Evacuation diagrams can remain displayed for years without anyone checking whether they still match the building.
During that time, walls may have been moved, rooms renovated, tenancies reconfigured or fire equipment relocated. New machinery, shelving or internal structures may also affect access to exits or the evacuation routes shown.
The diagram may still look professional—but would it provide accurate information during an emergency? And what issues could be identified during a fire safety audit or inspection?
This practical checklist will help you assess whether your evacuation diagrams are current, accurate and ready for review.
What may be checked during a fire safety audit?
The exact scope of a fire safety audit or inspection will depend on the building, its location and the person conducting the assessment.
When evacuation diagrams are reviewed, some of the main considerations may include whether:
- The floor plan matches the current building layout
- The “You Are Here” marker is correct
- The diagram is properly oriented for its installed position
- Exits and evacuation routes are accurately shown
- Fire and emergency equipment is correctly identified
- The nominated assembly area is current
- Emergency procedures are clear and readable
- The diagram displays the appropriate issue and validity information
- The diagram is legible, undamaged and suitably positioned
An evacuation diagram should not be treated as a permanent sign that can be installed and forgotten. It needs to remain consistent with the building and its emergency arrangements.
Does the diagram match the current building layout?
One of the first things to check is whether the floor plan still represents the building as it exists today.
Changes that may affect an evacuation diagram include:
- New or removed internal walls
- Doors that have been added, relocated or permanently closed
- Office or tenancy reconfigurations
- Refurbished reception areas
- Altered corridors or access paths
- New storage rooms or enclosed work areas
- Extensions or additions to the building
- Changes to stairs or final exits
Even relatively small renovations can make an existing diagram inaccurate.
For example, a new partition wall may change how someone reaches an exit. A doorway shown on the diagram may no longer exist, or a newly created room may not be represented at all.
If occupants cannot confidently relate the diagram to the space around them, it may not provide effective guidance during an emergency.
Have machinery, shelving or work areas changed?
Moving a piece of machinery does not automatically mean that every evacuation diagram needs to be replaced.
However, the change becomes relevant if machinery, racking, shelving or other equipment:
- Obstructs or alters an evacuation route
- Restricts access to an exit
- Blocks access to fire equipment
- Creates a new hazard
- Changes the practical use of the floor area
- Makes the existing diagram difficult to follow
This is particularly important in warehouses, workshops, manufacturing facilities and storage areas where layouts may change more frequently than the building’s permanent structure.
The evacuation route shown on a diagram should reflect a path that occupants can actually use. A route that now passes through storage, fixed machinery or an inaccessible area needs to be reviewed.
Has fire or emergency equipment moved?
Fire and emergency equipment may be relocated, replaced or added during building works, fire-system upgrades or changes in occupancy.
Equipment shown on an evacuation diagram may include:
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Fire hose reels
- Fire hydrants
- Manual fire alarm call points
- Fire blankets
- Fire indicator panels
- First-aid equipment
- Automated external defibrillators
- Other relevant emergency equipment
If an extinguisher has been moved to another wall or a new hose reel has been installed, the diagrams showing that area may need to be updated.
Existing diagrams should also be checked for equipment that has been removed but is still shown.
A symbol in the wrong position may direct someone away from the equipment they are trying to locate. Equipment locations should therefore be confirmed rather than copied from an outdated plan or assumed to be correct.
Are the exits and evacuation routes still accurate?
Evacuation routes should guide occupants from the diagram’s location towards an appropriate exit.
Check whether the routes shown are still suitable following any changes to:
- Internal walls and corridors
- Doorways
- Tenancy boundaries
- Fire-isolated stairs
- Security-controlled areas
- External pathways
- Gates or final exits
- Operational or storage areas
An exit may still physically exist but no longer be accessible from the route displayed on the diagram.
The primary route should be easy to identify, and an alternative route may also be shown where applicable to the building’s emergency arrangements.
Routes should not be updated based solely on what looks shortest on a floor plan. They need to reflect the actual building, designated exits and site emergency procedures.
Is each “You Are Here” marker correct?
Every evacuation diagram should identify the viewer’s position within the building.
The “You Are Here” marker must correspond with the diagram’s actual installation location. A diagram moved from one wall to another may no longer show the correct position, even if the underlying floor plan has not changed.
Common problems include:
- One diagram being copied and installed in several locations
- A diagram being relocated without being revised
- The marker being placed in the wrong room or corridor
- Multiple diagrams showing the same “You Are Here” position
- The marker being difficult to see
An incorrect position marker can cause the viewer to misunderstand where they are before they even begin following the evacuation route.
