All emergency evacuation diagrams must be placed within your facility where occupants and visitors are able to easily view the diagrams. However, there are some exceptions:

• It’s important to make sure your diagrams are not attached to fire doors, smoke doors or other fire-resistant elements.
• The exact locations of these diagrams are determined by the Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) of your facility or site. It is their responsibility to make sure these diagrams are always visible, and not obstructed from view.

Although exact locations are not set in stone, how your diagrams are displayed is defined. Diagrams must be positioned with the bottom edge of the diagram at minimum 1.2 meters above the floor or 1.6 meters above the pane of the finished floor.

The Australian Standard 3745:2010 does not stipulate an exact number of required diagrams. Emergency Planning Committee members are responsible for deciding how many diagrams are required in your facility.

Of most importance, is making sure that a diagram can be easily viewed by occupants wherever they are, in the event of an emergency.

Due to the lay out of emergency evacuation diagrams, the orientation of the plan can be vital in ensuring occupant safety.

As such Australian Standard 3745:2010 specifies that diagrams must have the correct orientation when displayed, with regard to the direction of emergency exits and the location of the ‘YOU ARE HERE’ point.

The size of your emergency evacuation diagrams is vital to ensuring it can be seen easily by occupants during an emergency. AS3745:2010 outlines two required sizes depending on the contents of your diagram:

A) Diagrams contain only required elements

• Minimum size = A4 (210mm x 297 mm)
• Representation of floor area = 200mm x 150mm

B) Diagrams contain required elements & optional elements:

• Minimum size = A3 (297mm x 420mm)
• Representation of floor area = 300mm x 200mm

The visual design of the diagram must be a pictorial representation of the floor or area of the site which the diagram has been placed in. An example can be seen below:

If we take a closer look at the above example, we can see a number of key elements which are included.

• The title ‘Evacuation Diagram’ in all capitals.
• A representation of ‘You Are Here’, which gives an occupant an understanding of where they are exactly.
• All of the designated exits which are located in that area or floor of the facility, colour coded in green.
• All communications equipment in the facility, and their locations.
• Locations of all hose reels, fire extinguishers & fire blankets, colour coded in red.
• Locations of fire indicator panels, which is an early detection & warning system designed to communicate evacuation directions to occupants.
• The validity date of the diagram, which expires 5 years after it has been created.
• Locations of assembly area(s) which can either be shown visually, or simply described in words.
• The legend containing all symbols used in the diagram.
• Paths of acceptable travel, colour coded in green.
• The sites address, postcode, access street location, nearest cross street and name.
• Any changes to the above in the facility, must be updated in the diagram.

As we can see, there is already a lot of information that is required to be in you evacuation plans to ensure they are compliant. However, that is not all of the information which could be contained in your diagrams.

If your sites Emergency Planning Committee decide any of these items are relevant, your diagrams may also contain;

• Direction of opening doors.
• First aid stations and kits, colour coded by a green and white cross.
• Emergency information as documented in the emergency plan.
• Fire and smoke doors.
• Fire hydrants, colour coded in red.
• Automatic External Defibrillators (AED).
• Electrical switchboard locations.