Soot sample collection

Soot damage from a small fire in a building - Another reason to stay low in a fire.

Soot damage after a fire is common. Soot particles have been linked to health problems in chimney sweeps as far back as the 18th century (AIC News 09-2010)   

Sampling the soot can be done with a swab or an air sampler with later chemical analysis done by a laboratory.  As a preliminary test, an Air-o-cell cassette air sample can be taken from the area.  The soot particles have a fairly easily recognizable shape.  The individual soot particles are often less than 2.5 microns but will be attracted together in larger masses as seen in the photo below.

Air-o-Cell air sample of  a soot particle - microscope photo:  The distance between 0 and 1 is 25 microns.

As an experiment a co-worker assisted me with sample soot particles on a floor some distance from the source of the fire. We noticed that the particles had a strong static charge and were easily sampled from a distance of 1/4 to 1/2 inch (approximately 1 to 2 cm).

 

Soot sample collection - N. Carlson - 1 min.