Fire Evacuation Diagram
Affordable, Clear & Professional Evacuation Signs and Diagrams
Designing emergency evacuation diagrams for Australia's commercial and private sectors for over 30 years
For over three decades, Australian Fire Protection has helped businesses across the nation meet compliance requirements with high-quality evacuation diagrams that prepare workplaces for emergencies.
Supporting all industries across the nation with clear signage that meets Australian standards
From small local businesses to nationally recognised organisations, Australian Fire Protection is one of Australia’s leading fire compliance providers. We help our clients meet commercial property fire safety regulations and have worked across a wide range of sectors, including but not limited to:
- Schools
- Factories
- Hospitals
- Retail shops
- Aged care
- Early learning centres
- Accommodation units
- Short-term rentals / Airbnb
With Australian Fire Protection, you have a team of experienced professionals (CAD Team) creating diagrams that go beyond meeting compliance requirements. Our signage is clear, easy to read, and designed to help people navigate safely during an emergency. Each diagram is prepared with care and accuracy, giving your workplace the clarity it needs to stay ready and compliant.
What are fire evacuation diagrams?
Fire evacuation diagrams are visual plans of a building's floor layout that show the nearest emergency exits, the location of fire equipment, labels, current location and more. Its purpose is to be easily interpreted and used by those in a building during emergency procedures, enabling them to respond in a timely, safe manner.
Evacuation diagrams and signs are required in all workplaces under Australian Standard 3745. In Queensland, the Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 require all Class 2 to 9 buildings exceeding 300 m² to display evacuation diagrams. They are also required in any short-term accommodation units and budget accommodations.
All diagrams and signs must be reviewed annually and updated when changes are made to the building or when any fire safety reference points or evacuation procedures change.
Evacuation diagram requirements and inclusions
To comply with relevant Australian standards, your sign must align with your emergency management plan and include the following elements:
- The place that corresponds to the location in the building where the sign is displayed
- The diagram must be correctly orientated and to a reasonable scale, and in an easily understandable form.
- The main and alternate routes to the nearest exits
- Each exit of the building
- Any intercommunication points, ie Warden phones
- The location of manually operated alarms
- The location of any firefighting and safety equipment, such as fire hose reels, fire extinguishers and fire blankets
- Emergency equipment such as defibrillators, eye wash stations, emergency showers and spill kits (optional elements)
- The designated exits and assembly area(s)
- The route from each exit to the assembly area
- Your business logo, if required
The process of designing evacuation diagrams with Australian Fire Protection
Markup process
All designs and signs are marked up on-site to ensure accuracy and to determine the best diagram positioning and assembly areas. Our Fire Safety Advisor will attend site to collate data and determine the optimal diagram locations and quantity needed in consultation with you.
We use specialised indoor mapping software to speed up the entire process and, most importantly, reduce production costs. This means that they can be completed quickly, and the cost savings are passed on. The diagram drafts are then emailed for pre-approval before production. The mapping software also feeds automatically to our online PlanSafe training platform if required to generate interactive floor plans that can be included in your General Evacuation Instructions (GEI) / induction or Occupancy Awareness training.
Design time
Evacuation Diagrams and signs are designed in-house using CAD or specialised software. A typical turnaround time is 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the difficulty and urgency. We use previous diagrams & building plans to aid the markup process where possible. For extremely urgent jobs, contact us, and we will discuss working to your construction or compliance deadline.
If no building plans are available, we can still draw up your floor layout manually whilst on site.
Choose your finish
The diagrams are produced in colour on A3 or A4. The diagrams are laminated using 150 gsm paper and 150 micron laminate, with double-sided tape applied. A digital PDF master file is also provided for your records.
We also offer other finishes, such as aluminium snap frames, acrylic, foamboard, and brushed metal if required. If you are not sure what medium to use, speak to a team member for advice.
Installation
We can also install your diagrams for you, but generally, it's relatively simple, and most clients tend to do this step themselves. We recommend installing evacuation diagrams in a snap frame or similar, then mounting them on the wall. The building fire safety regulations require that evacuation diagrams be securely mounted with screws or double-sided tape; Velcro and blue-tac are not permitted.
