Efficient evacuation
In any establishment open to the public or to workers, it is essential to be able to evacuate all those present effectively at any time in the event of an emergency. Emergency exits are a means of ensuring rapid and efficient evacuation.
To do this, these exits must respect the passage units and be sufficient in number in relation to the site’s capacity.
In the event of an actual fire, the Fire Safety System (SSI) takes over and automatically unlocks the emergency exit doors to ensure optimum evacuation of people.
Where there are a large number of emergency exits, a centralised management system can be installed. This monitors the status of all doors (locked or unlocked) in real time.
Unlock in case of fire
Some office buildings are home to a number of different companies, whose premises can be partitioned off using back-and-forth doors. In the event of a fire, these fire doors can be unlocked to speed evacuation. Unlocking can be carried out autonomously, using the local control unit, or remotely from the security control center if the building is equipped with one.
Serve as access control
In hospitals, clinics and other healthcare establishments, fire doors are a common feature, enabling the demarcation of different departments or care units such as EPHAD, maternity wards, psychiatric wards, Alzheimer’s units and so on. Equipped with a code or key-operated CLEVA, these doors filter passage, allowing only authorized persons to enter. These devices can also be used to control access to sensitive areas, such as pharmacies, CANTOU (Centres d’Activités Naturelles Tirées d’Occupation Utiles) zones and closed care units.
When the door is used both as an access door and an emergency exit, a UGCIS control unit can be used for remote unlocking (delivery access or staff entrance).
Protect against theft
As well as complying with fire safety regulations, which vary according to the building’s activity and capacity, a theft protection system must be installed in public-access establishments such as museums, exhibition halls, supermarkets, etc. containing valuable goods.
Checking emergency exits
To prevent theft, emergency exits must be checked. The installation of a UGCIS system enables doors to be controlled, with remote management of locking and unlocking of exits, an opening time delay of up to 3 minutes, and an access to be switched to security mode (under the responsibility of the head of the establishment). This system also manages a history of openings to guarantee traceability.
In the case of supermarkets, all safety and security installations are managed centrally, from the Central Security Station (PCS). With Alligator’s UGCIS system, security personnel can view the status of all equipped doors in real time. With emergency exits protected, security guards can devote their time to monitoring the sales area.
Protecting property
Like all ERP (Établissement Recevant du Public) stores, superstores must be equipped with emergency exits to evacuate customers and staff in the event of fire. However, these exits must not be used by shoplifters. The challenge is to strike the right balance between personal safety and property protection.
Interface with video surveillance
ERP systems feature manual opening requests. Interfacing Alligator’s UGCIS system with video surveillance ensures that manual opening requests are well-founded, and limits untimely actions. Once this has been verified, the security manager can remotely unlock the doors.
Protecting people and property
The challenge of managing emergency exits lies in guaranteeing both the safety of people and the security of property in an establishment. Emergency exit doors must be accessible and open in the event of evacuation. However, they cannot remain entirely “free” in order to protect the site from intrusion.
For example, in concert halls or exhibition grounds, ticket-paying visitors are unable to let accomplices in free of charge via an emergency exit without triggering an alarm.
In public buildings such as ministries, there is a real risk that emergency exits will be invaded during a demonstration. The installation of a UGCIS control unit located at the security control room, with information relayed to the safety control room, provides real-time information on the state of the door, and over-locks the exits to block demonstrators outside the building.
This locking system has 3 modes: locked, unlocked and over-locked. Customers can switch to “non-public” mode (night mode) to make their building watertight and thus prevent intrusion and burglary. This mode is the responsibility of the school principal.
Similarly, it’s important to prevent emergency exit doors from being blocked in the open position. For sensitive sites, it is important that safety and security systems communicate with each other. The UGCIS controls emergency exit doors in real time, and provides information about people passing through them. The system can be connected, via a communication gateway, to access control or BMS to transmit door status.
Ensuring patient safety
Healthcare facilities are responsible for the safety of their patients. For example, it’s important to lock doors that open directly onto the outside, to avoid accidents or runaways. Centralized management using the UGCIS system enables you to view the status of DAS locks remotely, and ensure that doors are closed properly. Door openers (DDO) can be used to alert nursing staff by sounding an audible alarm in the event of an escape attempt.
Preventing the theft of babies from a maternity hospital
In the case of a maternity hospital, locking emergency exits helps prevent baby theft. Malicious persons could be tempted to escape discreetly via the emergency exits.
Managing a crisis on a sensitive site
Depending on the level of security required, the site can be made more or less hermetic. In the case of centralized exit management using the UGCIS system, all external exits can be blocked. For example, in a crisis situation (attack, demonstration) at a sensitive site, centralized management can block all exits to prevent offenders from entering the building.
