ASSESSMENT AND QUANTIFICATION OF CONTAMINATION BY SMOKE DEPOSITS
Smoke produced during a fire can spread well beyond the area that is directly affected by the fire itself; often entering neighbouring premises. Smoke contains the airborne products of combustion in the solid, liquid and gaseous states. The composition of smoke is varied and often complex, depending on the nature of the fire, but typical constituents include: soot, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s), halides (such as chloride), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water vapour. Many constituents of smoke settle on, condense on or are adsorbed by solids with which they make contact.