--- title: "Evacuation Diagrams for Laundromats and Dry Cleaners in Australia" description: "Laundromats and dry cleaning shops face fire risks from lint accumulation, chemical solvents, and high-heat equipment. Learn the AS 3745 evacuation diagram requirements for laundry businesses." canonical: https://evacpath.com/blog/evacuation-diagrams-for-laundromats-dry-cleaners source: https://evacpath.com/blog/evacuation-diagrams-for-laundromats-dry-cleaners --- # Evacuation Diagrams for Laundromats and Dry Cleaners in Australia > Laundromats and dry cleaning shops face fire risks from lint accumulation, chemical solvents, and high-heat equipment. Learn the AS 3745 evacuation diagram requirements for laundry businesses. _EvacPath Team · 2026-04-11 · 7 min read_ Laundromats and dry cleaning businesses are a fixture of Australian suburban retail strips and shopping centres. They appear low-risk at first glance, but the combination of high-heat equipment, lint accumulation, chemical solvents, gas connections, and continuous unattended operation creates a fire risk profile that is higher than most small retail tenancies. Under [AS 3745](https://evacpath.com/blog/evacuation-diagram-requirements-australia):2010, Planning for Emergencies in Facilities, every laundromat and dry cleaning business needs an Emergency Management Plan and compliant evacuation diagrams. This applies regardless of whether the premises is staffed or operates as a self-service coin laundry. If the public has access to the building, evacuation diagrams are required. ## Fire Risks Specific to Laundry Businesses Lint is the single biggest fire hazard in any laundry operation. Dryer lint is highly flammable and accumulates in duct systems, filters, and behind machines over time. A blocked lint filter or a failing dryer heating element is the most common ignition source in laundry fires. The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that dryers and washing machines cause an estimated 15,000 fires per year globally, and Australian statistics show a similar pattern. Gas-fired commercial dryers, common in both laundromats and dry cleaners, introduce an additional ignition risk. A gas leak combined with lint accumulation can cause a rapid fire that spreads through the duct system to the building's roof space. The evacuation diagram should show the location of gas isolation valves so that staff (or the fire brigade on arrival) can shut off gas supply. Dry cleaning operations use chemical solvents for the cleaning process. While modern dry cleaning has largely moved away from perchloroethylene (perc) towards hydrocarbon or silicone-based solvents, hydrocarbon solvents are flammable. The storage, handling, and use of these solvents must be addressed in the Emergency Management Plan, and the diagram should identify the location of solvent storage and the dry cleaning machine. - Lint accumulation in dryers and ducts is the primary fire hazard - Gas-fired dryers require gas isolation valves shown on the diagram - Dry cleaning solvents (hydrocarbon-based) are flammable and must be stored correctly - Electrical faults in older commercial washers and dryers are a secondary ignition risk - Hot water systems and steam generators create scald and burn hazards ## Self-Service Laundromats: The Unattended Problem Many laundromats operate as self-service facilities, sometimes 24 hours a day, with no staff present on site. This creates a significant emergency management challenge. If a fire starts in a dryer at 2am, who activates the alarm? Who directs customers to the exit? Who calls 000? Even when unattended, the laundromat must have compliant evacuation diagrams posted at the required locations. The diagrams must be clear enough for a customer who has never visited the premises before to understand the exit route without any staff assistance. The assembly area must be clearly indicated, and emergency contact numbers (including 000 and the building owner or manager's after-hours contact) must appear on the diagram. For self-service laundromats, the evacuation diagram is essentially the only emergency communication tool available to occupants. There is no warden to direct people, no PA system, and no trained staff. The diagram must compensate for all of these missing elements by being exceptionally clear and prominently placed. ## Layout and Egress Considerations Most laundromats and dry cleaners are small tenancies in a retail strip or shopping centre, typically with a single shopfront entrance. This single-exit configuration means that if a fire blocks the front entrance, there may be no alternative escape route. The evacuation diagram must show all available exits, including any rear door, fire exit, or access through an adjoining tenancy. If the premises genuinely has only one exit, this must be clearly shown on the diagram, and the Emergency Management Plan should address the increased risk. The building owner or landlord should be engaged to determine whether a second means of egress can be provided, particularly for premises where the fire risk is elevated due to gas-fired equipment and lint hazards. The back-of-house area in a dry cleaning shop, where pressing, steaming, and solvent handling occur, typically has the highest fire risk. The diagram should show the egress route from this area to the nearest exit and should ensure that the route does not require passing through a storage area where combustible materials are stacked. ## Equipment Maintenance and Emergency Shutdowns Commercial laundry equipment has a long operational life, and many laundromats operate machines that are 10 to 20 years old. Older equipment may not have the same safety interlocks and automatic shutoff features as modern machines. The Emergency Management Plan should address how all equipment can be safely shut down in an emergency, and the diagram should indicate the location of the main electrical switchboard and gas isolation valves. Dryer duct cleaning is a critical maintenance task that directly affects fire safety. Lint buildup in the ductwork between the dryer and the external vent can reach a point where it restricts airflow, causing the dryer to overheat and potentially ignite the accumulated lint. While this is a maintenance issue rather than a diagram requirement, the Emergency Management Plan should reference the duct cleaning schedule, and staff should understand the fire risk associated with neglected ductwork. For dry cleaning operations, the solvent recovery system in the dry cleaning machine must be maintained to prevent solvent leaks. A solvent leak in a poorly ventilated area can create a flammable or toxic atmosphere. The evacuation diagram should show the location of ventilation controls and any emergency ventilation systems in the dry cleaning area. ## Shopping Centre and Strata Considerations Laundromats located within shopping centres or strata-titled commercial buildings must comply with both the centre's overarching Emergency Management Plan and their own tenancy requirements. The tenancy-specific evacuation diagram should show the internal layout of the laundromat and the route to the nearest centre exit. In a shopping centre, the laundromat tenant is typically required to participate in the centre's emergency exercises and ensure that staff (if present) are trained in the centre's emergency procedures. The centre management should provide the tenant with information about the nearest fire stairs, assembly areas, and the location of the fire indicator panel (FIP). For self-service laundromats in a shopping centre, the centre's wardens and emergency systems provide a layer of protection that standalone laundromats lack. However, the tenancy-specific diagram is still required and must accurately reflect the laundromat's internal layout. ## Get Evacuation Diagrams for Your Laundromat or Dry Cleaner EvacPath creates AS 3745-compliant evacuation diagrams for laundromats, dry cleaners, and commercial laundry facilities across Australia. We understand the specific fire risks and layout constraints of laundry businesses. Send us your floor plan and we will deliver print-ready PDFs in 3 to 5 business days. [No site visit](https://evacpath.com/how-it-works) required. Pricing starts at A$70 per diagram. Basic Package A$280 for up to 4 diagrams, Standard Package A$420 for up to 8 diagrams.