Safety management

Management of emergency exits and evacuation of the public

In the event of a fire or any other situation requiring the evacuation of a building, the management of emergency exits is a key factor in ensuring the safety of the occupants.

It ensures that emergency doors open automatically when the evacuation signal is triggered, and facilitates the movement of people by allowing manual opening of one or more emergency exits depending on the events that occur.

At DEF, emergency exit management relies on interconnected equipment (vacuum locks, door assemblies, control panels) that is integrated into the Fire Safety System to ensure precise, reliable control that complies with current standards.

Opening the exits
Safe evacuation
Flow management

How does the emergency exit unlocking mechanism work?

It relies on electrical and electronic systems connected to the fire safety system. When a fire is detected, the control and signalling equipment panel sends a “fire” signal to the fire safety control centre, which automatically executes a safety protocol that includes: CMSI incluant :

The activation of the evacuation signal,
le the unlocking of the emergency doors, the illuminated signage for evacuation routes, the opening of the vacuum locks or electric locks (to me, this is a repeat with the isolation management), the management of the zoning of risk areas,
la ,
l’),
la
the smoke exhaust management of isolated areas,
le retour en position sécurisée après levée d’alerte.

the return to a safe position after the alert has been lifted. The systems can be controlled manually from the alarm management units or integrated into a centralised monitoring system for multi-site management. pilotés manuellementintégrés à multi-sites.

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Devices that comply with French standards

The systems are designed to ensure occupant safety while meeting security requirements during normal operation: controlled locking, anti-panic devices, and integration with access control.

NF S 61-937:

Powered Safety Devices (D.A.S.),
NF S 61-937
NF S61-934, excluding Annex A

Fire Safety Control Centre
NF S61-934 excluding Annex A
NF S61-936

Evacuation alarm systems
NF S61-936
NF S 61-932:

Regulations governing the installation of fire safety systems (S.M.S.I.).
NF S 61-932
NF S61-933

Fire Safety Systems – Operating and Maintenance Rules
NF S61-933

Why is it important to ensure the secure management of emergency exits?

The management of emergency exits must ensure both the safety of occupants in an emergency and access control during normal operations.

	Risk covered	Operational benefit
Coordinate the exits with the fire safety system	Delayed or out-of-sync door unlocking	Automatic opening of exits as soon as the fire alarm is triggered
Ensuring the safety of occupants	Blocked or invisible pathways	Ensuring that evacuation routes remain accessible, clearly marked, and safe at all times
Ensure regulatory compliance	Failure to comply with public access building requirements and the Labour Code	Compliance with evacuation and safety requirements
Maintaining operational safety	Uncontrolled access outside of emergency situations	Secure access control during normal operations, without compromising evacuation procedures
Facilitate maintenance and monitoring	Undetected defects, lack of traceability	Equipment monitoring, rapid diagnostics, and event tracking

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Emergency exits: a major operational challenge

DEF audits and feedback show that poor management of emergency exits remains a common cause of noncompliance, with a direct impact on occupant safety and the operator’s liability.

Automated management that is regularly tested and maintained is now a key driver of compliance and risk reduction.

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Decree of 25 June 1980

Fire safety regulations for public access buildings (Articles CO and MS).
Decree of 25 June 1980
Labour Code

Articles R4227-1 to R4227-29, concerning evacuation routes.
Articles R4227-1 to R4227-29
Building and Housing Code

Article R.123-4, which requires that emergency exits remain unobstructed in the event of an emergency.
Article R123-4
NF EN 13637 Standard

Defining the requirements for electrically controlled output devices.
NF EN 13637 standard

Key figures

Data illustrating the importance of emergency exits

These figures underscore the need for coordinated and automated management of emergency exits in any fire scenario.

35 %
of fire victims due to difficulties in evacuating

68 %
Compliance rate observed in the initial audit

less than 5
this is the average time it takes for the fire safety system doors to unlock automatically.

+ 40 %
efficiency gains from coordinated evacuation

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