Legal security for escape routes: How to be on the safe side when CE marking external doors
As a planner and door manufacturer, you must pay particular attention to ensuring that you fulfil all legal requirements for external doors along escape routes. Ulrich Rotenhagen explains how you can reconcile existing and new standards for the CE marking of external doors in accordance with DIN EN 14351-1.
The correct implementation of the CE marking of external doors has been determined, among other things, as a focus of market monitoring in cooperation with DiBT for 2021. Special requirements apply to doors with the performance characteristics of fire behaviour and release capability."
ASSA ABLOY is one of the first manufacturers of electrically controlled escape door systems to offer tested systems in accordance with the requirements of European standard 13637:2015 with and without time-delayed release (t1/t2). For use in accordance with German building code, the systems also have the required proof of compliance.
The ePED product generation is distinguished by a new operating concept and consistent integration into the panic lock. The development was based on the new possibilities of DIN EN 13637:2015."
The ePED® panic touch bar brings escape route technology directly to the door and makes securing escape doors easier than ever before!
- All-in-one: The ePED® panic touch bar with integrated display terminal contains the entire electrically controlled escape door system in just one element.
- All at a glance: The display terminal integrates four modules: Escape route pictogram, emergency button, authorised use and display of the time delay.
- Everything secure: The function of the panic touch bar is electrically controlled.
- Everything can be retrofitted: Simply plan the door with the mechanical OneSystem touch bar and lead cover and replace with the relevant ePED bar later, connect the power supply, done!
- Everything tested: With the certification in accordance with the guideline for electrical locking systems for doors along escape routes (EltVTR), ePED® fulfils the building code requirements in Germany and offer maximum security in dangerous situations.
Legal facts at a glance:
For the intended purposes
- fire/smoke protection barrier and escape routes
- in escape routes
doors are subject to system 1 of the certificate of conformity.
For this, the performance consistency must be certified by the notified product certification body. This is based, among other things, on an initial inspection and is ensured by a factory production control.
External doors in particular are often part of officially required escape routes and must therefore meet the requirements for panic or emergency exits:
- The European standard DIN EN 14351-1 requires escape door locks in accordance with EN 1125 (panic) or EN 179 (emergency exit) as a basis for CE marking.
- Electrically controlled escape door systems must comply with prEN 13633 or prEN 13637. These were published in 2015 as a common European standard EN 13637 and as DIN EN 13637:2015 in Germany.
- In contrast to EN 1125:2008 and EN 179:2008, EN 13637:2015 has not yet been cited for harmonization in the OJEU and may not yet be CE marked as a construction product. However, CE marking on the basis of other EU regulations (EMC, LV, RoHS) is permitted and necessary.
Until approval by the European Commission, Member States may impose their own requirements as usage certificate for these products. With regard to electrically controlled escape door systems for doors along escape routes, a test certificate in accordance with the directive on electrical locking systems for doors along escape routes - EltVTR - (1997-12) is required in Germany as the basis for the declaration of conformity.