Abstract: A safety system for alerting occupants of a fire or smoke occurring within a building in which the safety system includes a smoke detector associated with an electric door release mechanism of a locked door that is energised to unlock the door automatically in response to receiving a signal from a control unit which in turn receives a signal from a smoke detector when fire or smoke is detected so that the door is automatically opened by the electric door release mechanism being released by movement of an electrically operated striker plate to allow occupants trapped within the building to escape from the burning building, whilst allowing access to the building for emergency rescue personnel.