Service that will free your mind

Global Solution to:

Fire and Explosion InvestigationRoot Cause AnalysisMetallurgical Analysis

Non Destructive TestingDisaster Recovery

www.approvedgroup.biz24-Hour Hotline: +603-61886311

Agenda

Part 1:• Introduction to Approved Group• Scope of Approved Forensics investigations • Two cases involving human involvement

Agenda

Part 1 – cont’d• The Investigation Process

– Scientific Method– Hypothesis development and testing

• Incendiary Fire Identified• Indicators of fire by management• Where to from Here

Agenda

Part 2: - Disaster Recovery

• Is it contaminated? Or is it damaged?• Restore or replace?• Technical Evaluation and Reports

Is • Agile and Effective• Customer Focused

• Time and Cost Efficient

The Approved Forensics Team

Personal Members of:

1.Institution of Fire Engineers

2.International Association of Arson Investigators

3.Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators

4.Forensic Science Society

Corporate Member of:

1.National Fire Protection Association

Business Visa

21 May 2012

Why use Approved Forensics ?

WhatWhere WhenHowWho/WhyRisk Improvement

We Investigate: Fires

We Investigate: Explosions

We Investigate and Reconstruct Vehicle Accidents, and Identify Suspect Vehicles

We Investigate: Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Failures

We Conduct: Metallurgical Analysis

We Provide: Non Destructive Testing

•In-situ metallography•Ultrasonic inspection•Magnetic Particle Testing•Liquid Penetrant Testing•Radiography•Portable Hardness

All fire causes are considered and where appropriate eliminated before Intentional Fire

Initiation can be proven…

• Electrical Failure/s• Lightning• Static Electricity• Cooking Equipment• Hot Works – Welding, Friction, Cutting and

Grinding

Fire Causation Elimination Process Continued…

• Careless Use of Smoking Materials• Praying altars / Candles / Animal Activity• Human Involvement - Accidental or

Negligence • Spontaneous Combustion and Auto

Ignition

Case One

Computer Training SchoolKuala Lumpur

17 September 2006

Executive SummaryExecutive Summary

• Fire was reported on Sunday, 17th September 2006• Approved Restorers was appointed for restoring

computers in a training school• Suspicion was raised when we noticed irregular burn

patterns. • The Insurer/Adjuster was alerted• Approved Forensics was appointed on Tuesday, 19th

September 2006

Layout Plan of Computer Training School

What can you observe?

Newspaper

Computer Lab

Newspaper

What can you observe?Computer Lab – Ceiling Board

Burnt Newspaper

Newspaper

What can you observe?Administration Room Praying Room

Fire Seat Fire Seat

Computer Lab

What can you observe?

Melted Plastic

Missing Items?

What can you observe?

Director’s Room

What can you observe?

Front Entrance/Exit Rear Entrance/Exit

Individual Fires Found

Summary…

• All accidental causes of fire were eliminated• Fire Spread intended by the strategic placement of

combustible material such as newspaper and company documents throughout the premises

• Fire in computer laboratories self-extinguished due to the lack of oxygen

• Praying room fire extinguished by the Fire and Rescue Department

• A total of nineteen (19) fires independent of each other were identified in six (6) rooms

…Summary

• Break-in at front entrance by Fire and Rescue Department and no other break-in observed

• This indicates the perpetrator/s had key access to the premises

• Use of forged certification • Business not viable • Business not operating for several years • Cause of Fire: Human Intervention with strong

indication of the involvement of management

Conclusion

Fire commenced due to deliberate human act of fire initiation aided by the use of available combustible material (newspaper and company documents) to aid in the commencement, development and spread of the fire.

Case Two

Garment Retail Shop Fire Rawang, Selangor

22 May 2009

Executive Summary

• On Friday, 22nd May 2009 at about 0000 hours, the owners of a retail Garment Shop, were alerted by an unknown motorcyclist, that their shop was on fire

• At that time, the owners were allegedly in their house

• The motorcyclist travelled for about 10 minutes from the burning shop to the owners’ house to inform them about the fire.

