any fire or explosion incident. An NFIRS report should not be used as a fire investigation report. Purpose. The purpose of this document is to establish guidelines and recommendations for the safe and systematic investigation or analysis of fire and explosion incidents. Fire investigation or analysis and the accurate listing of causes are fundamental to the protection of lives and property from the threat of hostile fire or explosions. It is through an efficient and accurate determination of the cause and responsibility that future fire incidents can be avoided. This document has been developed as a model for the advancement and practice of fire and explosion investigation, fire science, technology, and methodology. Proper determination of fire origin and cause, as well as the cause of and responsibility for property damage, injuries, or deaths, is also essential for the meaningful compilation of fire statistics. Accurate statistics form part of the basis of fire prevention codes, standards, and training.