ASR A2.3 Escape and rescue routesEscape routes
The workplace regulation ASR A2.3 describes in more detail how the requirement of the Workplace Ordinance to be able to leave the danger zone safely must be implemented.
Whilst traffic routes are understood to be all routes that are available on the company premises for pedestrians and vehicles, escape routes are used to escape from a hazardous area to a secured section. Escape and rescue routes are also used to rescue people and provide access for the emergency services.
General requirements for escape routes
To ensure that people can leave the danger zone unhindered, escape routes, emergency exits and emergency escape hatches must be kept clear at all times and must not be obstructed. Even if there is enough space to walk due to objects standing around, the aspect of smoke is not insignificant. Smoke from fire loads has a toxic effect and severely obstructs visibility. As emergency exits can usually also be blocked from the outside, additional measures (e.g. labelling) must be taken to ensure that they are always kept clear.
Lifts, escalators, spiral staircases and fixed ladders are not permitted in the main escape route. Levelling steps (less than 3 steps) are also not permitted along escape routes.
Whether a secondary escape route can be omitted is determined by the result of a risk assessment.
The escape route must be clearly and permanently marked, and the direction of the escape route must also be clearly visible (ASR A1.3 Safety and health protection labelling). ASR A1.3 also sets out the requirements for an escape and rescue plan, which also provides information on the location of assembly points. As a rule, escape routes must be equipped with safety lighting or a safety guidance system. This may be necessary, for example, if the areas are entered by persons unfamiliar with the area or if the rooms and paths are below ground level. Whether and to what extent this is necessary depends, among other things, on the results of the risk assessment.
Doors on escape routes
Manually operated doors of emergency exits must open in the direction of escape; other manually operated doors and gates must open in the direction of escape if there is an increased risk. An increased risk may result from the work process, the type of activity, the substances used or the working environment, e.g:
- Working in areas with a gas hazard,
- Handling particularly hazardous substances, e.g. in chemical, physical or medical laboratories,
- Areas of facilities where violent assaults cannot be ruled out,
- Work in confined spaces or
- in the presence of a large number of people.
Doors that can be opened manually along the main escape routes must not be designed as revolving or sliding doors. Deviations from these requirements are listed in ASR A2.3 under number 7. If doors must be locked from the outside (e.g. to protect against burglary or to restrict access), it must still be possible to open them from the inside at all times without the need for assistance. This can be achieved, for example, by using panic locks. Electric locking systems must be equipped with an "emergency open button" and unlock automatically in the event of a power failure.