First to Comply with NFPA 1321 Standard for Fire Investigation Units

Genesis Forensics is pleased to announce that we are the first fire investigation firm to comply with AND be accredited* to NFPA 1321: Standard for Fire Investigation Units. This standard has been in the works for many years and will be a critical element in shaping the industry towards a more uniform process, yielding higher quality investigations.

This new standard specifies the minimum requirements relating to the establishment, structure, operation, and management of fire investigation units (FIU's), which includes both public fire departments and private fire investigation firms. The purpose of the standard is to define the minimum requirements necessary for the effective operation and management of fire investigation firms (or "units") and to provide high-quality fire and explosion investigations.

Compliance with NFPA 1321 for a private fire investigation firm is important for several key reasons:

1. Credibility and Professionalism:

   Compliance with this standard lends credibility to the firm's operations. It demonstrates that the firm adheres to established, recognized standards and protocols for a consistent, safe, and complete investigation.

   
   

2. Ensuring Thorough and Effective Investigations:

   NFPA 1321 provides guidelines that help ensure fire investigations are thorough and systematic. By adhering to the standard, the firm ensures that its investigations follow best practices for identifying the origin and cause of fires and gathering evidence accurately. This results in more reliable findings and reduces risk of oversight or error.

   
   

3. Liability and Legal Protection:

   As we are often called upon to provide expert testimony in legal and subrogation claim cases, compliance with this standard can help demonstrate that our firm operates in accordance with industry standards, reducing the risk of legal challenges to the firm's findings or methods.

   
   

4. Operational Efficiency and Best Practices:

   By aligning with NFPA 1321, firms can structure their operations to be more effective, organized and efficient. It helps firms develop standardized procedures for hazard and risk assessments, fire origin and cause determination and forensic engineering practices. This standardization ensures consistency in the firm's operations and helps them be more responsive to clients' needs.

   
   

5. Quality Assurance:

   From an organizational standpoint, compliance with this new standard acts as a quality assurance tool, ensuring the firm's investigative methods are up-to-date with the latest industry standards. This ensures that the firm's practices are based on sound, scientifically backed principles, resulting in reliable expert reports and findings.

As one of very few fire investigation firms in the country with an accreditation to ISO 17020:2012, and the first to add NFPA 1321 to our scope, it should be a clear signal to our clients that we intend to keep driving the fire investigation industry toward providing a higher quality standard all around.

To learn more about our ISO 17020 accreditation, please visit our FAQ page.