Designation:E1188−11(Reapproved2017)StandardPracticeforCollectionandPreservationofInformationandPhysicalItemsbyaTechnicalInvestigator1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE1188;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thispracticecoversguidelinesforthecollectionandpreservationofinformationandphysicalitemsbyanytechni-calinvestigatorpertainingtoanincidentthatcanbereasonablyexpectedtobethesubjectoflitigation.1.2Thispracticerecommendsgenerallyacceptedprofes-sionalprinciplesandoperations,althoughthefactsandissuesofeachsituationrequireconsideration,andfrequentlyinvolvemattersnotexpresslydealtwithherein.Deviationsfromthispracticeshouldbebasedonspecificarticulablecircumstances.1.3Thispracticeoffersasetofinstructionsforperformingoneormorespecificoperations.Thisstandardcannotreplaceknowledge,skillorabilityacquiredthroughappropriateeducation,training,andexperienceandshouldbeusedinconjunctionwithsoundprofessionaljudgment.1.4Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.1.5Thisinternationalstandardwasdevelopedinaccor-dancewithinternationallyrecognizedprinciplesonstandard-izationestablishedintheDecisiononPrinciplesfortheDevelopmentofInternationalStandards,GuidesandRecom-mendationsissuedbytheWorldTradeOrganizationTechnicalBarrierstoTrade(TBT)Committee.2.SignificanceandUse2.1Thispracticeisintendedforusebyanytechnicalinvestigatorwheninvestigatinganincidentthatcanbereason-ablyexpectedtobethesubjectoflitigation.Theintentistoobtainsufficientinformationandphysicalitemstodiscoverevidenceassociatedwiththeincidentandtopreserveitforanalysis.2.2Thequalityofevidencemaych...
