{"id":13065,"date":"2017-11-16T15:29:21","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T14:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?post_type=insight&#038;p=13065"},"modified":"2025-08-06T17:03:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T16:03:35","slug":"arc-mapping","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/arc-mapping\/","title":{"rendered":"Arc Mapping"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13065\" class=\"elementor elementor-13065\" data-elementor-post-type=\"insight\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d865d26 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"6268\" data-id=\"d865d26\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57003cb\" data-eae-slider=\"5873\" data-id=\"57003cb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7e512f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7e512f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A fire\u2019s area of origin can be difficult to determine when it has been burning for a considerable time or if it has involved a large area. Patterns of fire damage used by investigators following very severe fires might point to the seat of the fire, but equally, they might indicate areas where the fire has vented the building causing severe damage or where a greater load of fuel was available. Our research involving compartment fires explored the reliability of a technique called \u201carc mapping\u201d which uses the electrical wiring in a building to establish the origin of a fire. The analysis of three-dimensional data collected during the research indicated a high probability that localised melting on electrical conductors known as \u2018arcing damage\u2019 occurred in close proximity to the fire\u2019s area of origin.\u00a0<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #006599;\">WHAT IS ELECTRICAL ARCING?<\/span><\/h4><p>Arcing is defined as \u201ca high temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation\u201d. Below is a demonstration of arcing by the author when two wires (conductors) were shorted together at mains voltage. The copper conductor melts and forms a bead(s) and\/or notch(es) on the wire\u2019s surface.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0131ac1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0131ac1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13068\" alt=\"The author demonstrating electrical arcing between live conductors.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-1.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-1-233x300.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The author demonstrating electrical arcing between live conductors.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-953765e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"953765e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The beads and notches known as \u201carcing damage\u201d can be useful to a fire investigator because they provide reliable information to assist in establishing a fire\u2019s area of origin. Arcing damage usually shows the point where a fire first attacked a live electrical circuit. This can be of particular importance when the fire has reached full involvement or flashover. When flashover occurs in a room the patterns of fire damage, often relied upon by fire investigators, are overprinted and confused, rendering them less reliable. Arcing damage is sometimes the only way of establishing where a fire started.<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">WHAT IS ARC MAPPING?<\/span><\/h4><p>One area of potential confusion in using arcing damage is that during very severe fires, the high temperatures reached can melt copper conductor(s). This effect can create evidence which appears to the inexperienced eye, to be similar to arcing or it can mask arcing created earlier in the development of the fire.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f01314b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"18881\" data-id=\"f01314b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-868ca41\" data-eae-slider=\"61273\" data-id=\"868ca41\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc69224 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bc69224\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"681\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test-681x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13081\" alt=\"A view of an experiment fire during full involvement (\u2018flashover\u2019) conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test-681x1024.png 681w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test-768x1155.png 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test-1021x1536.png 1021w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test-1362x2048.png 1362w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-Test.png 1277w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A view of an experiment fire during full involvement (\u2018flashover\u2019) conditions.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d5db5ea\" data-eae-slider=\"87713\" data-id=\"d5db5ea\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-471a545 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"471a545\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-3.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13080\" alt=\"A post-experiment fire compartment before the identification of arcing.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-3.png 665w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-3-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A post-experiment fire compartment before the identification of arcing.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91041ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91041ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Generally, arcing will cause the circuit protection device (fuse or circuit breaker) to operate so that no further arcing can occur on that circuit. By finding the location of arcing damage on several cables, the fire\u2019s area of origin can be progressively reduced in size. If arcing damage is found inside the casing of an electrical appliance, it is usually a good indicator that the fire started within that appliance.<\/p><p>Prior to this research, the reliability of arc mapping had not been confirmed, so a series of full-scale experimental fires were conducted at our GATR fire test facility in Essex, where different compartment scenarios were repeated. 42 fully-furnished compartments were wired with four electrical circuits, which led to the generation of 141 examples of arcing on copper conductors. Figures 1 to 10 detail nine separate categories of arcing damage, following the experiments.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c229ab8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"18499\" data-id=\"c229ab8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-45d587d\" data-eae-slider=\"53787\" data-id=\"45d587d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43fd750 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"43fd750\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-4.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13097\" alt=\"Two conductors welded together.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-4.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-4-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 1: Two conductors welded together.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d76ffa1\" data-eae-slider=\"13347\" data-id=\"d76ffa1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4cd137 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f4cd137\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-5.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13098\" alt=\"Severed conductor with a bead on one end and a notch at the other end.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-5.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-5-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 2: Severed conductor with a bead on one end and a notch at the other end.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-57dd35c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"1042\" data-id=\"57dd35c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-519cb95\" data-eae-slider=\"63235\" data-id=\"519cb95\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29b105a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"29b105a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-6.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13099\" alt=\"Arcing between two conductors. One severed with beading at each end. The other conductor is notched.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-6.