11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Nis, 3-6 June 2024

Forensic Aspect of Fire Dynamics Simulation

Nataša Petrović Snežana Stojičić Radovan Radovanović
Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior, Criminal Police University,
Belgrade, Kneza Milosa 101 Belgrade, Kneza Milosa 101 Belgrade,Cara Dušana 196
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Milesa Srećković
University of Belgrade School of
Electrical Engineering,
Belgrade, Bul. Kralja Aleksandra 73
[email protected]

Abstract: Forensic aspects of post-fire scene corresponding to fire incidents in buildings were
processing can significantly benefit from expert considered. This paper presents the results of applying
knowledge and the application of tools used for models and simulating the course of events based on
modelling and simulating such events. In order to input parameters corresponding to the event
confirm the application, scenarios were considered based investigated from a forensic perspective.
on a fire case in a specific building. The paper presents
the results of applying the model and simulating the Verification of the simulation model results was
course of events using the NIST Fire Dynamics Simulator conducted concerning the fire incident at the
(FDS) as a tool. Verification of the application of "Tahirović" furniture factory in 2013. The simulation
simulation models was performed based on an event, a was conducted to analyse additional information and
fire at the "Tahirović" furniture factory, located in the gain insight into the conditions of the fire outbreak,
village Ivanča, Novi Pazar, which occurred on June 8, the assessment of the resulting consequences, and the
2013. The simulation was conducted to analyse application of protective measures. The data used
additional information and gain insight into the were extracted from the forensic examination report
conditions of fire outbreak and the assessment of of the National Centre for Criminal Forensics (NCCF)
resulting consequences. Data used as input for this model and material properties obtained from the FDS (NIST
were obtained from two sources: the National Centre for
Fire Dynamics Simulator) database.
Forensic Sciences (NCFS) and material properties
retrieved from the FDS database. In procedures related to determining the causes of
The model applied incorporates appropriate
fires, considering the level of destructive impact,
approximations of building geometry, material thermal models and simulations can be used to support
properties, and fire behaviour as input parameters, drawing conclusions relevant to the process of
based on information and photographs from findings determining the causes and uncovering potential
and reports of the forensic examination of the fire. deficiencies in the design and maintenance of
According to the forensic examination report, a critical electrical installations.
event in this fire was the ignition of stored, easily
In recent years, there has been a trend worldwide that
flammable material in the fire centre zone due to
identifying the causes of initial fires due to electrical
electrical installation malfunctions. In addition to
confirming higher reliability statements from the installation failures. In the Republic of Serbia, out of
examination report, the simulation results of fire 24,337 analysed fire cases (2014-2023), according to
dynamics applied by the model further analysed other data from the NCCF, electrical installations were cited
elements related to fire occurrence and development as the cause in 6,791 cases. Therefore, electrical
from a forensic aspect. installations continue to occupy a significant position
as a cause of fires. According to data from the Electric
Keywords: Forensics, FDS models, fire dynamics, Safety Foundation, the number of fires caused by
fire investigation, materials problems with electrical installations is estimated at
I. INTRODUCTION 51,000 annually, leading to approximately 500
fatalities, over 1,400 injuries, and over $1.3 trillion in
The forensic aspect of processing fire scenes can estimated property damage. Consequently, they
significantly benefit from specialized knowledge and represent the third leading cause of fires in residential
the application of tools that utilize models and and commercial buildings in the USA. Electrical
conduct simulations of such events. In order to installation failures account for approximately 55% of
confirm the application of models, scenarios the total number of fires [1].

