Forensic Sci.

Fires and Explosives2

Incêndios e Explosivos

Course code:8059335

António Manuel Duarte Carvalho

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit:
  1. To classify in the scope of the criminal law actions of fire and explosion.
  2. To include in the scope of criminal proceedings the expert evidence gathering action.
  3. Know the principles of ignition and development of combustion.
  4. Identify the forms of heat transmission.
  5. Know the chart of indicators of direction and direction of a fire.
  6. To identify the starting point of a fire and an explosion.
  7. State preventive measures in fires, means of detection and forms of combat.
  8. Identify and apply ways of preserving evidence.
  9. List reporting techniques.
  10. State the types of laboratory tests to be performed in each type of evidence and identify their results.
Syllabus:
  1. Criminal Law - Crimes and Common Danger.
  2. Criminal procedural Law - Precautionary and Police Measures.
  3. Judicial organization.
  4. Principles of combustion.
  5. External ignition sources and causes of inflammation.
  6. Physical and chemical characteristics of combustion in common, liquid and gaseous solids.
  7. Explosions of gases.
  8. Reading of the scorecard and propagation of a fire and explosion.
  9. Determination of the starting points of a combustion.
  10. Identification of external ignition means.
  11. Preservation of means of proof.
  12. Identification of risk situations.
  13. Registration techniques.
  14. Reporting techniques.
  15. Structural protection and fire confinement.
  16. Preventive measures in fires.
  17. Means of detection of fires.
  18. Fire fighting.
  19. Type of laboratory tests to be carried out on evidence collected.
 
Suggested Bibliography:
  • DeHaan JD & Icove DJ (2013) Kirk’s Fire Investigation, 7th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Berkeley – California. ISBN: 0-13-283000-0
  • Huron BS (1972) Elements of Arson Investigation, 2nd ed., The Reuben H. Donnelley Corporation, New York. ISBN: 1314310
  • NFPA-921 (2014) Guía para la investigación de incendios y explosiones / National Fire Protection Association, Madrid, CEPREVEN
  • Phillips CC & Mcfadden DA (1982) Investigación del Origen y Causas de los Incendios, Editorial Mapfre S.A., Madrid – España. ISBN: 84-7100-140-3