Citation

Clarke C, Andrews SP. Sci. Justice 2014; 54(6): 412-420.

Affiliation

School of Forensic & Investigative Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, United Kingdom. Electronic address: SPAndrews@uclan.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Forensic Science Society, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.scijus.2014.04.004

PMID

25498927

Abstract

An experimental study was made of the potential of the TASER-X26™ law enforcement electronic control device to ignite petrol vapours if used by an officer to incapacitate a person soaked in petrol, or within a flammable atmosphere containing petrol vapour. Bench scale tests have shown that a wooden mannequin with pig skin covering the chest was a suitable representation of a human target. Full scale tests using the mannequin have shown that the arc from a TASER-X26™ is capable of igniting petrol/air vapours on a petrol-soaked person. Further tests in a 1/5 scale and a full scale compartment have shown that if a TASER is used within a compartment, a petrol vapour explosion (deflagration) may be achieved. It is evident from this research that if used in a flammable vapour rich environment, the device could prove fatal not only to the target but the TASER® operator as well.

Language: en