ISBN 978-86-6200-001-9 ©2024 AM & ETRAN

11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Nis, 3-6 June 2024

Designing an adequate fire protection system is one of fields, drawing attention from the scientific
the most important tasks in building design, community and research.
depending on various factors such as the building's
purpose, geographical location, surroundings, The forensic approach, in addition to identifying the
occupants, and more. The primary role of any fire elements and circumstances that led to the outbreak of
protection system is early fire detection to protect and fires, can lead to conclusions regarding designed
preserve human lives and property. However, even systems and compliance with protection measures,
with strict adherence to applicable standards and especially regarding electrical installation failures.
regulations, situations with unpredictable fire The presence of fire risk exists in all human activities
occurrences and developments can arise. Therefore, it and systems. Risk is an inevitable part of business,
is necessary for fire protection systems to be especially considering the volume of data provided
continuously improved [2]. and processed in business processes.
Forensic engineering, as the application of a wide In procedures related to determining the causes of
range of scientific disciplines, skills, and methods, fires, considering the degree of destructive impact,
significantly contributes to obtaining answers related models and simulations can be used and applied to
to establishing facts that may have legal implications. reach conclusions relevant to the analysed event.
The development of science and technology has made
it necessary to apply specialized expertise to II. RESULTS OF THE FORENSIC APPROACH TO EVENT
successfully investigate certain criminal offences and ANALYSIS
unwanted events, such as fires. The use of expert Results of the forensic approach to event analysis, in
knowledge needs to be considered both in terms of this case, fire, provide significant support to insights
responding to unwanted events and in terms of into the dynamics and considering causes of such
preventive action. events. The use of forensic principles and tools,
A forensic engineer, as a professional possessing including models and simulations, enables the
specific skills and expertise, conducts the process of analysis of fires and their consequences. In this work
establishing facts and investigating the physical is analysed and presented the main findings obtained
causes of accidents and other unwanted events, such through the forensic analysis of the fire at the
as fires. This is done to prepare engineering reports, "Tahirović" furniture factory in 2013:
forensic examinations, testify in legal proceedings, 1. Verification of simulation models: simulation
and provide advisory opinions to assist in resolving results, based on input parameters corresponding to
disputes affecting life or property. Investigations and the actual fire event, were compared with findings
reconstructions of fires resulting in loss of life and/or from the forensic report. Validation of these
property damage are not always related to legal simulation models confirms their effectiveness in
proceedings but also serve the purpose of preventing accurately reconstructing fire scenarios.
the recurrence of such events.
2. Support to identification of fire sources and causes:
The integration of multidisciplinary knowledge and analysis of the simulated event sequence allows for
technical solutions forms the basis of forensic the precise location of fire sources and causes. In the
engineering, aiming to discover the causes and assess case of the "Tahirović" factory fire, electrical
the consequences of the event, which materialize installation faults were identified as the primary
through elements necessary for law enforcement cause, corroborating findings from the forensic
procedures. Forensic risk assessment refers to the investigation.
ability to calculate the probability of unwanted events
occurring to timely identify the need for preventive 3. Assessment of fire spread and consequences:
action or assess responses taken in the event of simulations provide valuable insights into fire spread
unwanted events. The results can be directed towards and behaviour, allowing for a comprehensive
preventive action, identifying individuals or assessment of consequences. This includes
circumstances that may lead to unwanted events such understanding how the fire spread within the building,
as fires, or discovering the causes of unwanted events its impact on surrounding structures, and resulting
and the activities undertaken to mitigate the damages.
consequences or apply strategies to reduce harmful 4. Evaluation of fire protection measures: analysis of
effects on individuals, property, and the environment. simulated scenarios enables the assessment of the
It can also contribute to planning and providing the effectiveness of existing fire protection measures. In
necessary minimum resources for the efficient and cases where deficiencies are identified,
effective protection of the work and living recommendations for improving fire safety practices
environment. Forensic risk assessment is one of the can be made to prevent similar incidents in the future.
basic elements of modern forensic practice in many

