ASTM E1618-19

Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in samples from a fire scene can support the field investigator’s opinion regarding the origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature of the fire.  
4.1.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in a fire scene does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that a fire was incendiary in nature. Further investigation can reveal a legitimate reason for the presence of ignitable liquid residues.  
4.1.2 Because of the volatility of ignitable liquids and variations in sampling techniques, the absence of detectable quantities of ignitable liquid residues does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that ignitable liquids were not present at the fire scene.  
4.2 Materials normally found in a building, upon exposure to the heat of a fire, will form pyrolysis and combustion products. Extracted ion profiling and identification of specific compounds or classes of compounds described herein can facilitate the identification of an ignitable liquid in the extract by reducing interference by components generated as products of pyrolysis.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extraction procedures are described in the referenced documents.  
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high background levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combustion products. This test method is also suitable for the identification of single compounds, simple mixtures, or non-petroleum based ignitable liquids.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This practice cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.  
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: 14-Nov-2019
• ICS: 13.220.99 - Other standards related to protection against fire
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.01 - Criminalistics

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E2154-15 - Standard Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2015
• Refers: ASTM E1412-16 - Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration With Activated Charcoal
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2016

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: E1618 − 19 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris
1
Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1618; 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 from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction
E1388 Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of Vapors
1.1 This test method covers the identification of residues of
from Fire Debris Samples
ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extrac-
E1412 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues
tion procedures are described in the referenced documents.
from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concen-
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it
tration with Activated Charcoal
is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high back-
E1413 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues
ground levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combus-
from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Con-
tion products. This test method is also suitable for the identi-
centration onto an Adsorbent Tube
fication of single compounds, simple mixtures, or non-
E2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
petroleum based ignitable liquids.
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Pas-
sive Headspace Concentration with Solid Phase Microex-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this traction (SPME)
E2451 Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignit-
standard.
able Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
1.4 This practice cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability
acquired through appropriate education, training, and experi-
3. Summary of Test Method
ence and should be used in conjunction with sound profes-
3.1 The sample is analyzed with a gas chromatograph (GC)
sional judgment.
which is interfaced to a mass spectrometer (MS) and a data
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
system (DS) capable of storing and manipulating chromato-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
graphic and mass spectral data.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2 Post-run data analysis generates extracted ion profiles
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
(mass chromatograms) characteristic of the chemical com-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
poundtypescommonlyfoundinignitableliquids.Additionally,
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
specific compounds present within a class of ignitable liquid
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
can be identified by their mass spectra and retention times.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.2.1 The total ion chromatogram (TIC), extracted ion
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
profiles (EIP) for the alkane, alkene, alcohol, aromatic,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
cycloalkane, ester, ketone, and polynuclear aromatic com-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
pound types, or identification of individual compounds, or
combination thereof, are evaluated by visual pattern matching
2. Referenced Documents
against known reference ignitable liquids.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.2 Ignitable liquids can be grouped into one of seven
E1386 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues
major classifications or one miscellaneous class, as described
in this test method.
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE30onForensic 4. Significance and Use
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
4.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2019. Published December 2019. Originally
samples from a fire scene can support the field investigator’s
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E1618 – 14. DOI:
10.1520/E1618-19.
opinion regarding the origin, fuel load, and incendiary nature
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
of the fire.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.1.1 The identification of an ignitable liquid residue in a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
th
...

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: E1618 − 14 E1618 − 19
Standard Test Method for
Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris
1
Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1618; 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 test method covers the identification of residues of ignitable liquids in extracts from fire debris samples. Extraction
procedures are described in the referenced documents.
1.2 Although this test method is suitable for all samples, it is especially appropriate for extracts that contain high background
levels of substrate materials or pyrolysis and combustion products. This test method is also suitable for the identification of single
compounds, simple mixtures, or non-petroleum based ignitable liquids.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This practice cannot replace knowledge, skill, or ability acquired through appropriate education, training, and experience
and should be used in conjunction with sound professional judgment.
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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1386 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction
E1388 Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of Vapors from Fire Debris Samples
E1412 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration With
Activated Charcoal
E1413 Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration
onto an Adsorbent Tube
E2154 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace
Concentration with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)
E2451 Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 The sample is analyzed with a gas chromatograph (GC) which is interfaced to a mass spectrometer (MS) and a data system
(DS) capable of storing and manipulating chromatographic and mass spectral data.
3.2 Post-run data analysis generates extracted ion profiles (mass chromatograms) characteristic of the chemical compound types
commonly found in ignitable liquids. Additionally, specific chemical components (target compounds) may compounds present
within a class of ignitable liquid can be identified by their mass spectra and retention times. Semi-quantitative determination of
target compounds which are identified by mass spectra and retention time may be used to develop target compound chromatograms
(TCCs).
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
Current edition approved July 1, 2014Nov. 15, 2019. Published July 2014December 2019. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20112014 as
E1618 – 11.E1618 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/E1618-14.10.1520/E1618-19.
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 ----------------------
E1618 − 19
3.2.1 The total ion chromatogram (TIC), extracted ion profiles (EIP) for the alkane, alkene, alcohol, aromatic, cycloalkane,
ester, ketone, and polynuclear aromatic compound t
...