Evacuation Diagrams Requirements
AS 3745 and Victorian Obligations
An evacuation diagram needs to do more than show a building’s exits. Its information, orientation, size and display location must work together so occupants can understand the drawing from where they are standing.
AS 3745–2010 — Planning for emergencies in facilities, incorporating Amendments 1 and 2, sets out technical provisions for evacuation diagrams. The legal obligations applying to a property also depend on its location, use, building approvals and any industry-specific requirements.
This guide explains the main provisions and how they relate to buildings in Victoria.
Is AS 3745 a Legal Requirement?
An Australian Standard is not automatically legislation. Its requirements may become binding through legislation, approval conditions or other enforceable arrangements. Standards can also provide an important technical reference when assessing appropriate safety measures.
For a particular property, it is important to consider both:
The technical provisions used to prepare its evacuation diagrams.
The legal and approval requirements applying to the building and its operation.
A statement that every building must display evacuation diagrams simply because AS 3745 exists is too broad.
Within the Standard, “shall” identifies a requirement, while “should” identifies a recommendation. That distinction matters when describing matters such as mounting position and validity periods.
What Must an Evacuation Diagram Include?
Clause 3.5.5 of AS 3745 identifies the minimum elements. Some apply to every diagram; others depend on the equipment or features present at the facility.
Building and Location Information
The diagram needs a pictorial representation of the relevant floor or area, an evacuation diagram title and a clearly identified “You Are Here” position.
It also needs facility-location information, including the address, postcode, access streets, nearest cross street and facility name where available. Location details may be provided through text or a drawing.
Exits, Routes and Assembly Areas
Designated exits and paths of travel are shown in green.
Assembly-area locations must also be identified, either through words or a pictorial representation. Where a separate assembly-area drawing is included, its orientation must agree with the main diagram.
Emergency Equipment and Features
Relevant installed equipment and features must be identified, including:
Fire extinguishers, hose reels and fire blankets.
A fire indicator panel, where provided.
Warden intercommunication points.
Manual and emergency call points.
Main controls or panels for occupant-warning equipment.
Refuges, where present.
The Standard specifies colours for particular symbols. Accurate equipment locations and appropriate symbols are therefore important parts of preparing the drawing.
Legend and Validity Date
The diagram must include a legend matching the symbols actually used and a validity date.
A generic legend containing unrelated symbols can make a drawing harder to interpret. The information should correspond with the area and equipment shown.
What Additional Information Can Be Included?
Clause 3.5.6 allows the Emergency Planning Committee, or EPC, to consider additional information appropriate to the facility.
Examples include:
First-aid equipment and automated external defibrillators.
Fire hydrants and fire or smoke doors.
Hazardous-chemical storage and spill kits.
Electrical switchboards and solar-power isolation points.
Specialised evacuation devices.
Door-opening directions and a north indicator.
Emergency telephone numbers and response instructions.
Any emergency procedures included must agree with the facility’s documented emergency arrangements.
Additional information also affects the minimum diagram size.
What Size Must an Evacuation Diagram Be?
Clause 3.5.7 distinguishes between diagrams containing only minimum elements and those containing additional optional information.
Diagram contentMinimum overall sizeMinimum floor-plan representationMinimum elements onlyA4: 210 × 297 mm200 × 150 mm, or an area of 30,000 mm²Minimum and optional elementsA3: 297 × 420 mm300 × 200 mm, or an area of 60,000 mm²
The paper size and floor-plan area are separate considerations. Printing on an A3 sheet does not resolve the requirement if the building drawing itself is too small.
Larger formats may be appropriate where the layout or amount of information requires more space for clear presentation.
Where Should Evacuation Diagrams Be Displayed?
Under clause 3.5.2, diagrams must be displayed where occupants and visitors can view them. The EPC determines their number and locations within the facility.
The appropriate arrangement depends on the building. Relevant considerations include its entrances, circulation areas, floors, occupancy and the visibility of proposed display positions.
There is no single diagram quantity that suits every property.
The Standard also cautions against attaching diagrams to fire doors, smoke doors or other fire-resistant construction without appropriate testing or a formal technical opinion.
What Is the Recommended Mounting Height?
Clause 3.5.3 recommends positioning diagrams within a viewing zone defined by a lower-edge height of 1,200 mm and an upper-edge height of 1,600 mm above the finished floor.
This provision uses “should”. It should not be rewritten as a universal legal requirement that the top of every diagram must sit anywhere between 1,200 and 1,600 mm.
Installation should also consider the diagram’s dimensions, visibility and any additional requirements applying to the facility.
Why Must Each Diagram Be Correctly Oriented?
Clause 3.5.4 requires the diagram’s orientation to correspond with its display location, “You Are Here” point and direction of egress.
Two diagrams showing the same floor may therefore need different orientations when installed on different walls.
Moving a diagram can also affect its accuracy, even if the building layout has not changed. Its location marker and orientation need to be checked against the new position.
For larger facilities, the Standard recommends dividing extensive floor areas into smaller representations, with no more than two exits shown in each representation. This is a recommendation about presenting information clearly, rather than limiting the number of exits a building may have.
How Often Should Diagrams Be Reviewed?
AS 3745 assigns the EPC responsibility for nominating validity periods for the emergency plan and evacuation diagram. Its accompanying guidance recommends periods no longer than five years, with shorter periods where changes, maintenance arrangements or accreditation requirements warrant them.
Five years is not a reason to leave an inaccurate diagram in place.
An earlier review may be needed following:
Renovations or changes to tenancy layouts.
Changes to exits, routes or assembly areas.
Relocation of emergency equipment.
Changes to emergency procedures.
Relocation of the displayed diagram.
Damage, fading or loss of readability.
A review should establish whether the existing information remains suitable and what amendments are needed. It should involve more than changing the printed date.
Which Victorian Laws and Requirements Are Relevant?
Workplace Health and Safety
Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and its own regulations. It has not adopted the model WHS laws used in other Australian jurisdictions. References to regulation 43 of the model WHS Regulations should therefore not be presented as Victorian law.
The Victorian Act includes employer duties to provide a working environment that is safe and without health risks, so far as reasonably practicable, and to protect other people from risks arising from the undertaking. These are broader safety duties, rather than a prescribed evacuation-diagram checklist.
Building Approvals and Essential Safety Measures
The Building Act 1993 and Building Regulations 2018 form part of Victoria’s building-safety framework. Part 15 and Schedule 8 of the Regulations address Essential Safety Measures.
The property’s occupancy permit, maintenance determination and other relevant approval documents should be checked to establish the measures and maintenance arrangements applying to that building. Broad references to the NCC or ESM obligations do not, by themselves, establish identical diagram requirements for every property.
Childcare and Education Facilities
For services covered by the Education and Care Services National Regulations, regulation 97 specifically addresses emergency and evacuation procedures, including floor plans and instructions displayed prominently near exits.
Schools also have sector-specific emergency management requirements. These should be checked alongside the diagram provisions relevant to the site.
Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare projects should also consider AS 4083–2010 — Planning for emergencies—Health care facilities, together with facility procedures and applicable regulatory or accreditation requirements.
Patient assistance, clinical operations and staged evacuation arrangements require coordination with the healthcare facility’s emergency planning team.
Preparing Diagrams for Your Property
Accurate diagrams start with reliable building information and confirmed emergency arrangements. Existing floor plans can provide a useful starting point, but changes to the property and equipment locations need to be checked.
COAD88 EVAC PLAN prepares evacuation diagrams and provides reviews and updates for existing facilities. On-site services are available across Melbourne and much of Victoria, with remote drafting available Australia-wide using suitable current plans and confirmed site information.