ISBN 978-86-6200-001-9 ©2024 AM & ETRAN

11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Nis, 3-6 June 2024

5. Forensic risk assessment: the forensic approach

allows for a thorough risk assessment, taking into
account the probability of fire occurrence, potential
consequences, and preventive measures. This holistic
evaluation enables stakeholders to make informed
decisions about fire protection strategies and resource
allocation.
Overall, forensic fire analysis using simulation tools
has proven instrumental in uncovering key details
about fire dynamics, sources, causes, and
consequences. By integrating expert knowledge with
advanced technology, forensic engineers can provide
valuable insights that contribute to improving fire
safety practices and reducing risks associated with fire Fig. 1 Factory Halls Layout
incidents. The paper presents analysis of possible
sequence of events by applying models and The farthest from the access road is Hall 3, which is
simulation tools in order to contribute discovering the constructed with clay brick blocks.
circumstances of the fire outbreak and its
consequences at the "Tahirović" furniture factory,
located in the village of Ivanča, Novi Pazar. The fire
occurred on June 8, 2013, around 3:50 PM.
According to the factory layout concept, the
manufacturing and warehouse premises consist of
three halls, approximately 51x18x7 meters, structured
as G + R (ground floor and roof). They are arranged
in parallel, with a distance of about 6 meters between
them. The positions of the factory halls, enclosed in a
fenced area, approximately 150 meters from the
asphalt road, are shown in Figures 1 and 2. The hall
closest to the access road (hereinafter referred to as
Hall 1) and the middle hall (hereinafter referred to as
Hall 2) are constructed with aerated concrete blocks,
bordered by concrete sills (Figure 3). Hall 3 is
constructed with blocks made of clay bricks. The slab Fig. 2 Main Entrance Appearance to Hall 2 After the Fire
between the ground floor and the first floor is made of
steel beams and concrete slabs. Other materials and According to the findings, all three halls of the
installation methods correspond to those used in the furniture factory were affected by the fire. Visual
first two halls. inspection from the outside revealed that Hall 1 and
Hall 2 were fully engulfed in flames, while damage
All buildings are connected to the water and electricity
occurred on Hall 3 due to the effects of hot gases on
supply networks and are equipped with a fire
PVC joinery and the penetration of hot gases into the
detection system as well as a hydrant network.
upper area of the hall. Inside, alongside the vertical
In the process of determining the cause of the fire, concrete sills, there are load-bearing steel columns.
evidence found at the scene, data obtained from police
On Hall 1 and Hall 2, the metal roof structure
officers of the Novi Pazar Police Department who
collapsed. On Hall 2, the wall on the upper floor,
took statements from eyewitnesses of the fire, and
closer to the first hall, collapsed, and numerous cracks
firefighters who extinguished the fire were
were observed on the walls on all sides of the building
considered.
(Figure 3).

ISBN 978-86-6200-001-9 ©2024 AM & ETRAN

11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Nis, 3-6 June 2024

Fig. 3 Damage to the Wall of Hall 2 Fig. 4 Interior View of Hall 2

Based on information obtained from authorized
representatives of the company regarding the type, III. RESULTS OF FIRE MODELING AND SIMULATION
quantity, and distribution of stored materials and In order to analyse and potentially obtain further
machinery, it was found that there was not a information, a model was applied, and a fire
significant difference in the fire load between Hall 1 simulation was conducted to consider the findings and
and Hall 2 [11]. implementation of fire protection measures. This
The total fire load of a building or part of a building approach applied regarding forensic conclusion that
represents the thermal energy released during the analysed event likely originated from a
complete combustion in a fire. During the calculation, malfunction in the electrical installations.
all combustible materials are taken into account To illustrate possibility of include the dynamics of the
according to the standard (SRPS U.J1.020), which are fire, a computational fluid dynamics model using
part of the building, installations, equipment, and large eddy simulation techniques was employed [3-5].
materials located in the building. The fire load of Hall The object was modelled following the principle of
2 is 3.08 GJ/m² [11]. According to standards, this fire dividing the building of interest into small three-
load can be classified as a high fire load. dimensional rectangular control volumes or
However, based on the information received, it could computational cells to which a numerical model is
be concluded that the second hall sustained greater applied. This model calculated the density, velocity,
damage due to the prolonged duration of the fire, temperature, pressure, and gas concentration in each
indicating that the centre of the fire was in Hall 2. cell. Based on the conservation laws of mass,
momentum, species, and energy, the model tracks the
Upon inspection of the interior of Hall 2, complete generation and movement of fire gases.
thermal destruction of the structure was observed,
along with the materials inside it. Combustible IV. SIMULATION OF STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
materials were completely burned, while metal parts The dynamics of the fire were analysed and presented
of the structure, and equipment were extensively based on the findings and reports of the fire
deformed due to the fire (Figure 4). investigation at the "Tahirović" factory. A computer
Forensic analysis led to the conclusion that the fire simulation of the fire was conducted using the FDS
was initiated, most likely, by the ignition of stored tool and Smokeview for visualization, to provide
flammable materials in the centre of the fire zone due insight into the fire development and thermal
to a malfunction in parts of the electrical installation conditions that may have existed during the fire. The
or electrical equipment used for lighting (fluorescent code snippet written for the simulation purposes,
lamps). The mechanism of failure in lighting using representing a file with a .fds extension that defines
fluorescent tubes is such that sparks (heated or the parameters necessary for simulating the ignition
glowing objects) occur, and in some cases, even open and development of the fire. For the purpose of
flames.
modelling some generalisation and abstraction were
conducted. Simulations were performed with different
parameters, which were defined according to the
findings of NCFS, especially related to time, material,
ventilation, etc.

