Evacuation Diagrams for Apartments and Residential AU

Apartment buildings and residential towers are classified as Class 2 buildings under the National Construction Code. While individual apartments generally do not require evacuation diagrams inside the unit, the common areas of the building absolutely do. And if any units are used for short-term accommodation, in-unit diagrams become essential.

This guide covers who is responsible for what in residential buildings.

Common Area Diagram Requirements

The body corporate or owners corporation is responsible for evacuation diagrams in all common areas:

• Main lobby and entrance foyer
• Lift lobbies on every floor
• Fire stair landings on every floor
• Basement and above-ground car park pedestrian entry points
• Pool, gym, sauna, and recreation areas
• Mail room and parcel collection areas
• BBQ areas and rooftop terraces if enclosed or semi-enclosed
• Building manager office and maintenance areas

Do Individual Apartments Need Diagrams?

For owner-occupied and long-term rental apartments, there is generally no legal requirement for an evacuation diagram inside the unit. Residents are assumed to know their own apartment layout.

However, diagrams inside apartments are required or strongly recommended when:

• The unit is used for short-term accommodation (Airbnb, Stayz, Booking.com)
• The building fire safety management plan specifies in-unit diagrams
• The body corporate has adopted a policy requiring them
• The building is classified as Class 3 (serviced apartments) rather than Class 2 (residential)

Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Requirements

If apartments in your building are used for short-term letting, guests are in the same position as hotel guests: they do not know the building layout. Best practice:

• Display an evacuation diagram on the inside of the apartment entry door
• Show the floor plan of the level with the apartment location marked
• Show the nearest fire stair and alternative exit route
• Include the assembly area location
• Include 000 and building management contact numbers
• Some states and councils are moving toward making this a legal requirement for short-term rental properties

High-Rise Residential Buildings

Tall residential buildings (over 25 metres, approximately 8 stories) have additional requirements:

• Fire stairs may serve different floor ranges (not all stairs go to every floor)
• Diagrams must clearly show which stairs serve which floors
• Warden intercommunication points (WIP) must be shown if the building has them
• Fire control room or panel location must be shown on ground floor diagrams
• Refuge areas for people with disabilities must be identified
• Cladding-affected buildings may have modified evacuation procedures

Resident Communication

Unlike workplaces where regular drills occur, residential buildings rely more on passive communication:

• Clear, well-maintained diagrams in common areas are the primary safety communication
• Welcome packs for new residents should include fire safety information
• Annual reminders from the body corporate about emergency procedures
• Some buildings conduct voluntary evacuation familiarisation sessions
• Building managers should brief new residents on fire stair locations and assembly area

Get Residential Building Evacuation Diagrams

EvacPath creates evacuation diagrams for apartment buildings and residential complexes across Australia. We handle multi-floor buildings with different diagram requirements per level, including lift lobbies, fire stairs, car parks, and amenity areas.

Volume pricing available for buildings requiring 9 or more diagrams. Print-ready PDFs delivered in 3 to 5 business days. Pricing starts at A$70 per diagram.