Emergency Evacuation Tech: New Audit Criteria Facility Managers Will Bring to Securika
Emergency evacuation technology is now measured by performance, not presence. Facility managers attending Securika ask pointed questions about system speed, reliability under stress, and audit-ready reporting. The goal is simple. When the alarm sounds, staff and visitors must receive clear instructions fast, routes must open as planned, and the record must show exactly what happened.
Set Clear Targets For Response Time Compliance
Procurement teams now write timing requirements into contracts, asking vendors to provide full event logs, not just screenshots to show how systems perform in real drills, not simulations. That means specifying how long it takes from a detector trigger to the first audible message, how quickly floor-by-floor notifications reach occupants, and when exit routes are confirmed.
To keep projects grounded, procurement teams are writing these targets into contracts. They ask vendors to show end-to-end timing with time-stamped logs, not screenshots. They also want assurance that delayed notifications are flagged and investigated. The result is a more honest view of readiness across different building types.
Move From Fire Drills To Forensics
Routine drills still matter, but audits now focus on post-drill traceability. Control rooms must show exactly who received what message and when, using time-stamped logs from multiple systems to build a clear timeline. They show message start and end, device health, zone-level status and manual overrides. When this evidence is easy to access, safety teams can correct weak spots before the next test rather than after the next incident.
Specify Performance Tests Vendors Must Pass
Buyers now arrive with a short list of non-negotiables. Setting these expectations upfront helps vendors focus on what matters and moves conversations from marketing claims to measurable results.
- Notification timing: prove trigger-to-message and message-to-acknowledgement times across representative floors, with variance under load conditions.
- Voice clarity: measure Speech Transmission Index (STI) and publish results by zone. Many buyers set a ≥95% intelligibility target for occupied areas during drills.
- Redundancy: demonstrate failover for controllers, network paths and power. Show how messages continue during a single-point failure.
- Operator workflow: run a scripted scenario that covers alert, live paging, message switch and all-clear, then export the full log for audit.
- Maintenance visibility: present a dashboard for device health that prioritises faults and schedules testing by risk, not alphabetically.
This approach turns selection into a practical exercise rather than a feature parade.
Choose Alarm Paths That People Actually Notice
Alarms that cannot be heard or understood waste precious seconds. Buyers are rethinking messaging so that alerts cut through routine noise and address different needs.
Start with layered signalling. Combine tones, clear speech and visual cues so the message reaches people with different abilities and in different acoustic conditions. Test at real ambient levels, not an empty corridor. If the site serves multiple languages, prepare short, high-intelligibility scripts rather than long explanations—design for human attention. Use layered signals like tones, voice, and visual prompts that cut through noise and reach people regardless of hearing ability or stress level.
This is where alarm and warning systems prove their worth. They must be predictable, audible and intelligible across zones that rarely sound the same from day to day.
Make Integration Speed Up The Exit
Evacuation tech does its best work when it links cleanly with other building platforms. Doors should unlock on cue, turnstiles should freewheel, and cameras should confirm that routes are usable. Integration also reduces operator load because one action updates multiple systems.
At minimum, buyers now request documented interfaces with Access Control Systems (ACS), Video Management Systems (VMS) and Building Management Systems (BMS). They also ask for a simple way to trigger pre-approved scene settings that fit the incident type, whether fire, smoke migration or external threat. The result is integrated safety systems that act as one, not as disconnected parts.
Meet The Human Factors Head-On
Technology fails when it forgets the people who use it. Facility managers now prioritise clear controls during a live event, not dense screens designed for engineers. Interfaces should show only what matters and keep the number of clicks low.
Accessibility needs planning, too. Consider hearing-impaired occupants with beacons and text prompts, children or visitors with minimal site knowledge, and staff who must communicate while moving. Good design keeps messages short, uses consistent icons and allows quick manual overrides when conditions change.
Bring Advanced Capability Without Over-Engineering
There is real interest in advanced safety and evacuation tech, provided it supports clear outcomes. Analytics that estimate crowd flow, sensors that verify route availability, and dashboards that highlight bottlenecks can all help. The key is transparency. If a system recommends a route change, operators need to see the reason and act on it with confidence immediately. Black-box logic slows trust and slows exits.
Focus On Proof, Not Promises
The strongest offers at Securika will show working scenarios. They will back claims with logs, clear tests and operator-friendly screens. Weaknesses will be acknowledged with a roadmap and a method to manage risk during the gap.
Vendors who frame capability around response time, measurable audibility and repeatable tests tend to reach shortlists faster. Those who rely on slogans usually do not.
Start A Conversation With The Right People
Securika brings together facility leaders who care about performance that they can prove. If your solution delivers proven timing, clear reports, and clean workflows, submit an exhibit enquiry. The Securika team will connect you with buyers ready to talk specifics.