ISBN 978-86-6200-001-9 ©2024 AM & ETRAN

11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Nis, 3-6 June 2024

temperatures of the upper or hot gas layer are more

than 800°C.

Based on the input material properties, the fire growth

and spread were shown (Figures 5-7).
For the purpose of analysis, a fire scenario was
developed for the fire with input elements of the
model that approximately represent the actual
geometry of the building, as well as the thermal
properties of materials and elements related to fire
development, based on available information from the
scene and photographs from the findings and expert
reports.
Fig. 7 Reasing of temperature during fire ignition

By conducting the simulation, approximations of

flame propagation through the structure of the
building were obtained (Figure 8). The simulation
provided three-dimensional approximations of flame
surfaces where fuel, heat, and oxygen are present,
allowing the flame to exist. The flame can be seen
spreading throughout the entire space of hall 2 in
approximately 2-13 seconds. The flame front
expanded to the roof of hall 2. The amount of smoke
released at the beginning of the fire and when the
Fig. 5 Simulation of the fire ignition window glass shattered due to high temperatures is
presented in kg/m2. The simulation considered the
rate of fire growth and the rate at which it spread
The fire source is approximated as a rectangular object throughout the entire hall.
representing the ignited material with a certain rate of Models and simulations can further analyse the
heat release [3-5]. It was assumed that the rate of heat hazards of short circuits, conductor overloads, large
release in the fire would rapidly increase, reaching a transient resistances, electro thermal devices, the use
maximum of approximately 800 kW within 7 of sparking appliances and devices, arc welding, static
minutes. In real conditions, it might have taken longer electricity, atmospheric electricity, depending on the
for the fire to develop; the actual ignition time is not type of object being analysed [7-10].
known. The simulation started with flame ignition
corresponding to real-time (Figure 6) [6]. This primarily confirms the validity of the designed
fire protection systems and checks the implementation
of measures in cases of fire occurrence, but also
improves fire protection measures based on the
findings of the conducted forensic analysis, especially
for measures related to electrical facilities, electrical
installations, and electrical devices.
V. CONCLUSION
As in other studies, our research confirmed that
forensic risk assessment is one of the basic elements
of modern forensic practice and represents an area of
interest for the contemporary scientific community.
The forensic approach can contribute not only to the
Fig. 6 Display of fire and smoke identification of elements and circumstances that led
to the outbreak of fires but also to conclusions that
may relate to measures for protecting against
The depiction of fire flare-up and the amount of electrical installation failures. By using computer
released smoke are shown in Figure 7. Approximately simulation, the prediction of fire occurrence and
after 7 minutes from the start of the fire, the spread conditions and events correlating with

ISBN 978-86-6200-001-9 ©2024 AM & ETRAN

11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Nis, 3-6 June 2024

information from findings and opinions from expert [3] McGrattan, K.B., Baum, H.R., Rehm, R.G., Hamins, A. &
reports might be analysed. The simulation model is Forney, G.P. (2000). Fire Dynamics Simulation - Technical
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