Keep calm and don’t panic
All quiet on the security front for those who have already taken steps to replace the old panic bars with CE marked devices.
Instead, there is a risk of incurring in severe sanctions for those who still use devices that do not comply with the safety regulations established by the Construction Products Regulation (EU Regulation 305/2011) that was released in March 2011 superseeding the previous EU Directive 89/106/EC, adopted in 1989. As a Regulation, it did not require local national laws in order to become operative. This regulation establishes a single market in construction products, enabling products that satisfy harmonised technical specifications to bear the CE mark.
The CE mark creates the legal presumption that a product bearing it complies with the health and safety requirements of the relevant harmonized standard. Such products are automatically granted access to the market in all member states. In the case of construction products, although a CE marked product can lawfully be offered for sale anywhere in the EU, local building regulations will determine whether it can be used in a particular application. In all EU states it is unlawful to place a construction product on the market without the CE mark.
But beyond the risk of the sanction, it is essential that the panic exit devices respect the ministerial regulations to guarantee a correct escape route and preserve the safety of people in public and work places.
In particular, the installation of CE marked panic exit devices is mandatory in the following cases:
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On escape route doors, if panic exit devices are to be installed and without prejudice to the provisions of art. 5, devices must be installed at least compliant with the UNI EN 179 standard or other of this equivalent, if one of the following conditions occurs: |
The activity is open to the public and the door can be used by less than 10 people
The activity is not open to the public and the door can be used by a number of people greater than 9 and less than 26
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On escape route doors, if panic exit devices are to be installed and without prejudice to the provisions of art. 5, devices compliant with the UNI EN 1125 standard or another with this equivalent must be installed, if at least one of the following conditions occurs: |
The activity is open to the public and the door can be used by more than 9 people
The activity is not open to the public and the door can be used by more than 25 people
Premises with working and materials at risk of explosion and fire with more than 5 workers employed
If your business belongs to one of the categories for which the installation of CE panic exit devices is mandatory, it is better to immediately take steps to replace the outlawed devices, before an inspection by the Control Authorities.
Always at the forefront of safety, CISA has only produced handles with CE marking since 2004, the year the legal obligation was introduced.
A great experience that will help you in choosing the best model for your needs: without floor space, motorized, with built-in LEDs, or with access control.
Rely on our consultants, but above all, "don't panic", the solution is at hand.
