Evacuation Diagram Requirements: AS 3745 Australia Guide

Almost every workplace in Australia needs an emergency plan, and evacuation diagrams are the part of it people actually see, whether the building is an office, a warehouse, a school, a shop or a hospitality venue. The legal duties come from the work health and safety laws (regulation 43 of the model WHS Regulations; Victoria has its own OHS laws) and, in some states, fire safety laws. Australian Standard AS 3745:2010 (Planning for Emergencies in Facilities) is a voluntary standard that carries legal force only where a law picks it up, but it is the national benchmark for what a diagram should contain, how big it should be, and where it should go.

This guide covers everything you need to know.

Who Needs Evacuation Diagrams?

If your building has occupants, staff, or visitors, you almost certainly need evacuation diagrams. This includes:

• Office buildings and co-working spaces
• Retail shops and shopping centres
• Warehouses and industrial facilities
• Schools, childcare centres, and universities
• Hotels, motels, and short-term accommodation (including Airbnb)
• Medical clinics and aged care facilities
• Restaurants, cafes, and pubs
• Churches, community halls, and event venues

What Must an Evacuation Diagram Include?

AS 3745:2010 sets minimum (mandatory) elements in clause 3.5.5 and optional elements in clause 3.5.6, which the Emergency Planning Committee chooses from.

Mandatory elements:

• A floor plan showing the area or floor layout
• "You Are Here" indicator showing the diagram's installed location
• All designated exit routes and exit doors
• Paths of travel to the exits, shown in green (mandatory since Amendment 2 in 2018)
• Location of fire exits and exit signs
• Location of first-attack firefighting equipment (extinguishers, hose reels, fire blankets)
• Manual call points (fire alarm break glass) and emergency call points
• Fire indicator panel location
• Communications equipment, such as warden intercommunication points (WIP) where installed
• Assembly area location
• The building name and full street address
• Validity date (the date the diagram is valid to)
• A legend for every symbol used

Optional elements (recommended):

• Emergency telephone numbers (000, building management, fire warden)
• Fire control room location
• Fire hydrant and booster locations
• First aid kit locations
• Defibrillator (AED) locations
• Disabled refuge areas
• Fire and smoke doors

Size Requirements

With the mandatory elements only, the minimum diagram size is A4 (210mm x 297mm). The floor plan graphic must be at least 200mm x 150mm (30,000 mm²).

If optional elements are included, the minimum size increases to A3 (297mm x 420mm) with a floor plan area of at least 300mm x 200mm (60,000 mm²). Emergency telephone numbers count as optional, so a diagram that shows 000 needs to be at least A3.

Placement Rules

AS 3745 leaves the number and location of diagrams to the Emergency Planning Committee, as long as occupants and visitors can see them (clause 3.5.2). In practice, diagrams are:

• Mounted with the bottom edge at least 1,200mm above the floor or the top edge no more than 1,600mm above it (clause 3.5.3)
• Displayed at main entrances and exits
• Placed at fire stairs and smoke doors
• Installed at hotel room and short-stay unit entries (in Queensland the unit sign may sit on the inside of the entrance door if attached without compromising a fire door)
• Visible and not obstructed by furniture or signage
• Not fixed to fire doors in a way that compromises the door; the adjacent wall is the default position

The diagram must be oriented so that "up" on the diagram matches the direction you would walk forward from where you are standing. The "You Are Here" marker must be accurate to the installed location.

How Often Must Diagrams Be Updated?

AS 3745 does not specify a fixed review period, but best practice is to review and update evacuation diagrams:

• After any building renovation or layout change
• After changes to fire equipment locations
• After changes to exit routes or assembly areas
• At least every 5 years as a general rule
• Whenever the Emergency Planning Committee reviews the emergency plan

Outdated diagrams are a compliance risk. If your building layout has changed since the diagrams were created, they should be replaced.

What Happens If You Do Not Comply?

Where your state's law requires diagrams, or your emergency plan relies on them, missing or outdated diagrams can result in:

• Notices or fines from the fire authority, the council or the WHS regulator
• Failed building inspections
• Insurance complications after an incident
• Liability exposure if someone is injured during an evacuation
• Lease or tenancy issues (landlords may require compliance)

The specific penalties vary by state and territory, and so do the rules, so check the guide for your state or territory.

How Much Do Evacuation Diagrams Cost?

Pricing varies depending on the provider, building complexity, and whether a site visit is required.

Typical market rates in Australia:

• Single diagram: A$100 to A$175
• Small building (4 diagrams): A$400 to A$700
• Medium building (8 diagrams): A$800 to A$1,400

At EvacPath, we offer transparent fixed pricing with no hidden fees:

• Basic Package: A$280 for up to 4 diagrams (A$70 each)
• Standard Package: A$420 for up to 8 diagrams (A$52.50 each)
• Custom: Quote for 9+ diagrams or multi-floor buildings

All work is done remotely from your floor plans. No site visit fees. 3 to 5 business day turnaround.

How to Order Compliant Evacuation Diagrams

Getting started is straightforward:

• Send us your floor plan (PDF, image, or even a hand-drawn sketch)
• Mark the location of fire equipment and exits on the plan
• We create AS 3745-compliant diagrams and send them for your review
• You receive print-ready PDF files

No site visit required, and we work with clients across all of Australia. When you are ready, start your order and we send a first draft for your approval before you pay.