Identification of the Premises

• Divided into two (2) sections– Front section: area for retailing garments– Rear section: over counter used by the employees

to keep and store their personnel belonging and a room for the employees to pray

Security of the Premises

• Front entrance– secured with a double roller shutter

• Rear entrance– secured with a metal door padlocked from within

the shop and one roller shutter which is secured with a metal lock mechanism

Power Plug

Fire Damaged Stock

Possible Cause of Fire

• Fire due to Lightning Strike– Ruled out

• Fire due to Praying Activities– Ruled out

• Fire due to Cooking Apparatus– Ruled out

• Fire due to Careless Use of Smoking Material– Ruled out

Soot Deposit

Clear V Pattern

Base of the V Pattern

• 1 and 2 : Location of samples taken.• a : Stack of garment stocks against the wall.• b : The wall plug connecting to the extension cord, which connects

to • the iron at the rear section of the shop.• c : Location of charred door due to extensive burning shown by the

V • pattern, the red line in the figure.• d : Alleged location of the paint thinner.

Issues with the Owner’s Statement

• The identity of the motorcyclist unknown• A perfect stranger just happened to be at the

shop whilst it was on fire and decided to travel to an unknown address to alert the owners who were unknown to him

Conclusion

Fire commenced due to the deliberate human act of fire initiation aided by the use of toluene, an ignitable liquid, to aid in initiation, development and spread of the fire.

The Investigation Process

• Scientific Method– Identify Problem – Define Problem– Collect Data– Analyse Data– Develop Hypothesis (Inductive Reasoning)– Test Hypothesis (Deductive Reasoning)– Select Final Hypothesis (Conclusion)

Reporting Conclusions

• Conclusive – at this level of confidence, all reasonable alternative hypotheses have been considered and eliminated

• Probable – at this level of confidence, the chance that the hypothesis is true is more than 50%

Principal Reference Guide

Incendiary Fire Identified

Once an incendiary fire has been determined then the Insurance provider will want to know if it was initiated by:– Management / owner– Outsider

Normal Fire policies will be paid if the fire was initiated by a person or persons other than the owner or management

Indicators of Involvement by Management / Owner

Disconnected Water Pipes from Fire Fighting Water Pump Prior to Fire

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

Disconnected Phone Lines from the Intruder Alarm

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

Key Examination – Identified Unauthorised Duplication of keys

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

Examination of lock found at site – not forced but opened with key

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

Lock Examination – No sign of Forced Entry

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

Round Wire for Cotton Bales Found where they should be Square

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

• Business is not viable / in debt• Insurance cover increased prior to the fire• Management have alibis for the time of the

fire• Low quantities of stock• Stock removed prior to the fire

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

• Property/Machines of significant value have been removed prior to the fire

• CCTV switched off at the time of the fire• Intruder alarm switched off at the time of the

fire• Office is damaged destroying all records• Security guards stood down for the shift when

the fire occurred

Indicators of Involvement by Management and/or Owner

• Restricted possession of keys• Restricted key holders• Secured premises whereby fire fighters had to

break in to fight the fire• Relatives/friend/member of management is

burnt during the fire• Ignitable liquid is found at one or more sites

on the premises when it is not normally stored on the premises

6 Reasons to Appoint Approved Forensics

• Trained and Qualified Forensic Staff• Quick Response• Complete Investigation Supported by

Evidence• Timely Completion of a Detailed Report• APEC Business Visa• Special Fees with Minimum Costs

Thank youQuestions!

Service that will free your mind

Global Solution to:

Fire and Explosion InvestigationRoot Cause AnalysisMetallurgical Analysis

Non Destructive TestingDisaster Recovery

www.approvedgroup.biz24-Hour Hotline: +603-61886311