[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32365-32366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12788]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
    Title: Research on Evacuating Persons with Mobility Impairments.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 280.
    Average Hours per Response: Surveys, 15 minutes; Interviews, 2 
hours; and Focus groups, 2 hours.
    Burden Hours: 193.
    Needs and Uses: NIST's previous 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 complete 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

[[Page 32366]]

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 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.
    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.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OMB Desk Officer, Jasmeet Seehra, FAX Number (202) 395-5167, or 
[email protected]).

    Dated: May 23, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-12788 Filed 5-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P