FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, January 13, 2020 1

OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: Repository of Fire Investigation Research

Describe

the need:

In order to be aware of ongoing research and plan for additional studies, the fire 

investigation community must be aware of that research. The Technical Committee 

charged with writing NFPA 921 works to include references to research in that document. 

Since the document is updated on a three-year cycle, references to new research is likely 

not included in that document. Federally funded research is reported in a variety of ways 

and can be found (many times not easily) in various online and printed sources. There 

should be a single on-line repository easily accessible to fire investigators where this 

research can be found. This research need is to create an easily accessible repository for 

research on fire investigation. The repository will help to encourage and target research by 

finding needs and gaps. Funding is needed facilitate and develop such a repository. 

Keyword(s): Fire investigation research, data repository, research database

Submitting subcommittee(s): Fire & Explosion Investigation Date Approved: March 10, 2021

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.)

Background Information:

1. Does this research need address a gap(s) in a current or planned standard? (ex.: Field identification system 

for on scene opioid detection and confirmation)

Yes. 

2. Are you aware of any ongoing research that may address this research need that has not yet been published 

(e.g., research presented in conference proceedings, studies that you or a colleague have participated in but 

have yet to be published)?

No.

3. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: (ex.: Toll, L., Standifer, K. M., Massotte, D., eds. 

(2019). Current Topics in Opioid Research. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-180-3)

N/A

4. Review the annual operational/research needs published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/forensic-science-research-and-development-technology-working-groupoperational#latest? Is your research need identified by NIJ?

No.

5. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?
FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, January 13, 2020 2

This research need is targeted to improve current fire investigation field work rather than laboratory analyses. Fire 

investigators do not typically follow the current state of fire dynamics research as those findings are published in the 

scientific literature. This repository would provide a single location to access those research findings thus improving 

the ability for fire investigators to put that research into practice.

6. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

See Number 5.

7. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

This research will help to educate the fire investigation community on the current state of research and

knowledge in the field.

8. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): I

Major gap in 

current 

knowledge

Minor gap in 

current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research is 

being conducted I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted II IV

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.