The NIH will begin testing the NIH campus-wide Mass Notification System beginning Wednesday, March 6 in most main campus facilities. The mass notification system provides emergency information and instructions in a building using voice communication. The testing will be conducted between the hours of 5pm – 9pm. Additional testing will be conducted during the same hours on March 7, March 13, March 14, March 20 and March 21.

The test involves a message broadcast through all speakers inside and outside a building. The test is anticipated to take several hours and each message will last several minutes. There will be several short messages broadcast throughout the evening. The message will include a repetitive 'test' message similar to the following, "Attention Please. This is a test of the campus mass notification system. This is only a test. There is no need to evacuate the building."

This test is being conducted by the Office of Research Facilities in coordination with the Office of Research Services, Division of the Fire Marshal. For questions about this critical test of the NIH emergency communication system, please contact Mohammad Al Gararheh at (301) 978-1589 or Mohammad.algararheh@nih.gov.