Evacuation Diagram Display Rules

Building Classifications (BCA) & Evacuation Diagram Display Rules (AS 3745:2010)

 

Class 1 – Residential (small scale)

• Class 1a – Single dwelling (detached house, townhouse, villa).

• Class 1b – Small boarding/guest house (≤12 people & ≤300 m²).

​

• 1. Class 1a -Airbnb House

• Classification depends on use:

• Class 1a → If the entire house/townhouse/villa is rented to one group/family.

• Class 1b → If individual rooms are rented to different guests (like a small boarding house, up to 12 guests & ≤300 m²).

• Compliance:

• Class 1a → Evacuation diagrams not mandatory, but highly recommended for guest safety & insurance.

• Class 1b → Mandatory diagrams at entry/exit points and common areas.

​

• 2. Strata House (Townhouse/Villa in Strata Scheme)

• Class 1a → If each unit is a separate dwelling (townhouse, villa).

• Class 2 → If it’s an apartment building (multi-storey, shared lobbies, shared corridors).

• Compliance:

• Class 1a (individual townhouse) → Not mandatory inside each home. But the Owners Corporation (Body Corporate) may require evacuation diagrams in common areas (carparks, gyms, pool, stairwells).

• Class 2 (apartments) → Mandatory evacuation diagrams in lobbies, fire stairs, corridors, and exits. Sometimes also on the back of apartment entry doors (best practice).

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules.

• 1b: Mandatory. Must be displayed at entry/exit points, corridors, and common rooms.

• 1a: Not mandatory unless required by insurer/council. Best practice: one diagram near exit.

​

Class 2 – Apartments

• Buildings with 2 or more sole-occupancy units (flats, apartments).

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Required in common areas, lobbies, fire stairs, carparks.

  • Best practice: one on the back of each apartment entry door for guests/tenants.

​

Class 3 – Residential (larger accommodation)

• Hotels, motels, hostels, large boarding houses, student housing.

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Required in each room/unit (typically on the back of the entry door).

  • Also required in corridors, lobbies, fire stairs, near lift, main entry, exits.

​

Class 4 – Dwelling inside another building

• A single dwelling within a non-residential building (e.g. caretaker’s flat in a factory).

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Required at the main entry/exit of the dwelling unit.

​

Class 5 – Offices

• Office buildings, banks, professional suites.

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Required in lobbies, lift lobbies, fire stairs, corridors, Main entry and exits.

  • Should cover each tenancy/office space with correct You Are Here (YAH).

​

Class 6 – Retail & Commercial

• Shops, restaurants, cafes, showrooms, hairdressers.

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Required in public areas, staff rooms, kitchens, near lift, exits. main entry and exit. 

  • Large shopping centres → diagrams in mall areas, near fire stairs, lift, main entry and exits. 

​

Class 7 – Carparks & Storage

• Class 7a: Carparks.

• Class 7b: Storage, warehouses.

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Carparks: Install near pedestrian exits, near lifts, fire stairs.

  • Warehouses: Install in staff zones, break rooms, main entry, Passages, exits.

​

Class 8 – Factories & Industrial

• Factories, workshops, laboratories, processing plants.

​

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Install in production floors, staff zones, workshops, fire stairs, main entry and exits.

​

Class 9 – Public Buildings

• Class 9a: Health-care (hospitals, day surgeries, medical centres).

• Class 9b: Assembly (schools, childcare, theatres, halls, churches).

• Class 9c: Aged-care buildings.

​

Evacuation Diagram Rules:

• 9a (Health-care): Required in wards, each room, corridors, nurse stations, waiting rooms, fire stairs. near lift, main entry, exit and Must show refuge areas for patients.

• 9b (Assembly): Required in all classrooms, halls, corridors, main entry, exits, fire stairs. Very critical for schools/childcare.

• 9c (Aged-care): Required in resident rooms, corridors, common areas, nurse stations, exits. Must include routes for mobility-impaired occupants.

​

Class 10 – Non-habitable Buildings

• Class 10a: Non-habitable structures (sheds, garages).

• Class 10b: Pools, retaining walls, fences.

• Class 10c: Private bushfire shelters.

• Evacuation Diagram Rules:

  • Normally not required for garages, unless open to the public (e.g.  diagrams at entry/exits).

  • ​

✅ General AS 3745:2010 Display Rules (apply to all classes)

• Height: Diagrams must be placed 1200–1600mm above floor level.

• Placement: At exits, fire stairs, lobbies, corridors, and common rooms where occupants/visitors can easily see them.

• Content: Must include:

  • “You Are Here” (YAH)

  • Exit routes

  • Fire equipment (extinguishers, hose reels, alarms)

  • Assembly point

  • Emergency contacts

• Orientation: Diagram must be rotated to match actual wall placement.

• Durability: Must be laminated / protected, preferably autoglow backing.

• Updates: Must be updated after layout/equipment/tenancy changes.