TY - JOUR
T1 - Forensic engineering investigation into factors contributing to explosion of consumer-grade tabletop torch
AU - Rasty, Jahan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, National Academy of Forensic Engineers. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - In early 2013, approximately 3,500 consumer-grade tabletop torches, designed for use with citronella oil to ward off insects, were sold by a retailer. Within six months of their debut, 22 of these products experienced sudden explosions, resulting in one fatality and 21 severe burn injuries to consumers. The author was retained as an expert in the fatal explosion case to determine the root cause(s) that led to these explosions. This paper will describe the detailed, experimental-based investigation that was carried out to reveal design, manufacturing, and marketing defects for which the designer of the torch, the manufacturer of the fuel, and the retailer of the final product were responsible. It was determined that the explosions occurred as a result of a “perfect storm” scenario that involved defective product design, defective marketing of the product through the sale of incompatible fuel by the retailer, and deficient warning instructions by the manufacturer.
AB - In early 2013, approximately 3,500 consumer-grade tabletop torches, designed for use with citronella oil to ward off insects, were sold by a retailer. Within six months of their debut, 22 of these products experienced sudden explosions, resulting in one fatality and 21 severe burn injuries to consumers. The author was retained as an expert in the fatal explosion case to determine the root cause(s) that led to these explosions. This paper will describe the detailed, experimental-based investigation that was carried out to reveal design, manufacturing, and marketing defects for which the designer of the torch, the manufacturer of the fuel, and the retailer of the final product were responsible. It was determined that the explosions occurred as a result of a “perfect storm” scenario that involved defective product design, defective marketing of the product through the sale of incompatible fuel by the retailer, and deficient warning instructions by the manufacturer.
KW - Consumer product
KW - Defective warning
KW - Design defect
KW - Explosion
KW - Fire
KW - Flash point
KW - Forensic engineering
KW - Marketing defect
KW - Product defect
KW - Tabletop torch
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116015344&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.51501/jotnafe.v36i1.151
DO - 10.51501/jotnafe.v36i1.151
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85116015344
SN - 2379-3244
VL - 36
JO - Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
JF - Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
IS - 1
ER -