Recruitment Script

Research on Evacuating Persons with Mobility Impairments

Focus Groups for Professionals Involved with Emergency Planning

and Building Occupants

Engineering Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

RECRUITMENT SCRIPT (via telephone)

Hello [Emergency planning professional],

This is [introduce caller].

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is conducting a study of how elevators can be used during fire emergencies by occupants of existing multi-story buildings in the United States with mobility impairments. This project is sponsored by the U.S. General Services Administration. The focus of this research is to gain an understanding of the knowledge, views, and experiences of people with mobility impairments regarding fire evacuation using elevators. We have carried out a set of interviews with occupants of tall buildings that have provided us with some insight into these issues.

We are calling to ask if you would be interested in participating in a focus group that reviews 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. Then we will ask you to participate in a guided discussion about these two potential plans.

The outcome of this research will be guidance to designers and building managers on how to improve elevator design and usage during fire emergencies. We would greatly appreciate your assistance to help improve the safety of the occupants in tall buildings across the U.S.

[Discuss availability for a focus group meeting.]

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important study of life safety procedures.