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Fire Investigation / Combustion By-Products Testing 

Fire-Related Testing Program: Combustion By-Products (Char, Black Carbon/Soot, Ash)

The Fire-Related Testing Program is designed to analyze fire residues for the presence of key analytes, including char, black carbon/soot, and ash. This analysis provides valuable information about the extent of damage caused by fires in residential, industrial, or wildfire settings. The results can be used for cleaning assessments and insurance claims, offering clients critical insights into the impact and severity of the fire.

Fire/Smoke Testing Services

Combustion By-Products • Wildfires • Wood Smoke • Char • Ash • Soot • Soot Source Confirmation • Carbon Black • Accelerants • Corrosivity of Fire Residue • Fire Extinguisher Residue • Metals in Fire Residue • Heat-Altered Asbestos • Crystalline silica (Alpha Quartz, Cristobalite, Tridymite) • ASTM D6602 • IESO / RIA Standard 6001 • NIOSH 5000 (Gravimetric analysis only for Carbon Black) • NIOSH 5000 (Includes TEM Confirmation) • Flashpoint and Ignitability

Accurate Assessment of Fire Damage

Our comprehensive testing services provide precise information about the extent of fire damage, including the presence of char, soot, and ash. This accuracy is crucial for making informed decisions about cleanup, repairs, and insurance claims, ensuring that all affected areas are identified and properly addressed. This is especially beneficial in major Florida cities like Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa, where timely and precise assessments are essential for swift recovery.

Image by Matt C
Wildfire

Customized Analytical Levels

We offer multiple levels of analysis tailored to the specific needs and complexities of each situation. From basic screening to detailed compositional analysis, our services can be customized to meet the unique requirements of clients in various cities such as Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Hialeah. This flexibility ensures that clients receive the most relevant and cost-effective testing solutions for their particular circumstances.

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Learn More About Our Fire Testing Services

Sampling

Surface Sampling in Major Cities of Florida:

  • Alcohol Prep Wipes: Recommended for surfaces such as TVs, computer displays, plastic surfaces, furniture, windows, mirrors, and the internal surfaces of refrigerators. Avoid using on painted surfaces. (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa)

  • Microvacuum: Use 25 mm, 0.45 micron, or 0.8 micron pore size MCE cassettes. Recommended for main living areas, top of interior door frames, window frames, corners of floors, door tracks, and attic areas. (Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah)

  • Tape Lifts: Recommended surfaces are the same as for alcohol prep wipes. (Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, Tallahassee)

Air Sampling in Major Cities of Florida:

  • PVC Pre-Weighed Cassettes: For NIOSH 5000 only. (Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood)

  • Zefon CSI Cassettes (Miramar, Gainesville, Coral Springs)

  • Zefon Air-o-Cells (Clearwater, Miami Gardens, Palm Bay)

  • 25 mm 0.45 Micron Pore Size MCE Cassettes: Flow rate 0.5-16 L/min, minimum volume 400 L. (West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Lakeland)

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Levels of Analysis

We offer various analytical levels tailored to the complexity of the methods used and the client's specific needs in cities across Florida. The complexity and value of the package increase from Level 1 to Level 4.

  • Level 1: Char + Soot + Ash (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa)

  • Level 2: Char + Soot (confirmation level) + Ash (Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah)

  • Level 3: Char + Soot (confirmation level) + Ash + common components of environmental dust (fibrous glass, biological material, cellulose, synthetic fibers, pollen, quartz, calcite) (Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, Tallahassee)

  • Level 4: Char + Soot (confirmation level) + Ash + common components of environmental dust (as in Level 3) + elemental composition of soot, char, and ash by SEM/EDX + pH (to determine overall corrosivity of the dust) (Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood)

Level 1 is a screening level, affordable and valuable for quick assessment of contamination. Levels 2, 3, and 4 offer advanced analysis, including soot confirmation based on ASTM D6602.

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Results

The concentration of analytes in bulk samples is determined by the Visual Estimation Technique (VAE), which estimates the relative projected area of particulate types by comparing them with calibration materials. NIOSH 5000 uses a gravimetric method, while counting techniques are used for Zefon and MCE air sample cassettes.

Analysts trained in advanced particle identification techniques perform the analysis in cities such as Miramar, Gainesville, and Coral Springs. Additional consultation for result interpretation and regulations is provided free of charge by senior scientists. Fast turn-around times, including same-day and weekend analysis, are available in Clearwater, Miami Gardens, and Palm Bay. Our senior scientists have extensive experience in litigation support and expert witness testimony.

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Additional Analytical Services

We aim for a speedy recovery for communities affected by wildfires across Florida. As a leading laboratory for Fire & Smoke Damage Testing Services, we offer a wide range of analytical services, including emergency analysis during weekends and off hours in major cities such as West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, and Lakeland.

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Lithium Ion Battery Fire Residue Analysis

Contact us for pricing/results timeframe

 

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Fire damage analysis services in Jacksonville

Smoke residue testing in Miami homes

Soot contamination assessment in Tampa

Fire residue testing in Orlando businesses

Environmental dust analysis in St. Petersburg

Char and ash analysis in Hialeah

Advanced fire residue testing in Port St. Lucie

Soot confirmation services in Cape Coral

Fire and smoke damage testing in Fort Lauderdale

Emergency fire residue analysis in Pembroke Pines

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