ASTM E3329-21e1

Standard Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for Explosive Residues

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
6.1 This practice is designed to assist the forensic explosives examiner in selecting and organizing an analytical scheme for identifying explosive residues. The amount and condition of the sample, as well as the availability of instrumental techniques, will determine the selected analytical scheme.  
6.2 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.  
6.3 This practice is used when insufficient material is present to follow Practice E3253.  
6.4 This practice is used in conjunction with the referenced documents.  
6.5 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 an examination scheme for use by forensic explosives examiners to identify residues from low and high explosives. A foundation for the consistent approach to the analysis of visible and non-visible explosive residues from post-blast or other explosive-related scenes 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 an explosive residue.  
1.3 Techniques used in the examination of explosive residues include visual and microscopical inspection, physical characterization, ignition susceptibility testing, chemical and spot testing, and instrumental methods.  
1.4 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).  
1.5 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.  
1.6 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: 31-Oct-2021
• ICS: 71.100.30 - Explosives. Pyrotechnics and fireworks
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.01 - Criminalistics

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.
´1
Designation: E3329 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Establishing an Examination Scheme for Explosive
1
Residues
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3329; 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
ε NOTE—Fig. 1 was corrected editorially in October 2022.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation, selection, and ap- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
plication of techniques to establish an examination scheme for E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech-
use by forensic explosives examiners to identify residues from nical Experts
low and high explosives. A foundation for the consistent E860 Practice for ExaminingAnd Preparing Items ThatAre
approach to the analysis of visible and non-visible explosive Or May Become Involved In Criminal or Civil Litigation
residues from post-blast or other explosive-related scenes is E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
provided. Methods for the development of identifying infor- E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
mation that follows an efficient order of testing are described. Continuing Education, and Professional Development
Programs
1.2 This practice establishes requirements for the use of
E2998 Practice for Characterization and Classification of
visual, physical, analytical, and instrumental techniques that
Smokeless Powder
provide structural and chemical information for an identifica-
E2999 Test Method for Analysis of Organic Compounds in
tion of an explosive residue.
Smokeless Powder by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spec-
1.3 Techniques used in the examination of explosive resi-
trometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
dues include visual and microscopical inspection, physical
E3255 Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science
characterization, ignition susceptibility testing, chemical and
ServiceProvidersPerformingForensicChemicalAnalysis
spot testing, and instrumental methods.
E3196 Terminology Relating to the Examination of Explo-
1.4 This standard is intended for use by competent forensic sives
science practitioners with the requisite formal education, E3253 Practice for Establishing an Examination Scheme for
Intact Explosives
discipline-specific training (see Practice E2917), and demon-
strated proficiency to perform forensic casework (refer to the
2.2 Other Resources:
T/SWGFEX Suggested Guide for Explosives Analysis Train-
Technical/Scientific Working Group for Fire and Explosion
ing).
Analysis (T/SWGFEX) Suggested Guide for Explosive
3
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the Analysis Training
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3. Terminology
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
see Terminology E1732, Practice E3253, and Terminology
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
E3196.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
2
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
1 3
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics. Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, https://www.nist.gov/
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published January 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ system/files/documents/2018/09/21/twgfex_suggest_guide_for_explosive_analysis
E3329-21E01. _training.pdf.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
´1
E3329 − 21
FIG. 1 Scheme for Explosive Residue Examinations
3.2.1 explosive residue, n—material remaining from an scheme fo
...