Site Status Notification

In the event of contingencies, such as winter storms, wildfires, and power outages, NIST may find it necessary to restrict access to facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of personnel and to expedite site recovery. 

NIST will provide notice to employees and associates through a variety of means including GovDelivery ENS notifications using text and email, messages on the NIST Status line, and notices via social media. NIST encourages all staff to subscribe to email and text alerts. 

NIST employs various levels of closure depending on the campus conditions. Below is an outline of those levels that you may hear when receiving Gov Delivery text/email notifications or looking at social media. 

Site is Closed - NO ACCESS [Emergency Event]

• The site is closed for onsite business, and no public access is permitted; previously approved accesses are revoked.
• Access may be granted to designated emergency response officials under NIST and the Department of Commerce (DOC), as well as other local, state, and Federal emergency incident responders.
• Employees/associates (all facility users) are NOT permitted access UNLESS APPROVED by the Emergency Services Office (ESO) Director or designee.
• Telework-ready employees are required to work at their approved alternative worksite, with the exception of employees already on pre-approved leave or Alternative Work Schedule day off.

Site is CLOSED [used for weather events that ARE impacting the campus]

• The site is closed for onsite business, and no public access is permitted.
• Designated emergency employees may be required to report to work as scheduled.
• Telework-ready employees are required to work at their approved alternative worksite following the terms of their telework agreement with the exception of employees already on pre-approved leave or Alternative Work Schedule day off.
• Non-emergency and non-teleworking employees not on pre-approved leave or an Alternative Work Schedule day off will be granted weather and safety leave.
• Non-emergency employees and associates who have a requirement to access the site and who are currently authorized 24/7 access can be granted entry if site conditions warrant. Associates without After-Hours Access will need approval from their division chief for their need for access to campus, as well as to identify who their federal escort will be. This request must be sent via email to ESO [at] nist.gov (ESO[at]nist[dot]gov). Due to the nature of construction work, it may be unsafe to allow construction work to continue during campus closures.
• Conferences are cancelled.
• Site closure vehicle access procedures may be put in place, and entrants must park in designated areas.

OPEN: REDUCED STAFF [used for weather events that MAY impact the campus]

• Telework-ready staff are encouraged to telework. This does not count toward the 52-hour limit unless the employee is already approved for situational telework for another reason. Employees must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled telework.    Employees not wishing to telework should consult with their supervisor regarding the need to work on campus or use unscheduled leave.
• Campus is open, but when staff arrive on campus, please park in designated areas.   

OPEN: Optional Precautions [used for weather events in the surrounding areas]

• Designated Emergency Employees may be required to report to work as scheduled.
• The site is open for business.  Impacted employees who are prevented from safely traveling to the worksite may request unscheduled telework or unscheduled leave. Supervisors are responsible for determining the legitimacy of the request and approving or denying.  If the supervisor determines the employee is prevented from safely traveling to the worksite, the telework does not count toward the 52-hour limit. 

Site has a delayed opening, OR Site will open at a designated time, and unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework is authorized.

• The site will open after a [xx]-hour delay, and staff should report [xx] hours after their normal reporting time.  OR The site is closed for business, and no public access will be permitted prior to the designated time.
• Designated emergency employees may be required to report to work as scheduled.
• Telework-ready employees have the option of unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework for the entire day.  This will not count towards the 52-hour limit.  Employees must notify their supervisor of their intent to use unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.
• Telework-ready employees reporting to the worksite are not required to telework during the delayed arrival period.
• Conferences will be held, but attendees may not arrive prior to the designated time.
• Shuttle services will begin running one hour before the site opens.

Site will close after [xx] hours early release, OR Site will close at a designated time for early dismissal

• The site will close [xx] hours early, and staff should leave [xx] hours earlier than their normal departure time. OR The site will close at [a designated time] for onsite business, and no public access is permitted after the designated time for early dismissal.
• Designated emergency employees may be required to remain at work as scheduled.
• Telework-ready employees will only be excused for the amount of time required to commute home.  Upon arriving at home, employees must complete any remaining portion of the workday by teleworking or taking unscheduled leave.
• Non-telework employees at the office will be granted weather and safety leave for the number of hours remaining in their workday, unless on preapproved leave.  Non-telework employees departing prior to the designated time may request to use unscheduled leave and will not be granted weather and safety leave for any part of the workday.
• Non-emergency employees and associates who are currently authorized 24/7 access and who have a legitimate requirement to access the site may be granted access or remain on site as site conditions warrant.
• Conferences will adjourn by the designated early release time.
• Shuttle services will stop running one hour after the site closes.

Subscribe to Site Status

Subscribe to Site Status - Boulder

The U.S. Department of Commerce Boulder Laboratories site status is provided via three mechanisms. 

• Website status announcement
• Telephone status update at (303) 497-4000 or (303) 497-3000 (Option 2)
• Email and/or text alerts
• Social media

NIST encourages staff to subscribe to the email and text ENS alerts as there may be instances where the site status is changed to other than open for reasons other than heavy snowfall. 

To receive email and/or text alerts on changes to site operating status or emergencies, you can subscribe here.  

Subscribe to Site Status - Gaithersburg

NIST Gaithersburg status is provided through: 

• Website status announcement
• Telephone status update at (301) 975-8000 and (800) 437-4385 (toll free)
• Email and/or text alerts
• Social media

NIST encourages staff to subscribe the email or text alerts as there may be instances where the site status is changed to other than open for reasons other than heavy snowfall. 

To receive email and/or text alerts on changes to site operating status or emergencies, you can subscribe here.  

NOTE: You have to subscribe twice to receive email AND text messages.

Return to the campus status page.