ASTM E1388-00(2005)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:E1388–00 (Reapproved 2005)
Standard Practice for
Sampling of Headspace Vapors from Fire Debris Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1388; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass
Spectrometry
1.1 This practice covers the procedure for removing small
quantities of ignitable liquid vapor from samples of fire debris
3. Summary of Practice
by sampling the headspace of the debris container.
3.1 The sample, preferably in its original container, is
1.2 Separationandconcentrationproceduresarelistedinthe
heated in order to volatilize any petroleum products present in
referenced documents. (See Practices E 1385, E 1386, E 1412,
the debris. After heating, the headspace is sampled and
and E 1413.)
analyzed by gas chromatography, GC/MS, or GC/IR.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.1 This procedure is particularly useful for screening fire
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
debris samples to determine relative ignitable liquid concen-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
trations and possible ignitable liquid class prior to extraction
with other techniques.
2. Referenced Documents
4.2 This practice is useful when volatile oxygenated prod-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ucts such as alcohols or lacquer thinners are suspected.
E 1385 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
4.3 This practice is the least sensitive of the sample prepa-
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Steam
ration techniques and may not detect quantities of less than 10
Distillation
µL of petroleum product.
E 1386 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
4.4 Because this separation takes place in a closed con-
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent
tainer, the sample remains in approximately the same condition
Extraction
in which it was submitted. Repeat and interlaboratory analyses
E 1387 Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Ex-
are therefore possible.
tracts from Samples of Fire Debris by Gas Chromatogra-
4.5 Due to variables in the debris sample condition prior to
phy
headspace sampling, complete reproducibility of chromato-
E 1412 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
grams may be difficult to obtain.
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive
4.5.1 To obtain greater reproducibility, use one of the
Headspace Concentration
separation procedures which results in a solution of the
E 1413 Practice for Separation and Concentration of Ignit-
flammable or combustible liquid residue (see Practices E 1385,
able Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dy-
E 1386, E 1412, and E 1413.)
namic Headspace Concentration
4.6 High concentrations of highly volatile compounds may
E 1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
swamp the headspace, inhibiting the recovery of less volatile
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
components.
E 1618 Guide for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts
5. Apparatus
5.1 Heating System—An oven, heating mantle or hot plate
This practice in under the jurisdiction of AST
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