Genesis Forensics Receives ISO 17020 Accreditation

First Fire Investigation and Forensic Engineering Firm in the Northeast

Genesis Forensics is pleased to announce we have obtained

accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for Forensic Inspection in the area of Fire and Explosion Origin and Cause Investigation, Forensic Engineering and Reporting (Certificate Number 7086.01).

The fire investigation industry has been moving toward the need for consistent and scientifically-based process and and we are proud to be the first in the Northeast, and among only a few companies in the country to be proactively working toward this new standard. We follow only two other firms with current accreditation for Fire and Exploision Origin and Cause Investigation, but are the FIRST in the U.S. to receive it inclusive of Forensic Engineering and Reporting.

Why is Accreditation Important?

The idea that a fire investigation firm should pursue accreditation is not a new concept. In 2009, the National Research Council published the book, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward (1) and suggested accreditation as a means for the forensic sciences to "adhere to an established set of standards of quality and rely on acceptable practices wiithin these requirements.... Standards provide the foundation against which performance, reliability, and validity can be assessed. Adherence to standards reduces bias, improves consistency, and enhances the validity and reliability of results." In 2013, the "National Commission on Forensic Science" was established as as an initiative to strenthen and enhance the practice of forensic science. In response to this, in 2015, the Journal of the International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc. published the FISC Bulletin Board (2) as a "Call to Action" for the universal accreditation for public and private fire investigation service.

Since 2016, the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science has been working with the NFPA to develop a standard for Fire Investigation Units (FIU's). The April 2021 OSAC Technical Guidance Document 005, "Strengthening Fire and Explosion Investigation in the United States: A Strategic Vision for Moving Forward" (3) became the foundation for the currently proposed "NFPA 1321: Standard for Fire Investigation Units" (4). While this standard is still currently in "Proposed" format, it is highly anticipated to be published in 2024 and should provide a foundation for accreditation of the fire and explosion investigation firms throughout the country.

Genesis Forensics strives to anticipate and exceed the needs of our clients. This ISO certification is an impressive designation for such a young firm and demonstrates how important it is for us to remain on the front lines of the scientific advancement in this industry. Our motto, "Thorough from the Beginning" is now backed by a third-party agency confirming the quality, consistency and thoroughness proving we meet the highest standards.

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References:

(1) National Research Council. 2009. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12589.

(2) IAAI Fire Investigation Standards Committee (FISC), Implementing the NRC/NAS Report: Trending: Universal Accreditation for Public and Private Fire Investigation Service Providers, 65 Issue 4 Int’l Assoc. of Arson Investigators, Fire & Arson Investigator J. 33 (Apr. 2015).

(3) Org. of Sci. Area Comm. for Forensic Sci., Fire & Explosion Investigation Subcomm., OSAC Technical Guidance Document 0005—Strengthening Fire and Explosion Investigation in the United States: A Strategic Vision for Moving Forward (2021), TG.0005. https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2021/07/28/Technical%20Guidance%20Document_Strengthening%20Fire%20and%20Explosion%20Investigation%20in%20the%20U.S._A%20Strategic%20Vision%20for%20Moving%20Forward_April%202021.pdf

(4) Nat'l Fire Prot. Ass'n Technical Comm. on FIUs, NFPA 1321 Standard for Fire Investigation Units, Proposed Edition, https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/1/3/2/1321?l=74.