GATR offers three Electrical Courses for Fire Investigators
Module 1 – Two-day Electrical Course for Fire Investigators
Module 2 – Two-day Large Electrical Appliances Fire Investigation Course
Module 3 – Electrical Installation Construction and Testing Course
- All modules are CPD accredited with the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
- The modules are run locally at the facility of the customer/client
- £POA – Please contact GATR for further information or book here
Module 1 – Two day Electrical Course for Fire Investigators
The course is designed for suitably trained fire investigators in the public and/or private sector, for example: fire officers, Police Scenes of Crimes Officers, Forensic Scientists and Forensic Engineers.
Course outline/content:
- Attendees will construct various types of electrical circuits. Understand conventional electrical wiring systems including relevant aspects of the UK wiring regulations.
- Understand electrical safety when investigating fire scenes.
- Input on the correct use of a volt stick and a generic multi-meter.
- Input on the various types of circuit protection devices. Including: Fuses, Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) and Residual Current Devices (RCDs).
- The hazards of cannabis factories and micro-generation of electricity (solar panels etc.)
- Input to assist attendees with identifying evidential indicators at scenes that will support or refute an electrical cause.
- Input covering the use of the electrical system with determining an area of origin (Arc Mapping).
- An electrical appliance workshop (taking appliances apart, understanding how they work, what’s protecting them from starting a fire and then overriding the devices).
- Examining damaged equipment/appliances back at the office/laboratory. Evidential indicators and the approach of an appliance examination.
- Presentations will include relevant case studies.
- Comprehensive student handouts are included.
The course is normally undertaken at a suitable location with outside facilities to enable electrical demonstrations which include small electrical appliances.
Module 2 – Two-Day Large Electrical Appliances Fire Investigation Course – Course Outline
The course is designed for suitably trained fire investigators in the public and/or private sector, for example: fire officers, Police Scenes of Crimes Officers, Forensic Scientists and Forensic Engineers. Previous electrical input appropriate to fire investigators is advised.
Course outline/content:
- Refresher relating to circuit protection devices (circuit breakers, fuses etc.).
- Introduction to refrigeration appliances, typical circuit arrangements and common failure modes.
- Introduction to commercial cooking appliances, typical circuit arrangements, safety devices and common failure modes.
- Introduction to microwave ovens, typical circuit designs, an explanation of the operating cycle and common failure modes.
- Introduction to tumble dryer appliances, control panel and timer designs and common failure modes.
- Introduction to washing machines the changes in design over the last decade and common failure modes.
- Technical input and an introduction to dishwashers, typical circuit designs and common failure modes.
- A large electrical appliance workshop where second-user large appliances will be disassembled and relevant safety devices identified. Groups will prepare short presentations to the group so that the entire course receives input on the findings of each group.
- Various demonstrations are undertaken with the large appliances to demonstrate both failure modes and the fire development characteristics.
- Comprehensive handouts are included. The course would be undertaken at a suitable location with outside facilities to undertake the practical workshop and the demonstrations.
Module 3 – Electrical Installation Construction and Testing Course
This course is designed for suitably trained fire investigators from the public and private sectors.
The course normally consists of three groups of delegates; however; this is flexible. The groups are normally formed of 2 to 4 attendees. Each group constructs an electrical installation on to a pre-built 2×2 metre timber stud wall sections. The electrical installation includes the cut-out assembly (electrical intake), meter, isolation switch, two RCD Consumer Units and the electrical circuits, as found in a conventional residential building.
The lighting circuits include two-way and intermediate switching. On completion of the electrical installation, inspection and testing is explained and undertaken whilst supervised by the delegates in accordance with BS7671 (UK wiring regulations). The testing includes the completion of the appropriate IET model forms.
A fourth wall section with a three-phase fused switch and a three-phase distribution board is connected to the other three single-phase wall sections via appropriate cables. All four wall sections would be connected to a three-phase supply (by the instructor) and a number of demonstrations undertaken. The demonstrations include simulating a ‘lost neutral’ and the overloading of a final circuit cable.
A copy of a text book titled “Advanced Electrical Installation Work – Level 3” by Trevor Lindsey ISBN-10: 0415825784 is provided to each student on the course.