Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Evacuation Movement and Behavior Questionnaires, 11618 [E8-4077]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 11618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4077]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Evacuation 
Movement and Behavior Questionnaires

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Department of 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 May 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Erica Kuligowski, erica.kuligowski@nist.gov, 301-975-
2309.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    NIST will be collecting data on evacuation behavior and movement of 
occupants from approximately 50 high-rise buildings' evacuation drills 
in cities across the United States at a rate of several buildings per 
year. The high-rise buildings of interest include buildings of varying 
heights (e.g., 1-10 stories, 11-20 stories, 21-35 stories, and 35+ 
stories) and of varying occupancy types (e.g., residential, office, and 
assembly occupancies).
    The proposed data collection will consist of questionnaires that 
will be distributed, by city or building's fire department staff or 
NIST staff, to occupants who have evacuated previously-identified high-
rise buildings as a part of a scheduled evacuation drill. The purpose 
of these questionnaires is to obtain information (anonymously) on: (1) 
The background of the occupant (occupant demographics, previous 
training and education in fire safety, and previous experience in fire 
evacuations); (2) actions and decisions made by the occupant on his/her 
floor during the building evacuation; and (3) actions and decisions 
made by the occupant during the building evacuation via the stairs and/
or elevators. This information is necessary to better inform building 
and life safety code requirements, building occupant education and 
training about fire safety, and tools that are currently used to assess 
the life safety of high-rise buildings in the United States.

II. Method of Collection

    This data will be collected via paper questionnaires. Either fire 
department staff will collect the questionnaires from the buildings or 
each questionnaire will be equipped with an NIST-address-stamped 
envelope and pre-paid postage.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 6,666.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,111.
    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 28, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-4077 Filed 3-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P