Technical Forensics
From the very beginning, the Center has conducted a variety of technical forensics, previously called mechanical-technological forensics, and today they are mechanical and electrotechnical forensics.
Technical forensics includes: forensic analyses of the cause of fires/arson, explosions and technical breakdowns, which are often combined (multidisciplinary) forensics. Those technical forensics are carried out in the field (at the scene of the fire and explosions), and the seized material is expertly analyzed at the Center. The Center's technical experts (mechanical and electrical) participate in the on-site investigations and in forensic analyses of major fires, explosions and technological breakdowns.
In addition to the above-mentioned forensic analyses, technical experts independently perform forensic analyses in the field of mechanical and electrical forensic.
Mechanical forensics
The constant development of gas infrastructure in Croatia has resulted in an increased number of gas consumers in households. Due to the increased presence of gas appliances in households, and thus the more frequent occurrence of explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, there is a need for mechanical expertise.
The subject of mechanical forensics is gas explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, mechanical breakdowns in industrial facilities and similar events.
In gas explosions, mechanical forensics determines whether the explosion occurred due to a leak in a gas installation or whether the gas was intentionally released into the facility. When a person experiences carbon monoxide poisoning, the investigation determines the cause, what led to the returning flue gases, and whether it happened due to a malfunctioning gas-driven device, chimney or incorrectly installed ventilation in the room, or a device that is not allowed to be used indoors was used. The composition of the atmosphere is also determined for other harmful gases that lead to poisoning.
Determining the cause of carbon monoxide poisoning has progressed upon purchasing a Dräger measuring device. It is used for detecting monoxide in rooms in which persons were poisoned and in the ground due to gas installation leakages and similar events.
In order to improve their work and provide better education, forensic experts have developed a series of work instructions, and they also participate in education courses for police officers at the Police Academy.
In addition to the above, forensic experts contribute to the development of their profession through their membership and work in professional associations (such as Croatian Professional Association for Gas and others), participating in professional conferences (for example Gas Forum and others) and their lectures.
Today, in the field of mechanical expertise, the following examinations are carried out at the Center:
Electrical forensics
Considerable progress of society begins with the invention and use of electricity. Today there is no technology used in everyday life that does not use electricity as a power source. Therefore, it is not surprising that in a large part of accidents, breakdowns and criminal acts, there is a need for expert examination of parts of electrical installations, devices and circuits that we associate with the field of electrical forensics.
A part of the subject matter of expertise in this area is referred to the Center where experts conduct an examination and testing of the functionality and technical correctness of various electrical devices and parts of electrical installations using test equipment and instruments.
In addition to expertise of electrical devices, installations and appliances as well as the cause of electrical shocks, where the electrical forensic expert autonomously conducts tests, the expert also participates in multidisciplinary investigations expert examinations such as analysis of the causes of fires in facilities, vehicles and nautical vessels; examinations on the causes of explosions and technical breakdowns.
In order to improve their work and provide better education, forensic experts have developed a series of work instructions, and they also participate in education courses for police officers at the Police Academy (course for crime scene technicians, CEPOL course and others).
In addition to the above, experts contribute to the development of their profession through their membership and work in professional associations (EDZ-Electrical Society of Zagreb and others), by participating in professional and scientific conferences (ASFE-Application of Structural Fire Engineering, Efficient Lighting, Occupational Safety and Health Protection and others) with their works and lectures.
Today, the following analysis are carried out at the Center in the field of electrical forensics:
Forensic methods:
Equipment for technical forensics:
Technical forensics includes: forensic analyses of the cause of fires/arson, explosions and technical breakdowns, which are often combined (multidisciplinary) forensics. Those technical forensics are carried out in the field (at the scene of the fire and explosions), and the seized material is expertly analyzed at the Center. The Center's technical experts (mechanical and electrical) participate in the on-site investigations and in forensic analyses of major fires, explosions and technological breakdowns.
In addition to the above-mentioned forensic analyses, technical experts independently perform forensic analyses in the field of mechanical and electrical forensic.
Mechanical forensics
The constant development of gas infrastructure in Croatia has resulted in an increased number of gas consumers in households. Due to the increased presence of gas appliances in households, and thus the more frequent occurrence of explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, there is a need for mechanical expertise.
The subject of mechanical forensics is gas explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, mechanical breakdowns in industrial facilities and similar events.