The diagrams should also be placed between 1200mm and 1600mm off the ground, with the 'You Are Here' reference point facing up and the diagram correctly orientated.
Frequently asked questions
These diagrams provide emergency and evacuation information to facility occupants and visitors. They are designed to assist building occupants in determining the location of fire-fighting equipment, the means of raising the alarm, and the optimal routes to use when evacuating the facility, which is why each evacuation diagram must be oriented correctly to its physical location and designed to a reasonable scale in an understandable format.
Under AS3745, all workplaces must have evacuation diagrams and signs. In Queensland, the Building Fire Safety Regulations require all short-term accommodation units, budget accommodation, and Class 2 to 9 buildings greater than 300 m2 to display evacuation diagrams. In NSW, the evacuation diagrams are also mandatory in any short-term rental accommodation under the NSW STRA
Evacuation diagrams must be displayed in prominent places where occupants and visitors can view them. Their placement in the building is determined by your Emergency Planning Committee, a fire safety professional or a building fire safety advisor can also determine the number of diagrams for you.
In Queensland, the Building Fire Safety Regulations require evacuation diagrams to be posted along evacuation routes, taking into account the number of exits.
For Early Learning Centres, including family day care residences and approved family day care venues, Evacuation Diagrams are required to be displayed in a prominent position near each exit - Regulation 97 (4) of the Education and Care Services National Regulations.
If you require assistance with this, speak with our team. We're more than happy to help.
In New South Wales (NSW), Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) properties or Airbnb are required to comply with NSW Fire Safety Standard 4.2, including the provision of evacuation diagrams.
How many diagrams do I need?
Property owners must provide compliant evacuation diagrams at the entrance and in every bedroom of the property.
If you require assistance with this, speak with our team. We're more than happy to help.
You can do this easily by standing directly in front of the Evacuation Diagram with the “You Are Here” pictorial matching your location. Use the surrounding structures to check your orientation. Look for the “You Are Here” marker, and check whether you can identify the rooms, walls, and doors illustrated on the diagram. The location where you are standing must match the diagram's exact orientation.e.g. if the diagram says the staff room is to your right, and the wash room is behind you, then you know you are standing at the correct location, and the Evacuation Diagram satisfies the orientation rule.
As soon as any modifications to the building's layout or firefighting equipment occur, you must update your evacuation diagrams to reflect the new layout and changes to your fire safety reference points. They should be reviewed and revised every 5 years, and the validity date updated. In Queensland, evacuation diagrams and evacuation plans are to be reviewed annually and documented.
Absolutely, remote delivery of evacuation diagrams is very common and effective. We have completed plenty of evacuations diagrams without requiring any site visits. Here’s how it typically works:
📝 How Remote Evacuation Diagram Services Work
- Information Gathering: You provide floor plans, site layouts, or sketches (digital or scanned), whichever is easier for you..
- Drafting: A first draft is created with exits, fire equipment, assembly points, and safe paths clearly marked.
- Review & Feedback: You review the draft, suggest adjustments, and we refine until it’s exactly right.
- Final Delivery: The approved diagrams are sent in print-ready and digital formats for installation and record-keeping.
🌟 Benefits of Remote Service
- No site visit required - saves time and cost.
- Fast turnaround - revisions can be done quickly via email or shared files.
- Collaborative process - you stay involved until the final design is perfect.
- Scalable - suitable for single sites or multiple facilities across regions.
This approach ensures you get compliant, professional evacuation diagrams without us needing to physically visit your location.
If you require assistance with this, speak with our team. We're more than happy to help.
Keep your workplace safe and compliant
Fire evacuation diagrams are about more than compliance; they help keep people safe when every second counts. With over 30 years of experience, Australian Fire Protection designs clear, compliant evacuation diagrams that help workplaces respond quickly and stay prepared during emergencies.
Speak with our team today to arrange your site assessment or discuss your evacuation signage requirements.
