Focus Group

Research on Evacuating Persons with Mobility Impairments (Year 2):

Focus Groups Following Data Collection from Building Emergency Managers and Occupants

Purpose

This focus group is being conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The focus of this research effort is two-fold: a) to gain an understanding of how building occupants with mobility impairments currently evacuate multi-story buildings in the United States during fire emergencies, and b) to learn about the concerns of persons with mobility impairments on using elevators during fire evacuations. An initial analysis has been carried out on the data collected in questionnaires from building emergency managers and in questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with occupants with mobility impairments. Based on this analysis, two sets of potential plans have been prepared for the use of elevators during fire evacuation by occupants with mobility impairments: one for existing buildings and one for new buildings.

As a member of this focus group, you will review the potential plans prepared for existing buildings and new buildings. You will 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.

Participating in this focus group is voluntary; however, your assistance would be greatly appreciated to help improve the safety of high-rise building occupants.

After reviewing the proposed plan for existing buildings,

1. Will the proposed plan work?

2. Does the plan sound reasonable?

3. What concerns do you have with this evacuation plan?

4. How would you change this plan to fit your needs or other occupants’ needs?

5. What features (name them) would increase your confidence in the system?

6. What information would you need to know during evacuation?

7. How can we best provide this information to you and other building occupants?

After reviewing the proposed plan for new buildings with OEEs,

1. Will the proposed plan work?

2. Does the plan sound reasonable?

3. What concerns do you have with this evacuation plan?

4. How would you change this plan to fit your needs or other occupants’ needs?

5. What features (name them) would increase your confidence in the system?

6. What information would you need to know during evacuation?

7. How can we best provide this information to you and other building occupants?

NOTE: This collection of information contains Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requirements approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to be 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Attn: Kathryn Butler, [email protected], 301-975-6673.

OMB Control No. 0693-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX-XX-XXXX