How to Create an Emergency Evacuation Diagram in Three Steps (AS 3745:2010 Compliant)

Evacuation Diagram in Three Steps (AS 3745:2010 Compliant)

Is it time to create an emergency evacuation diagram for your business, school, Hospital, hotel, Factory, Strata Property, Airbnb House or any facility in Australia? A clear and compliant diagram is an essential part of workplace safety. It not only guides occupants safely out of a building during an emergency, but is also required under AS 3745:2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities.

These diagrams are used in fire drills, reviewed by Emergency Planning Committees, and relied upon by local authorities to plan effective emergency responses.

At its core, creating an evacuation diagram can be broken down into three steps: Plan, Illustrate, and Install.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance. For compliance, always refer to AS 3745:2010 and consult your building’s Emergency Planning Committee (EPC), local fire authority, or a professional evacuation diagram service.

Step 1: Plan a Code-Compliant Diagram

Before drawing your diagram, you need to understand the compliance requirements. In Australia, these are set out in:

• AS 3745:2010 – Planning for emergencies in facilities

• Local fire safety regulations (state or territory specific)

• Your facility’s Emergency Plan developed by the EPC

The standard outlines what must be displayed on evacuation diagrams and where they must be installed.

What to Include on Your Evacuation Diagram

According to AS 3745:2010, every evacuation diagram must display:

• A “You Are Here” indicator

• Designated exits and paths of travel

• Assembly areas

• Fire equipment (extinguishers, hose reels, fire blankets)

• Manual call points / fire alarms

• First aid kits and defibrillators (AEDs) (where present)

• A legend explaining all symbols

Optional but useful details can also be added, such as emergency contact numbers or site-specific instructions.

Step 2:  Draw Your Diagram with a Fire Safety Drawing Design Specialist

Your diagram must be both accurate and easy to understand. In an emergency, there should be no hesitation about how to exit the building.

Accuracy

• Always use up-to-date floor plans as the base.

• Ensure rooms, corridors, exits, and fire equipment are shown correctly.

• Update diagrams whenever there are layout changes, renovations, or new fire equipment installations.

Clarity

Avoid overcrowding the diagram with too much information. The priority is to show safe evacuation routes.

Best practices include:

• Draw walls, doors, and corridors first.

• Add the “You Are Here” marker, exits, and equipment.

• Orient the map to the viewer’s actual facing direction.

• Use consistent colours and clear symbols (as recommended in AS 3745:2010).

• Review the draft with your Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) before finalising.

  
  

Step 3: Install Your Diagram Correctly

Even the best evacuation diagram is useless if it’s not visible when needed.

According to AS 3745:2010, evacuation diagrams must be:

• Displayed in conspicuous locations where occupants are likely to see them (e.g., near exits, near entry, hallways, reception areas, common rooms, each room. etc.).

• Positioned at the correct height (between 1200 mm – 1600 mm from the floor) for visibility.

• Oriented correctly to match the direction a person is facing when reading the diagram.

• Reviewed every 5 years, or whenever significant changes occur in the building.

  
  
  
  

Why Work With a Professional?

While it may be tempting to design evacuation diagrams in-house, these are compliance-critical fire safety drawings that must meet strict requirements under AS 3745:2010. Errors or delays can put lives at risk and lead to non-compliance.

If you’re unsure, it’s best to engage a specialist evacuation diagram service.

At EvacuationDiagram.com, we:

✅ Deliver AS 3745:2010-compliant diagrams across Australia

✅ Offer 24–48 hour turnaround – the fastest in the industry

✅ Provide updates for renovations, relocations, or fire safety changes

✅ Work directly with fire protection companies, emergency planning consultants, fire safety professionals, and evacuation diagram providers

✅ Have unbeatable offers for companies that currently design in-house or regularly purchase drawings elsewhere

✅ Follow a clear business idea: We must be better than our competitors in all areas:

• Fastest delivery times

• Best quality drawings

• Widest selection of design options

• Always the lowest price

Many of our clients used to draw evacuation diagrams themselves, but soon realised we could deliver them faster, cheaper, and with guaranteed compliance.

👉 Welcome to switch to a supplier that delivers on its promises.

📞 Contact us EvacuationDiagram.com, today for a fast, professional, and fully compliant evacuation diagram service anywhere in Australia.