[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13325-13326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04491]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Research on 
Evacuating Persons With Mobility Impairments

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 29, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Kathryn Butler, 100 Bureau Drive, Mailstop 8662, 
Gaithersburg, MD

[[Page 13326]]

20899-8662, [email protected], 301-975-6673.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    NIST's research on elevators has primarily focused on the technical 
aspects of ensuring safe and reliable evacuation for the occupants of 
tall buildings. In addition, the International Code Council and the 
National Fire Protection Association provide requirements for the use 
of elevators for both occupant evacuation and fire fighter access into 
the building. However, there still is little understanding of how 
occupants use elevator systems during fire emergencies.
    The focus of this research effort is two-fold: (1) To gain an 
understanding of how building occupants with mobility impairments 
currently evacuate multi-story buildings in the United States during 
fire emergencies, and (2) to learn about the concerns of persons with 
mobility impairments on using elevators during fire evacuations. This 
research aims to provide guidance to designers and building managers on 
aspects of fire evacuation that concern occupants with mobility 
impairments and on how to improve elevator design and usage during fire 
emergencies. The research includes four opportunities for 
participation:
    (a) Building managers and designated safety personnel from a sample 
of four to ten existing and new federal high-rise buildings in the 
United States will be contacted to fill out a questionnaire requesting 
information on the emergency plans and procedures for the building, 
including how the buildings' evacuation plans incorporate the use of 
the existing elevator system to evacuate occupants with mobility 
impairments during fire emergencies. The building emergency plan will 
be requested from either the General Services Administration (GSA) or 
from the building manager.
    (b) Occupants with mobility impairments in the buildings identified 
in part (a) will be asked for basic information on their mobility with 
regard to evacuation, previous evacuation experiences, and preferences 
on how to evacuate during a fire emergency. At the end of the 
questionnaire, they will be invited to participate in a one-on-one 
interview to discuss these issues in more detail.
    (c) Occupants with mobility impairments identified in part (b) will 
participate in a one-on-one interview requesting more detailed 
information on previous evacuation experiences, awareness of emergency 
procedures, and views and preferences on using an elevator to evacuate 
during a fire emergency.
    (d) Professionals involved with emergency planning (e.g., GSA, 
USDA, DHS, building emergency managers, researchers) and building 
occupants with mobility impairments, if willing, will be invited to 
participate in one of two focus groups. A preliminary analysis of the 
data resulting from parts (a) through (c) will be summarized in the 
form of two sets of potential plans for the use of elevators during 
fire evacuation by occupants with mobility impairments: One for 
existing buildings and one for new buildings. Members of the focus 
groups will review both of these potential plans. They will then 
participate in a discussion that will lead to guidance for designers 
and building managers on aspects of fire evacuation that concern 
occupants with mobility impairments and on how to improve elevator 
design and usage during fire emergencies. The order of the discussion 
of plans for existing and new buildings will be switched for the two 
focus groups to ensure that each plan receives the same amount of 
attention overall.

II. Method of Collection

    The data from questionnaire (a) will be collected electronically. 
The questionnaire will be made available on a secured Web site and the 
link to this Web site will be distributed by NIST staff to building 
property managers and designated safety personnel.
    The data from questionnaire (b) will be collected electronically. 
The questionnaire will be made available on a secured Web site and the 
link to this Web site will be distributed by NIST staff to occupants 
with mobility impairments in the buildings identified in part (a).
    The data from the one-on-one interviews will be audiotaped if 
permission is granted or recorded in written notes if not. Participants 
will identify their interest in the questionnaire from part (b). Each 
interview will be conducted by a member of the NIST research team at 
the participant's workplace or by phone.
    The data from the focus groups will be audio taped and recorded in 
written notes. Professionals involved with emergency planning (e.g., 
GSA, USDA, DHS, building emergency managers, researchers) and building 
occupants with mobility impairments, if willing, will be invited to 
participate.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Collections (a) and (d): Selected individuals, 
such as building managers and designated safety personnel, who are 
familiar with or in charge of developing emergency procedures for 
multi-story buildings in the United States, including both federal and 
private sector buildings; Collections (b) and (c): Selected high-rise 
building occupants with mobility impairments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 180.
    Estimated Time per Response: Surveys, 15 minutes; Interviews, 2 
hours; and Focus groups, 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 168.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 21, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-04491 Filed 2-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P