ASTM E2292-21

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 fuel-fired combustion appliances (for example, residential furnaces and water heaters), the level of carbon monoxide produced may be as little as a hundred parts per million or less (that is, 0.01 %). In those same appliances, malfunctions can potentially result in significantly higher carbon monoxide concentrations (10 000 ppm to 100 000 ppm, or higher). Properly-operating internal combustion engines may also generate carbon monoxide concentrations on the order of 10 000 ppm 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 dosage (combination of concentration and time of exposure) symptoms may include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion, and may lead to death. 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 dangerou...
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, 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

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2021
• ICS: 13.300 - Protection against dangerous goods
• Technical Committee: E58 - Forensic Engineering
• Drafting Committee: E58.05 - Industrial Processes

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: E2292 − 21
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.
1. Scope E860 Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are
Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
1.1 This guide covers collection and preservation of infor-
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
mation and physical evidence related to incidents involving the
Documentation
poisoning of individuals by carbon monoxide.
E2713 Guide to Forensic Engineering
1.2 This guide is not intended to address the medical effects
3
2.2 NFPA Standards:
of carbon monoxide exposure.
NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code
1.3 This guide is not intended to be a guide for investigating
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
carbon monoxide poisoning caused by hostile fires, or con-
4
2.3 UL Standard:
tamination in closed air systems or confined spaces. Guidance
UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide
on the investigation of carbon monoxide poisonings related to
Alarms
fire can be found in NFPA 921.
5
2.4 IFGC Publication:
1.4 This guide is not intended for an investigation where
IFGC International Fuel Gas Code
equipment is removed from the incident site and conducted in
a more controlled setting.
3. Significance and Use
1.5 This guide is intended to be used by a wide range of
3.1 This guide is intended for use by individuals who
investigators, including first responders, appliance technicians
investigate incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning. If
and engineers.
this guide is followed, the cause for the carbon monoxide
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
poisoning incident may be determined, and corrective action
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
may be identified to prevent future incidents.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2 When attempting to identify the source of carbon
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
monoxide, consider that it is produced at some level in
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
virtually every fuel-burning engine, boiler, furnace, burner,
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
stove or fire. All carbon-based fuels (for example, gasoline,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
diesel fuel, natural gas, propane, coal, wood, paper products,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
plastics) produce carbon monoxide as a result of incomplete
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
combustion. When there is insufficient air for complete
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
combustion, carbon monoxide can become a major product of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
combustion. In properly-operating fuel-fired combustion appli-
ances (for example, residential furnaces and water heaters), the
2. Referenced Documents
level of carbon monoxide produced may be as little as a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
hundred parts per million or less (that is, 0.01 %). In those
same appliances, malfunctions can potentially result in signifi-
1 cantly higher carbon monoxide concentrations (10 000 ppm to
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 July 1, 2021. Published July 2021. Originally approved
3
in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E2292 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
E2292-21. Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 2600 N.W. Lake Rd., Camas,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM WA 98607-8542, http://www.ul.com.
5
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from International Code Council (ICC), 500 New Jersey Ave., NW,
the ASTM website. 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, http://www.iccsafe.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ------
...

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 − 14 E2292 − 21
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.
1. 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E860 Practice for Examining And Preparing Items That Are Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
E2713 Guide to Forensic Engineering
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 Aug. 1, 2014July 1, 2021. Published September 2014July 2021. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 20122014 as
E2292 – 04 (2012).E2292 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/E2292-14.10.1520/E2292-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2292 − 21
3
2.2 NFPA Standards:
NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code
NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
4
2.3 UL Standards:Standard:
UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms
5
2.4 IFGC Publication:
IFGC International Fuel Gas Code
3. 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, fuel-fired combustion appliances (for example, residential furnaces and water heaters), 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 0.01 %). In those same appliances, malfunctions can potentially result in significantly higher carbon monoxide
concentrations of 10 000 ppm to 100 000 ppm (that is, 1 to 10 %) (10 000 p
...