OSAC Lexicon

The process of determining the origin, cause, development, responsibility, and, when required, a failure analysis of a fire or explosion.

The boundary of fire effects within a scene in which the area of origin will be located. The fire area is characterized by identifying the border between damaged and undamaged areas, which are distinguishable by fire effects and patterns created by flame, heat, and smoke.

The circumstances, conditions, or agencies that bring together a fuel, ignition source, and oxidizer (such as air or oxygen) resulting in a fire or a combustion explosion.

The study of chemical processes that occur in fires including changes of state, decomposition, and combustion.

The study of chemical processes that occur in fires including changes in state, decomposition, and combustion.

The detailed study of how chemistry, fire science, and the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact to influence fire behavior.

The detailed study of how chemistry, fire science, and the engineering disciplines of fluid mechanics and heat transfer interact to influence fire behavior.

The observable or measurable changes in or on a material as a result of a fire.

Any situation, process, material, or condition that can cause a fire or explosion or that can provide a ready fuel supply to augment the spread or intensity of a fire or explosion, all of which pose a threat to life or property.

The process of determining the origin, cause, and development of a fire or explosion.

The process of determining the origin, cause, and development of a fire or explosion

An individual who has demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct, coordinate, and complete a fire investigation.

An individual who has demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct, coordinate, and complete a fire investigation.

A structured approach to predicting one or more effects of a fire.

The physical changes, or identifiable shapes, formed by a fire effect or group of fire effects.

See fire spread.

Systems, devices, and equipment used to detect a fire and its by-products, actuate an alarm, or suppress or control a fire and its by-products, or any combination thereof.

The process of recreating the physical scene during fire scene analysis investigation or through the removal of debris and the placement of contents or structural elements in their pre-fire positions.

The body of knowledge concerning the study of fire and related subjects (such as combustion, flame, products of combustion, heat release, heat transfer, fire and explosion chemistry, fire and explosion dynamics, thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics, fire safety) and their interaction with people, structures, and the environment.

The body of knowledge concerning the study of fire and related subjects (such as combustion, flame, products of combustion, heat release, heat transfer, fire and explosion chemistry, fire and explosion dynamics, thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics, fire safety) and their interaction with people, structures, and the environment.

The movement of fire from one place to another.

see «suppression»

A symbol used to describe the necessary requirements for fire to occur: fuel, heat, oxidizer, and an uninhibited chemical chain reaction.

A symbol used to describe the necessary requirements for fire to occur in which the three sides represent fuel, oxidizer, and a source of ignition. The connection of the sides to form a triangle symbolizes the chain of reaction.

Any device designed to expel a projectile with the energy generated by combustion.

discipline of forensic science charged with conducting comparison examinations of tools and toolmarks and reporting the conclusion. 

NOTE:  When the tool is a firearm, the discipline also seeks to answer relevant questions about the firearms or ammunition components involved in an incident.

Also referenced in ANSI/ASB 105, Minimum Education Requirements for Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Trainees.
 

A discipline of forensic science charged with conducting comparison examinations of tools and toolmarks and reporting the conclusion. When the tool is a firearm, the discipline also seeks to answer relevant questions about the firearms or ammunition components involved in an incident.

A person who has completed training in the discipline of firearm and toolmark examination and who is currently authorized to perform work in this discipline.

A person seeking employment as a firearm and toolmark examiner trainee.

A person who is entering or undergoing, but has not yet completed, training in the discipline of firearm and toolmark examination.

Also referenced in in ANSI/ASB Standard 124, Minimum Requirements and Recommendations for a Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Training Program.
 

Subdiscipline of firearm and toolmark examination that includes, but is not limited to, the classification and comparison of microscopic toolmarks created by firearms on ammunition components.

NOTE: It may also include the examination of firearms, serial number restoration, and muzzle-to-target distance determinations.
 

The first fuel ignited is that which first sustains combustion beyond the ignition source.

Any individual responding to a crime scene, including but not limited to: law enforcement, investigative, medical, fire/paramedic, and laboratory personnel

The portion of an oral dose metabolized in the intestine, gut wall, or liver before reaching the systemic circulation.

A schedule of reinforcement in which rewards for a correct response occur after a fixed period of time.

Describes a character set in which all character cells are of equal width (see proportional spacing). (ASTM F1457)

A schedule of reinforcement in which the subject is rewarded after a set number of unrewarded correct responses.

Clear plastic sheet with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. (ANSI/ASB Std 044)

A body or stream of gaseous material involved in the combustion process and emitting radiant energy at specific wavelength bands determined by the combustion chemistry of the fuel. In most cases, some portion of the emitted radiant energy is visible to the human eye.

A hot, usually luminous zone of gas that is undergoing combustion.

The flaming leading edge of a propagating combustion reaction zone.

The condition where unburned fuel (pyrolysate) from the originating fire has accumulated in the upper layer to a sufficient concentration (i.e., at or above the lower flammable limit) that it ignites and burns. This can occur without ignition of, or prior to the ignition of, other fuels separate from the origin.

Capable of burning with a flame.