ASTM E1387 / E1618
Definition
ASTM standards for ignitable-liquid residue analysis. E1387 was the older colour-coded scheme; E1618 (current) defines the modern eight-class system based on GC-MS pattern recognition.
- E1387 status
- Superseded, older colour-coded scheme
- E1618 status
- Current standard
- E1618 method basis
- GC-MS pattern recognition
- Classification size
- Eight ignitable liquid classes
Common questions
Why does it matter which of the two standards a lab report cites?+
E1387's colour-coded classification scheme has been superseded, so a report citing it may reflect older terminology or methodology that does not map cleanly onto the current eight-class system in E1618, which can matter when comparing historical case reports to current ones.
What are the eight classes under E1618 based on?+
They are based on the chromatographic pattern and chemical composition of the ignitable liquid, such as gasoline, petroleum distillates, or oxygenated solvents, rather than on the liquid's intended commercial use, since many products share overlapping formulations.
Related terms
- Extracted Ion Profile (EIP)
- A GC-MS chromatographic display plotting only ions of a specified m/z value against retention time, effectively filtering out all compounds that do...
- Ignitable Liquid
- In fire debris analysis, any flammable liquid that could serve as an accelerant. E1618 classifies ignitable liquids into eight categories based on...
- Passive Headspace Charcoal-Strip Extraction
- ASTM E1412 method. Fire debris is sealed in an unlined metal can with a suspended activated-charcoal strip, heated to 60 to 80...
- Petroleum Fractions
- Crude-oil distillation cuts ordered by boiling range: light (C4 to C9, pentane, hexane, naphtha), medium (C8 to C12, mineral spirits, kerosene), heavy...
- Pyrolysis Products
- Hydrocarbons released when synthetic substrates (polyurethane foam, carpet, vinyl flooring) burn or smoulder. They overlap the petroleum range and are the main...
- SPME
- Solid-phase microextraction. A polymer-coated fused-silica fibre (typically PDMS or PDMS-DVB) is exposed to vial headspace, then thermally desorbed in the GC injector....
- Weathering
- Loss of lighter components from an ignitable liquid by evaporation during and after the fire. Weathered gasoline loses C4 to C7 first;...