Evacuation Diagrams for Laboratories in Australia

Laboratories present some of the most complex evacuation scenarios in any workplace. Chemical spills, biological hazards, radioactive materials, gas leaks, and electrical equipment fires all require specific responses. Evacuation diagrams for laboratories must go beyond standard floor plans to show specialised safety equipment and hazard zones.

This guide covers evacuation diagram requirements for Australian laboratories.

Types of Laboratories

These requirements apply to:

• University and research institution laboratories
• Pathology and medical testing laboratories
• Industrial quality control and testing laboratories
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories
• Environmental testing laboratories
• Food science and agricultural laboratories
• Forensic laboratories

Laboratory-Specific Diagram Elements

In addition to standard AS 3745 requirements, laboratory diagrams should show:

• Emergency shower and eye wash station locations (critical for chemical splash response)
• Spill kit locations and types (chemical, biological, mercury)
• Fume cupboard and biosafety cabinet locations
• Gas cylinder storage areas and isolation valve locations
• Radioactive materials storage (if applicable)
• Biological safety level areas (PC2, PC3, PC4 containment zones)
• Chemical storage cabinets by class (flammable, corrosive, oxidising)
• Emergency gas shutoff points
• Fire blanket locations
• Decontamination areas

Biosafety Containment Areas

Laboratories with physical containment levels (PC2 and above) have specific evacuation considerations:

• PC2 and PC3 labs may have airlocks or anteroom entries that affect exit flow
• Biological waste autoclaves must be shown on diagrams
• Decontamination procedures may need to occur before evacuating certain areas
• Diagrams should indicate areas where PPE must be worn or removed during evacuation
• The emergency plan should specify when to evacuate immediately vs when to secure biological materials first

Chemical Emergency Response

Chemical incidents are the most common laboratory emergency. Diagrams should support the response by clearly showing:

• The nearest emergency shower from every point in the lab (within 10 seconds of travel time per AS 4775)
• Eye wash stations (within 10 seconds, or 16 metres, of any chemical handling area)
• Spill kit locations appropriate to the chemicals in use
• Ventilation controls and fume cupboard locations
• Chemical waste collection points
• Exit routes that lead away from chemical storage areas

University and Multi-User Laboratories

University labs have additional complexity because users rotate frequently:

• Undergraduate students may be using the lab for the first time
• Visiting researchers may not know the building
• Labs are often shared between multiple research groups with different hazard profiles
• Diagrams must be clear enough for someone unfamiliar with the space
• Lab induction processes should include evacuation diagram review

Get Laboratory Evacuation Diagrams

EvacPath creates evacuation diagrams for laboratories across Australia. We understand the specific requirements for chemical, biological, and radiological hazard areas, and we can incorporate specialised safety equipment locations into your diagrams.

Send us your lab floor plan and we will deliver AS 3745-compliant, print-ready PDFs in 3 to 5 business days. Pricing starts at A$70 per diagram.