Viktimisierung durch Inbrandsetzung

After a person was substantially injured by setting the hair on fire, the actual danger posed by such an act should be experimentally characterized. At least in Germany deliberate harm to others by setting fire to them is rare.

A total of 20 untreated hair samples, hair samples treated with hair styling products, damp and dry hair samples were then ignited using matches. The reactions of each hair sample were digitally recorded using thermal imaging and video recording. Possible flame transmission to clothing textiles was simulated by attaching small pieces of textile in close proximity to the hair sample.

With the exception of the damp hair sample, rapid ignition of the test hair with complete combustion occurred in all cases at the moment of exposure to the match flame. The inflammability of textile fabric succeeded when there was direct contact with the hair samples. For the treated hair samples, the flame development was shown to be accelerated and the burning duration prolonged.

In summary, the ignition of hair can be associated with severe to fatal hazards.