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-6-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 3: Arcing between two conductors. One severed with beading at each end. The other conductor is notched.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1bc41c9\" data-eae-slider=\"79715\" data-id=\"1bc41c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2a1fbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f2a1fbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-7.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13100\" alt=\"All three conductors of this cable were involved. The arcing had occurred at a fixing screw. All are notched with beading on the notch edges.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-7.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-7-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 4: All three conductors of this cable were involved. The arcing had occurred at a fixing screw. All are notched with beading on the notch edges.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-295c3e3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"50827\" data-id=\"295c3e3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae0ed23\" data-eae-slider=\"77731\" data-id=\"ae0ed23\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c6acee elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3c6acee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-8.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13101\" alt=\"A severed conductor with a \u201dbull-nose\u201d bead. The demarcation between the melted and un-melted conductor is visible.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-8.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-8-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 5: A severed conductor with a \u201dbull-nose\u201d bead. The demarcation between the melted and un-melted conductor is visible.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e426f2\" data-eae-slider=\"91141\" data-id=\"2e426f2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3e92c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f3e92c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-9.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13102\" alt=\"A bead within a notch on the conductor. The demarcation between the melted and un-melted conductor metal is visible.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-9.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-9-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 6:  A bead within a notch on the conductor. The demarcation between the melted and un-melted conductor metal is visible.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-da26ecc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"10670\" data-id=\"da26ecc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a9b8d5\" data-eae-slider=\"60836\" data-id=\"2a9b8d5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bb3415 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8bb3415\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-10.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13093\" alt=\"Conductor severed, with beading and it is welded to a zinc plated steel cable fixing screw.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-10.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Arc-Mapping-10-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 7: Conductor severed, with beading and it is welded to a zinc plated steel cable fixing screw.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fbe838b\" data-eae-slider=\"86309\" data-id=\"fbe838b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09108d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"09108d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-11.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13094\" alt=\"A raised bead on a conductor that was visible at the fire scene without magnification.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-11.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-11-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 8: A raised bead on a conductor that was visible at the fire scene without magnification.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0629174 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"2125\" data-id=\"0629174\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-07af0bc\" data-eae-slider=\"4899\" data-id=\"07af0bc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0e8a87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b0e8a87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-12.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13095\" alt=\"Arcing through char affecting two conductors over a length of 14mm. The scale in the image is in mm.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-12.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-12-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 9: Arcing through char affecting two conductors over a length of 14mm. The scale in the image is in mm.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-23e0f49\" data-eae-slider=\"77167\" data-id=\"23e0f49\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-052f6c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"052f6c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-13.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13096\" alt=\"A close-up of a section of Figure 8 showing the arcing through carbonised cable insulation in more detail.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-13.png 350w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/arc-Mapping-13-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 10: A close-up of a section of Figure 8 showing the arcing through carbonised cable insulation in more detail.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06973fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06973fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>These tests established clearly the relationship between the fires area of origin and the location of arcing damage. The results identified the reliability of using arc mapping at fire scenes to establish where a fire started.<\/p><h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">CONCLUSIONS<\/span><\/h4><p>Analysis of the three-dimensional data recorded during 42 experiments showed that there is a high probability of arcing damage affecting electrical conductors located close to the origin of a fire. The research highlighted the value of finding arcing damage during a scene investigation particularly when the fire has developed to flashover or involves a large area.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb945b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb945b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/span><\/h4><p>An ex-firefighter, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/experts\/nick-carey\/\">Nick<\/a> has undertaken a number of electrical examinations within the UK. This has included multi-agency teams investigating several firefighter fatality incidents and the investigation into the cause of the Cutty Sark fire in Greenwich. He has delivered electrical training to Fire Brigades, Police Forces and Forensic Laboratories and presented at training conferences both within the UK and overseas. Nick&#8217;s experience in fire investigation led to him being asked to chair the writing group for the now published judicial primer <a href=\"https:\/\/royalsociety.org\/-\/media\/about-us\/programmes\/science-and-law\/royal-society-fire-investigation-primer-for-courts-digital.pdf\">\u201cFire Investigation \u2013 A Primer for Courts.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our research involving compartment fires explored the reliability of a technique called \u201carc mapping\u201d which uses the electrical wiring in a building to establish the origin of a fire. The analysis of three-dimensional data collected during the research indicated a high probability that localised melting on electrical conductors known as \u2018arcing damage\u2019 occurred in close proximity to the fire\u2019s area of origin. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13066,"parent":0,"template":"","insight_category":[],"experties":[65,66],"class_list":["post-13065","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","experties-engineering","experties-fire-explosions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Arc Mapping: Tracing Electrical Fire Origins<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how arc mapping helps forensic investigators trace the origin of electrical fires and determine fault responsibility.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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