Research on Evacuating Persons with Mobility Impairments

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Peacock+Bukowski-Summary of NIST-GSA Cooperative Research on Use of Elevators during Fire Emergencies.pdf Supplementary Document	2013-06-13
0693.MobilityImpairmentsEvac.Supp Stmt.060513.doc Supporting Statement A	2013-06-13

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
206665	Focus Group Other-Focus Group Script	New
206664	One-on-One Interviews Other-Interview questions	New
206663	Building Occupants Other-Questionnaire	New
206662	Building Managers Other-Questionnaire	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0693-0066	ICR Reference No: 201304-0693-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NIST	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Research on Evacuating Persons with Mobility Impairments
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/27/2013
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/13/2013
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2015	36 Months From Approved
Responses	280	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	193	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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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 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.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 13325	02/27/2013
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 32365	05/30/2013
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 4

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Focus Group
Building Managers
One-on-One Interviews
Building Occupants

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	280	0	0	280	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	193	0	0	193	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is new information collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $112,500

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 06/13/2013

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