In gas explosions, mechanical forensics determines whether the explosion occurred due to a leak in a gas installation or whether the gas was intentionally released into the facility. When a person experiences carbon monoxide poisoning, the investigation determines the cause, what led to the returning flue gases, and whether it happened due to a malfunctioning gas-driven device, chimney or incorrectly installed ventilation in the room, or a device that is not allowed to be used indoors was used. The composition of the atmosphere is also determined for other harmful gases that lead to poisoning.
Determining the cause of carbon monoxide poisoning has progressed upon purchasing a Dräger measuring device. It is used for detecting monoxide in rooms in which persons were poisoned and in the ground due to gas installation leakages and similar events.
In order to improve their work and provide better education, forensic experts have developed a series of work instructions, and they also participate in education courses for police officers at the Police Academy.
In addition to the above, forensic experts contribute to the development of their profession through their membership and work in professional associations (such as Croatian Professional Association for Gas and others), participating in professional conferences (for example Gas Forum and others) and their lectures.
Today, in the field of mechanical expertise, the following examinations are carried out at the Center:
- Forensic analyses of the causes of fires and explosions
- Examination of gas installations and determining the cause of carbon monoxide poisoning
- Examination of gas meters and gas cylinders
- Examination of diving equipment.
Electrical forensics
Considerable progress of society begins with the invention and use of electricity. Today there is no technology used in everyday life that does not use electricity as a power source. Therefore, it is not surprising that in a large part of accidents, breakdowns and criminal acts, there is a need for expert examination of parts of electrical installations, devices and circuits that we associate with the field of electrical forensics.
A part of the subject matter of expertise in this area is referred to the Center where experts conduct an examination and testing of the functionality and technical correctness of various electrical devices and parts of electrical installations using test equipment and instruments.
In addition to expertise of electrical devices, installations and appliances as well as the cause of electrical shocks, where the electrical forensic expert autonomously conducts tests, the expert also participates in multidisciplinary investigations expert examinations such as analysis of the causes of fires in facilities, vehicles and nautical vessels; examinations on the causes of explosions and technical breakdowns.
In order to improve their work and provide better education, forensic experts have developed a series of work instructions, and they also participate in education courses for police officers at the Police Academy (course for crime scene technicians, CEPOL course and others).
In addition to the above, experts contribute to the development of their profession through their membership and work in professional associations (EDZ-Electrical Society of Zagreb and others), by participating in professional and scientific conferences (ASFE-Application of Structural Fire Engineering, Efficient Lighting, Occupational Safety and Health Protection and others) with their works and lectures.
Today, the following analysis are carried out at the Center in the field of electrical forensics:
- Forensic analyses of the causes of fires, explosions and technical breakdowns
- Forensic analyses of fires in facilities (residential, industrial, catering, shopping malls)
- Forensic analyses of vehicles fires ;
- Forensic analyses of nautical vessels fires;
- Examination of electrical devices (electric meters).
Forensic methods:
- Inspecting and testing of electrical installations and devices in facilities and determination area of origin and cause of the fire;
- Inspecting and testing of electrical installations and devices of vehicles and determination area of origin and cause of the fire;
- Examination and testing of electrical installations and devices of nautical vessels and determination area of origin and cause of the fire;
- Inspecting and testing of electrical installations and electric meters in order to detect electricity theft;
- Examine the proper technical operation of electrical devices;
- Examine the proper technical operation of gas installations, gas-driven devices and facilities;
- Carbon monoxide (CO) concentration testing and determining the cause of carbon monoxide poisoning ;
- Examination and testing of gas meters in order to detect gas theft;
- Examine the proper technical operation of diving equipment, reading and analyzing the contents of the memory of diving computers;
- Forensic investigations of workplace accidents;
- Forensic investigations of gas explosions and technical breakdowns;
Equipment for technical forensics:
- Distribution cabinet with three-phase power supply for electrotechnical tests;
- Universal measuring instrument for measuring voltage, current, resistance, conductor continuity and more;
- Video endoscope,Hazet,Germany,4812-10/45(2015) - for inaccessible areas;
- Multi-channel gas detector, Dräger,Germany X-am 8000 - determination of gas concentration: CO2,O2,H2S,CO,iBut,CH4 i SO2;
- Multi-channel gas detector, Dräger,Germany X-am 5000 - determination of gas concentration: O2,H2S i CO;
- Flue gas analyzer, Dräger,Germany, MSI EM200PLUS-I - determination of gas concentration: O2,CO i CO2.