Originally Posted by WHBM
I'm sure that lower deck, which doesn't appear to have a single emergency exit apart from the normal entrance right up at the front, would breach evacuation regulations. These latter were the key determinant in how the A380 turned out the way it did.
According to the drawing linked to above there were supposed to be two type I emergency exits (pax & galley door) and two type II exits on the lower deck. The main deck would have a total of four type II and four type I exits.
The plans included an option to convert part or whole of the forward lower cabin to accommodate freight, depending on the route.