ASTM E3253-21
(Practice)Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Intact Explosives
Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Intact Explosives
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice is designed to assist the forensic explosives examiner in selecting and organizing an analytical scheme for identifying intact explosives. The amount and condition of the sample, as well as the availability of applicable instrumental techniques, will determine the selected analytical scheme.
5.2 The forensic explosives examiner considers relevant issues about the case investigation and submitted items, such as sample size, complexity and condition, environmental effects, and collection methods used. Considerations include test methods, sample preparation schemes, test sequences, and acceptable degrees of sample alteration and consumption that will be different for each case submission.
5.3 This practice provides the minimum criteria for identifying explosive material. The examiner determines an analytical scheme that uses techniques to correctly identify the material, which could include oxidizers, fuels, binders, and detection agents.
5.4 This practice is used in conjunction with the referenced documents.
5.5 This practice does not attempt to address all the issues regarding sample analyses. There could be additional tests or analyses performed to provide further discrimination and characterization of samples.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation, selection, and application of techniques to establish examination schemes for use by forensic explosives examiners to identify intact (unexploded) low and high explosives. A foundation for a consistent approach to the analysis of intact explosives is provided. Methods for the development of identifying information that follows an efficient order of testing are described.
1.2 This practice establishes requirements for the use of visual, physical, analytical, and instrumental techniques that provide structural and chemical information for an identification of a high or low explosive material.
1.3 Techniques used in the examination of explosives include visual and microscopical inspection, physical characterization, ignition susceptibility testing, chemical and spot testing, and instrumental methods.
1.4 The minimum requirements for identification of commonly encountered explosives and explosive materials are listed.
1.5 This standard is intended for use by competent forensic science practitioners with the requisite formal education, discipline-specific training (see Practice E2917), and demonstrated proficiency to perform forensic casework (refer to the T/SWGFEX Suggested Guide for Explosives Analysis Training).
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3253 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
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Establishing an Examination Scheme for Intact Explosives
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3253; 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 2. Referenced Documents
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation, selection, and ap-
E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech-
plication of techniques to establish examination schemes for
nical Experts
use by forensic explosives examiners to identify intact (unex-
E860 Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are
ploded) low and high explosives.Afoundation for a consistent
Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
approach to the analysis of intact explosives is provided.
E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
Methods for the development of identifying information that
E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
follows an efficient order of testing are described.
Continuing Education, and Professional Development
1.2 This practice establishes requirements for the use of
Programs
visual, physical, analytical, and instrumental techniques that
E2998 Practice for Characterization and Classification of
provide structural and chemical information for an identifica-
Smokeless Powder
tion of a high or low explosive material.
E2999 Test Method for Analysis of Organic Compounds in
1.3 Techniques used in the examination of explosives in- Smokeless Powder by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spec-
clude visual and microscopical inspection, physical
trometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
characterization, ignition susceptibility testing, chemical and E3196 Terminology Relating to the Examination of Explo-
spot testing, and instrumental methods.
sives
E3255 Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science
1.4 The minimum requirements for identification of com-
Service Providers Performing Forensic ChemicalAnalysis
monly encountered explosives and explosive materials are
2.2 Other Resources:
listed.
Technical/Scientific Working Group for Fire and Explosion
1.5 This standard is intended for use by competent forensic
Analysis (T/SWGFEX) Suggested Guide for Explosive
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science practitioners with the requisite formal education,
Analysis Training
discipline-specific training (see Practice E2917), and demon-
3. Terminology
strated proficiency to perform forensic casework (refer to the
T/SWGFEX Suggested Guide for Explosives Analysis Train-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this stan-
ing).
dard other than those listed in 3.2, see Terminology E1732 and
Terminology E3196.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.1 detection, n—an analytical signal from a recognized
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priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
analyte was generated and can be tentatively identified (1).
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.2 identification, n—assigning an analyte (analytical sig-
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
nal) to one of the set of known individual chemical compounds
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
or to a group/class of compounds.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100
Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, https://www.nist.gov/
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic system/files/documents/2018/09/21/twgfex_suggest_guide_for_explosive_analysis
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics. _training.pdf.
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Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published December 2021. DOI: The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
10.1520/E3253-21. this stan
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