ASTM E2292-14

Standard Guide for Field Investigation of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incidents

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This guide is intended for use by individuals who investigate incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning. If this guide is followed, the cause for the carbon monoxide poisoning incident may be determined, and corrective action may be identified to prevent future incidents.  
3.2 When attempting to identify the source of carbon monoxide, consider that it is produced at some level in virtually every fuel-burning engine, boiler, furnace, burner, stove or fire. All carbon-based fuels (for example, gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, paper products, plastics) produce carbon monoxide as a result of incomplete combustion. When there is insufficient air for complete combustion, carbon monoxide can become a major product of combustion. In properly-operating combustion equipment, the level of carbon monoxide produced may be as little as a hundred parts per million or less (that is, 0.01 %). However, combustion with insufficient air can produce carbon monoxide concentrations of 10 000 ppm to 100 000 ppm (that is, 1 to 10 %) or higher.  
3.3 Be aware of the effects of carbon monoxide on humans and pets. Carbon monoxide acts as a central nervous system depressant. With increasing concentration or time of exposure, or both, carbon monoxide will cause people to feel sleepy or sick, lose consciousness, and die. Carbon monoxide is especially hazardous because it is colorless and odorless, providing no warning of its presence. When inhaled, carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin in the blood, creating carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). The affinity of carbon monoxide for hemoglobin is approximately 200 times greater than the affinity of oxygen for hemoglobin. Therefore, the blood can accumulate dangerous levels of COHb, depriving the body of oxygen.  
3.4 Since there is the potential for investigators to become victims of elevated carbon monoxide levels themselves, extreme care should be taken to assure the safety of investigators and anyone else at risk of conti...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers collection and preservation of information and physical evidence related to incidents involving the poisoning of individuals by carbon monoxide.  
1.2 This guide is not intended to address the medical effects of carbon monoxide exposure.  
1.3 This guide is not intended to be a guide for investigating carbon monoxide poisoning caused by hostile fires, or contamination in closed air systems or confined spaces. Guidance on the investigation of carbon monoxide poisonings related to fire can be found in NFPA 921.  
1.4 This guide is not intended for an investigation where equipment is removed from the incident site and conducted in a more controlled setting.  
1.5 This guide is intended to be used by a wide range of investigators, including first responders, appliance technicians and engineers.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2014
• ICS: 13.300 - Protection against dangerous goods
• Technical Committee: E58 - Forensic Engineering
• Drafting Committee: E58.05 - Industrial Processes

