Furnace Malfunction & Forensic Engineering Wiring Reconstruction

Abstract

This paper details the fire investigation and forensic engineering failure analysis of an oil-fired furnace that had been recently installed. An underlying focus of this paper is the procedure that was used to analyze the elec-trical and mechanical components leading to the failure – given that evidence had been spoliated. This process demonstrates that by following a systematic investigation procedure, forensic engineers may reconstruct evidence that (in some cases) has been either destroyed or altered (whether intentionally or not) to a level that allows fur-ther insight into the malfunction. This paper details the procedure used to document deviations from intended wiring schematics as well as the physical characteristics of electrical controls and wiring materials used in its construction. The intent of the paper is to show how this investigation procedure can be applied to other forensic investigations where electrical circuit evidence has been altered or a spoliator’s identity is not readily known.