Evacuation Diagrams for Self-Storage Facilities in Australia

Self-storage is a fast-growing industry in Australia, with facilities now found in suburban industrial estates, converted warehouses, and purpose-built multi-storey buildings in metro areas. These facilities present a unique set of emergency planning challenges: the operator does not know what tenants are storing, corridors are long and poorly lit, individual units have roller doors that obstruct egress when open, and the premises may be unattended for long periods.

Under AS 3745:2010, Planning for Emergencies in Facilities, every self-storage facility must have an Emergency Management Plan and compliant evacuation diagrams. This applies to the facility as a whole, not to individual storage units. The facility operator is responsible for ensuring that diagrams are posted at key decision points throughout the building and that the Emergency Management Plan addresses the specific risks of a storage environment.

Unknown Contents and Hidden Hazards

The most significant risk in a self-storage facility is that the operator does not control, and often does not know, what is stored inside each unit. While rental agreements typically prohibit hazardous materials, flammable liquids, explosives, and perishable goods, enforcement is difficult. In practice, tenants store all sorts of items: paint, solvents, gas cylinders, batteries, oily rags, and improperly packed chemicals.

A fire in a self-storage unit can involve unknown materials, producing toxic smoke, explosive reactions, or rapid spread that is impossible to predict. The evacuation diagram cannot identify specific hazards in individual units, but it should show the location of fire hydrants, hose reels, and extinguishers, as well as the nearest exits from every corridor in the facility.

Some modern self-storage facilities have implemented heat detection or sprinkler systems in individual corridors. If the facility has these systems, the evacuation diagram should indicate their presence. A sprinkler activation point or heat detector location can be useful information for responding fire crews.

Corridor Layout and Wayfinding

Self-storage facilities are characterised by long, repetitive corridors with identical roller doors on both sides. For a tenant who visits their unit occasionally, it can be disorienting, especially in an emergency when visibility is reduced by smoke. Many internal corridors have no natural light, and if the power fails, the only illumination comes from emergency lighting (if installed).

Evacuation diagrams should be posted at every corridor intersection and at the entrance to each floor or zone. The "You Are Here" indicator is critical in a self-storage facility because every corridor looks the same. Without a clear indication of the tenant's current position relative to the nearest exit, the diagram is effectively useless.

The diagrams should show the entire floor layout, not just the immediate corridor, so that a tenant can orient themselves within the building. Colour coding or zone labelling (Zone A, Zone B) can help, especially in large facilities with dozens of corridors. The zone system should match the physical signage installed in the facility.

• Post diagrams at every corridor intersection, not just at the building entrance
• The "You Are Here" indicator is essential in repetitive corridor environments
• Emergency lighting must be shown on the diagram; corridors may have no natural light
• Zone labelling on diagrams should match the physical signage in the facility
• Exit signs must be visible from every point in every corridor

Multi-Storey and Drive-Up Configurations

Self-storage facilities come in two main configurations: single-level drive-up (where tenants drive to their unit) and multi-storey (where tenants use lifts and corridors). Each presents different evacuation challenges.

In a drive-up facility, tenants are typically in their vehicles or standing at their unit's roller door. Evacuation is relatively straightforward because exits are open and visible. However, vehicles moving in the driveway during an evacuation create a collision risk, and the evacuation diagram should show designated pedestrian paths separate from vehicle routes.

Multi-storey facilities require more detailed evacuation diagrams. Each floor needs its own diagram showing the fire stairs, lift locations (with a clear notation that lifts must not be used during a fire), and the route to the nearest fire stair from every corridor. If the facility has a goods lift used for moving large items, this should be shown on the diagram with the same "do not use in fire" notation as passenger lifts.

Unattended Premises and Remote Monitoring

Many self-storage facilities are unattended outside business hours. Tenants access the facility using a PIN code, swipe card, or digital key. This means that during a fire or other emergency, there may be no staff on site to coordinate the evacuation.

The evacuation diagram becomes the primary source of emergency information for a tenant who is alone in the facility. It must be clear, well-lit, and positioned where the tenant will see it. The diagram should include the emergency services number (000), the address of the facility (for reporting purposes), and the location of the nearest exit.

Facilities with remote monitoring (CCTV, alarm systems linked to a monitoring centre) should include this information in the Emergency Management Plan. The monitoring centre should be able to trigger a building-wide alarm if a fire is detected, even if no one on site has activated a manual call point. The diagram should show the location of manual call points so that a tenant who discovers a fire can raise the alarm.

Insurance and Compliance Considerations

Self-storage facility operators carry significant public liability exposure. A fire that destroys tenants' stored goods can result in substantial claims. Insurers increasingly require evidence of emergency planning compliance as a condition of coverage. Current, AS 3745-compliant evacuation diagrams are part of this evidence.

Local councils and fire authorities may also inspect self-storage facilities as part of routine compliance audits or in response to complaints. A facility that lacks current evacuation diagrams may receive an improvement notice, a prohibition notice (in serious cases), or a fine. In some jurisdictions, repeated non-compliance can result in prosecution under WHS legislation.

Keeping evacuation diagrams current is particularly important for self-storage facilities because the layout can change over time. Adding or removing partition walls, converting units, installing new doors or security features, and changing the direction of one-way traffic flow all require diagram updates.

Get Evacuation Diagrams for Your Self-Storage Facility

EvacPath creates AS 3745-compliant evacuation diagrams for self-storage facilities, mini-warehouses, and container storage yards across Australia. We understand the repetitive corridor layouts, multi-storey configurations, and unattended premises challenges that are typical in the storage industry.

Send us your floor plan and we will deliver print-ready PDFs in 3 to 5 business days. No site visit 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.