Compliant Locking Solutions
Standards EN179 and EN1125
When it comes to access control in public buildings, compliant electric locking solutions that meet building regulation standards – such as EN179 Emergency Escape (for when the building occupants are aware of the building environment) and EN1125 Panic Escape (for environments used by the general public) – are essential to ensure safety and security.
These standards state that even if a door is electronically controlled for access, there must be a compliant mechanical means of escape in an emergency. In the case of fire doors, this is essential to provide fire protection, compartmentalise a building, and protect the escape routes.
Electric locks are a more compliant access control solution in comparison to door magnets, as magnetic systems are often not guaranteed to be fail-safe. This means that if there was an emergency, they may not allow the occupants of a building to make a quick and safe exit, which could possibly result in fatalities.
CE marking
A CE mark should be present on locking devices, confirming they comply with EU legislation. It is now a legal requirement for manufacturers of construction products in the UK to apply CE marking to items that are covered by harmonised European Norms (hEN).
A CE mark shows that the minimum performance requirements of the product have been met; however, it is not always a sign of high quality. Alongside the CE mark, a Declaration of Performance (DoP) document has to be made available to the customer upon request.
It’s vital that each party – whether an architect, specifier, facilities manager or installer – takes responsibility for ensuring the correct compliant systems are in place to guarantee safe egress for the occupants of the building in the event of an emergency.
Jon Burke, Marketing Manager, Abloy UK
