If an auditor, insurer or building certifier has asked whether your premises has an evacuation diagram, you’re probably wondering how much of that is law and how much is just good practice. For evacuation diagram requirements in SA, the short answer is that it depends on your building and how it’s used, but the standard everyone works to is AS 3745.
At VD Safety Adelaide, we design evacuation diagrams and plans for businesses and properties across the city. This guide explains where the requirement comes from, what a compliant diagram includes and how often it needs updating.
What Is an Evacuation Diagram and Why Does It Matter?
An evacuation diagram is a simplified floor plan displayed on the wall that shows people where they are and how to get out. It marks the exits, evacuation routes, assembly area and the location of key emergency equipment such as extinguishers and alarm call points. Someone who has never been in your building before should be able to work out where to go in seconds.
The diagram is one part of a wider emergency plan. The diagram tells people where to go; the plan covers who does what, how the emergency is communicated and how people are trained.
Evacuation Diagram Requirements in SA: Are They Mandatory?
AS 3745, Planning for emergencies in facilities, is the Australian Standard that sets out what an evacuation diagram must contain and how it must be displayed. A standard isn’t legislation on its own, but it’s treated as the benchmark, and it’s what certifiers, insurers and auditors expect to see.
The legal duties sit elsewhere:
- Work health and safety: South Australia’s WHS Regulations require businesses to prepare an emergency plan for the workplace, including evacuation procedures. This is regulation 43 of the model regulations that South Australia has adopted.
- Building requirements: the building’s classification and any conditions on its approvals can require diagrams, particularly in multi-storey, commercial, health and aged care buildings.
- Contracts and insurance: leases and insurers often ask for compliant diagrams.
Because requirements vary, the best first step is to check your building’s classification and approval conditions. Your building certifier or the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service can also advise.
Evacuation Plans in Adelaide: When Diagrams Need Updating
A diagram is only useful if it matches the building as it stands today. Update it whenever the layout changes, exits are moved or blocked, tenancies change, or fire equipment is added or relocated.
Even without changes, many providers recommend reviewing diagrams about every five years, and the plan itself should be tested through evacuation exercises, commonly at least once a year. AS 3745 expects the commercial emergency plan to be reviewed and amended regularly, so check the current edition for the specifics that apply to you.
What Goes Into Evacuation Diagrams in Adelaide
AS 3745 sets out the minimum elements a diagram needs to include:
- A clear drawing of the floor or area
- The title, so it’s recognisable at a glance
- A ‘you are here’ marker, with the diagram oriented to match where the viewer is standing
- Exits and evacuation routes
- The assembly area
- The location of extinguishers, hose reels and alarm call points
- The date the diagram was prepared
Size, orientation, symbols and mounting position are also set by the standard, which is why a generic template often doesn’t pass an audit. If you’d like diagrams prepared for your building, we can arrange a site assessment and a free quote.
Fire Alarm Block Plans: How They Differ From Evacuation Diagrams
A fire alarm block plan is a different drawing with a different audience. It’s displayed at the fire indicator panel and shows the building layout and detection zones, so attending firefighters can quickly work out where an alarm has been triggered. If your building has a fire alarm system, you’ll usually have a block plan beside the panel. It doesn’t replace the evacuation diagrams that occupants see on the walls.
Whichever drawings apply to your building, keep copies of current diagrams, plan review dates and exercise records. Gaps usually surface during a fire safety audit, an insurance review or after a work health and safety notice. None of this is difficult to fix, but it’s far easier before someone asks.
Working out what your building needs is mostly a matter of checking its classification, comparing what’s on the wall to AS 3745 and fixing the gaps. After that, it’s keeping diagrams current as the building changes. If you’d like a hand with either step, get in touch with VD Safety Adelaide.