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2292 − 14
Standard Guide for
Field Investigation of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
1
Incidents
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2292; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope 2.2 NFPA Standards:
NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code
1.1 This guide covers collection and preservation of infor-
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
mation and physical evidence related to incidents involving the
4
2.3 UL Standards:
poisoning of individuals by carbon monoxide.
UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide
Alarms
1.2 This guide is not intended to address the medical effects
of carbon monoxide exposure.
3. Significance and Use
1.3 This guide is not intended to be a guide for investigating
3.1 This guide is intended for use by individuals who
carbon monoxide poisoning caused by hostile fires, or con-
investigate incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning. If
tamination in closed air systems or confined spaces. Guidance
this guide is followed, the cause for the carbon monoxide
on the investigation of carbon monoxide poisonings related to
poisoning incident may be determined, and corrective action
fire can be found in NFPA 921.
may be identified to prevent future incidents.
1.4 This guide is not intended for an investigation where
3.2 When attempting to identify the source of carbon
equipment is removed from the incident site and conducted in
monoxide, consider that it is produced at some level in
a more controlled setting.
virtually every fuel-burning engine, boiler, furnace, burner,
stove or fire. All carbon-based fuels (for example, gasoline,
1.5 This guide is intended to be used by a wide range of
diesel fuel, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, paper products,
investigators, including first responders, appliance technicians
plastics) produce carbon monoxide as a result of incomplete
and engineers.
combustion. When there is insufficient air for complete
combustion, carbon monoxide can become a major product of
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
combustion. In properly-operating combustion equipment, the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
level of carbon monoxide produced may be as little as a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
hundred parts per million or less (that is, 0.01 %). However,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
combustion with insufficient air can produce carbon monoxide
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
concentrations of 10 000 ppm to 100 000 ppm (that is, 1 to 10
%) or higher.
2. Referenced Documents
3.3 Be aware of the effects of carbon monoxide on humans
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and pets. Carbon monoxide acts as a central nervous system
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
depressant. With increasing concentration or time of exposure,
Documentation
or both, carbon monoxide will cause people to feel sleepy or
E2713 Guide to Forensic Engineering
sick, lose consciousness, and die. Carbon monoxide is espe-
cially hazardous because it is colorless and odorless, providing
no warning of its presence. When inhaled, carbon monoxide
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E58 on Forensic
binds with hemoglobin in the blood, creating carboxyhemo-
Engineering and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E58.05 on Industrial
globin (COHb). The affinity of carbon monoxide for hemoglo-
Processes.
bin is approximately 200 times greater than the affinity of
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2014. Published September 2014. Originally
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as E2292 – 04 (2012).
DOI: 10.1520/E2292-14.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 2600 N.W. Lake Rd., Camas,
the ASTM website. WA 98607-8542, http://www.ul.com.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2292 − 14
oxygen for hemoglobin. Therefore, the blood can accumulate to check the combustion products produced by fuel burning
dangerous levels of COHb, depriving the body of oxygen. equipment. These instruments indicate carbo
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2292 − 04 (Reapproved 2012) E2292 − 14
Standard PracticeGuide for
Field Investigation of Investigating Carbon Monoxide
1
Poisoning Incidents
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2292; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers guidelines for collecting and preserving information and physical evidence related to incidents
involving the poisoning of individuals by carbon monoxide.
1.2 This practice is not intended to be a guide for investigating carbon monoxide poisoning caused by hostile fires, or
contamination in closed air systems. Guidance on the investigation of carbon monoxide poisonings related to fire can be found in
NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E678 Practice for Evaluation of Scientific or Technical Data
E860 Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
E1020 Practice for Reporting Incidents that May Involve Criminal or Civil Litigation
3
2.2 NFPA Standards:
NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
3. Significance and Use
3.1 Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for approximately 300 deaths annually in the United States, (excluding fire
deaths) and carbon monoxide poisoning causes thousands of individuals to seek medical attention.
3.2 This practice is intended for use by individuals who investigate incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning. If this
procedure is followed, the cause for the carbon monoxide poisoning incident may be determined, and steps can be taken to prevent
future incidents.
4. Equipment
4.1 Electronic Carbon Monoxide Monitor—A properly calibrated direct reading electronic monitor having a range of 0 to 1000
ppm is useful in that its output provides almost instantaneous concentration data, and it therefore has the capability to warn the
investigator if carbon monoxide levels are reaching dangerous concentrations.
4.2 Reagent Tube Indicator—Several types of reagent tube indicators are available for measuring carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, and fuel gases. Reagent tubes capable of responding to concentrations of 0 to 100 ppm, 0 to 1000 ppm, and 0 to 1 %
carbon monoxide in air are recommended.
4.3 Ventilation Equipment—A fan or similar device should be available to allow flushing the air space around equipment
between tests.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E58 on Forensic Engineering and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E58.05 on Industrial Processes.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012Aug. 1, 2014. Published November 2012September 2014. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 20042012
as E2292 – 04.E2292 – 04 (2012). DOI: 10.1520/E2292-04R12.10.1520/E2292-14.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E2292 − 14
4.4 All equipment shall be calibrated at least annually.
5. Safety
5.1 Testing equipment suspected of causing carbon monoxide poisoning can yield definitive results that cannot be obtained any
other way. Testing equipment that may have injured individuals; however, is a potentially dangerous undertaking, in that the
investigator runs the risk of becoming exposed to carbon monoxide being produced by improperly functioning equipment.
5.2 Safe testing procedures are of the utmost importance. Before any testing is planned, a safety officer shall be identified. The
safety officer’s responsibilities shall be to protect the safety and health of the investigator and any individuals who may be affected
by the testing.
5.3 Stable communications should be assured between t
...