Is the diagram correctly oriented?
Correct orientation helps a person connect the diagram with the building around them.
The top of the displayed floor plan should generally correspond with what is in front of the viewer. This means that two diagrams using the same floor plan may need to be rotated differently for their separate installation locations.
Simply placing north at the top of every diagram may make the plan harder to interpret.
Orientation problems commonly occur when:
- A single diagram version is reused throughout a floor
- A diagram is moved to another wall
- Renovations change the surrounding layout
- The original installation position was not confirmed
- A plan is prepared without considering the viewer’s direction
A diagram can contain the correct exits, equipment and routes but still be confusing if it faces the wrong way.
Is the assembly area still suitable and correctly shown?
The emergency assembly area should be confirmed as part of the site’s emergency planning arrangements.
Check whether:
- The nominated location is still in use
- The diagram clearly identifies where it is
- Occupants can safely reach it
- The route does not conflict with emergency-service access
- The area has been affected by construction or site changes
- A separate site map is needed to show its location clearly
Assembly areas should not be added to a diagram based on guesswork. The location should be confirmed by the building owner, manager or the person responsible for the facility’s emergency plan.
Safe Work Australia explains that a workplace emergency plan may include a map showing fire-protection equipment, emergency exits and assembly points. The plan should be tailored to the workplace’s hazards, size, location and occupancy. Further information is available from Safe Work Australia.
Are the issue and validity dates current?
Evacuation diagrams prepared with reference to AS 3745 should identify their date of issue and nominated validity period.
The nominated validity period should not exceed five years. However, this does not mean a diagram can remain unchanged for five years if it becomes inaccurate sooner.
A diagram may require earlier review following:
- Renovations or building works
- Changes to the floor layout
- Relocated exits
- Changes to evacuation routes
- New, removed or relocated fire equipment
- A change to the assembly area
- A change in the use of the facility
- Relocation of the diagram itself
The five-year validity period is a maximum timeframe—not a substitute for keeping the information accurate.
For more detail, read our guide explaining how often evacuation diagrams need to be updated.
Are the diagrams clearly displayed and easy to read?
Accurate information will be of limited value if the diagram is difficult to locate or read.
Inspect each physical diagram and check for:
- Faded printing
- Water or sunlight damage
- Cracked or damaged covers
- Small or unreadable text
- Low-quality printing
- Furniture, doors or notices obstructing the diagram
- An unsuitable mounting position
- Diagrams installed in areas occupants are unlikely to see
The layout should remain clear and uncluttered, with recognisable symbols and enough detail for occupants to understand their location and available evacuation routes.
You can also use our guide to check what should be included on an evacuation diagram.
Quick evacuation diagram audit checklist
Walk through the building and check each installed diagram individually.
Ask:
- Does the floor plan match the current layout?
- Is the diagram installed in its nominated location?
- Is the “You Are Here” marker correct?
- Is the diagram facing the correct orientation?
- Are exits accurately shown?
- Are evacuation routes still clear and usable?
- Is fire and emergency equipment correctly positioned?
- Is the assembly area current?
- Are the issue and validity dates shown?
- Is the diagram still within its nominated validity period?
- Is it legible, undamaged and clearly displayed?
- Have renovations or operational changes occurred since it was prepared?
If you answer “no” or “not sure” to any of these questions, the diagram should be reviewed more closely.
Would your diagrams work in a real emergency?
Passing an audit is important, but it should not be the only reason to review evacuation diagrams.
The more important question is whether an occupant—possibly unfamiliar with the building—could use the diagram to understand:
- Where they are
- Where the nearest suitable exits are
- Which direction they should travel
- Where relevant fire and emergency equipment is located
- Where to assemble after leaving the building
An emergency is the wrong time to discover that a wall has moved, an exit route has changed or the “You Are Here” marker is incorrect.
Not sure whether your evacuation diagrams are current?
EvacNow prepares and updates site-specific evacuation diagrams for workplaces, commercial buildings, accommodation properties and other facilities throughout Australia.
You can send us:
- Photos of your existing evacuation diagrams
- Current floor plans
- Fire-service drawings
- Renovation or fit-out plans
- Marked-up equipment locations
- Photos of recent building changes
We can review the available information, identify what else is required and provide a fixed-price quotation.
For Brisbane sites, an on-site assessment can also be arranged when current plans or accurate site information are unavailable.
