What does the term "fall down" refer to?

The term "fall down" refers primarily to the physical act of something dropping down, typically due to the influence of gravity or as a result of a failure of structural integrity, often observed in incidents such as building collapses or the failure of materials under stress. This definition emphasizes the literal action of descending or falling, which aligns with the concept of an object or material suddenly losing its support or structural stability.

In the context of fire and explosion investigations, understanding this term is important as it relates to analyzing the behaviors and failures of structures or components during and after an incident. For example, the collapse of a wall due to thermal conditions or structural damage caused by a fire can be described as "falling down," which helps investigators assess the sequence of events that led to the outcome.