Ghost Marks?

[GPM1230]

I'm getting started in the Investigation field. In Kirk's it refers to ghost marks in relation to floor tiles and the combustion of the adhesive. Is this the only time you see this? An instructor indicated that the patterns left on a cement wall where 2 x 4 studs were against it would be ghost marks too?

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

I'm getting started in the Investigation field. In Kirk's it refers to ghost marks in relation to floor tiles and the combustion of the adhesive. Is this the only time you see this? An instructor indicated that the patterns left on a cement wall where 2 x 4 studs were against it would be ghost marks too?

DeHaan uses the term "ghost marks" in relation to floors only. The term does not appear elsewhere in the text. The term also does not appear in 921.

Make sure you are working with the 6th ed. of Kirk's. Fig. 7.44b, 7.44c, 7.45, 7.46.7.47 and 7.48 provide good examples. Note all examples are of floors.

In addition, make sure you are reading pages 264-265 IN THEIR ENTIRETY! Ghost marks are not conclusive indicators of the use of accelerants. You have to clearly understand the effect that high heat flux conditions (ie; flashover) can have on these types of flooring materials.

If you still have questions after you have completely reviewed that material, post the specific question and we can talk about it.

[GPM1230]

I have the 6th edition. I'll have another look, Thanks

[Giovanni012]

Probably the best gift that this book can give you is help you to understand that every specific material will have his own degradation and damage process induced by the fire/thermal condition to which it had been exposed during the fire. Knowledge of the material behaviours and of their cause will make you able to recognize what that specific fire pattern mean.
Flashover condition can give raise to several artifacts that in the past were considered strong suggestion of accelerant