SWGFEX
Definition
Scientific Working Group for Fire and Explosion Investigation. A US-based multidisciplinary body that developed best practice guides for fire debris collection, canine use, and laboratory analysis, now succeeded by OSAC (Organisation of Scientific Area Committees under NIST).
- Type
- Scientific working group for fire/explosion investigation standards
- Jurisdiction
- US-based, but standards adopted globally
- Successor
- OSAC (Organisation of Scientific Area Committees under NIST)
Common questions
What does SWGFEX stand for?+
SWGFEX stands for Scientific Working Group for Fire and Explosion Investigation. It was a US-based multidisciplinary organization that developed standardized best practices for fire investigation work.
What kinds of guidance did SWGFEX publish?+
SWGFEX published widely adopted best practice guides covering fire debris collection, canine use (arson detection dogs), and laboratory analysis methods like GC-MS. These documents became reference standards in many jurisdictions.
Is SWGFEX still active?+
SWGFEX has been succeeded by OSAC, the Organisation of Scientific Area Committees under NIST. However, SWGFEX's published standards and guides remain in active use as reference materials in fire investigation labs and at crime scenes worldwide.
Related terms
- Accelerant Detection Canine (ADC)
- A dog trained by operant conditioning to alert on the vapour signature of ignitable liquids. Certified under ASTM E2323; used as a...
- ASTM E1492
- Standard Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory: establishes container requirements for fire debris (metal can...
- ASTM E1618
- Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The active analytical standard defining...
- ASTM E2323
- Standard guide for forensic engineering investigations of buildings affected by fire. Specifies minimum competency requirements for accelerant detection canine teams, including vapour...
- Combustible Gas Indicator (CGI)
- An instrument that measures vapour concentration as a percentage of the lower explosive limit (LEL) using a catalytic bead sensor. Used for...
- Comparison Sample
- A sample of the same substrate type collected from an unburned area of the same room or adjacent space. Provides the substrate...
- DB-5 Column
- A gas chromatography capillary column with a 5% phenyl-95% dimethylpolysiloxane stationary phase, the standard column for fire debris GC-MS analysis. Provides adequate...
- 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...
- Handler Cueing
- The unintentional communication of handler expectation to a detection dog through subtle postural, gestural, or vocal cues. Identified by Lit et al....
- Ignitable Liquid
- In fire debris analysis, any flammable liquid that could serve as an accelerant. E1618 classifies ignitable liquids into eight categories based on...
- Isoparaffinic Products
- An E1618 category of ignitable liquid dominated by branched-chain (isoparaffinic) alkanes with minimal aromatic or n-alkane content. Examples include Isopar solvents and...
- NFPA 921
- US National Fire Protection Association Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The internationally accepted methodology Indian fire investigators and SFSL fire divisions...
Explained in these topics
- Accelerant Detection at the Scene: Canines, PID, SamplingScientific Working Group for Fire and Explosion Investigation. A US-based multidisciplinary body that developed best practice guides for fire debris collection...
- Fire Debris Analysis: GC-MS and ASTM E1618 Pattern RecognitionScientific Working Group for Fire and Explosion Investigation. Predecessor to OSAC's fire subcommittee. Published widely adopted best practice guides for fire...