Evacuation Diagrams for Warehouses: Australian Compliance Guide

Warehouses present unique evacuation challenges that standard office diagrams do not address. High racking, forklift traffic, limited visibility, hazardous materials storage, and large open floor plans all affect how evacuation routes are planned and displayed.

Australian Standard AS 3745:2010 applies to all facilities, including warehouses and distribution centres. This guide covers what warehouse operators need to know about evacuation diagram compliance.

Why Warehouses Need Specialised Evacuation Diagrams

A warehouse is not a simple open room. The layout changes as stock moves, racking creates narrow corridors, and workers may be operating heavy machinery. Standard diagrams designed for office buildings do not account for these conditions.

Key warehouse-specific factors:

• Racking systems create corridors that can block or channel evacuation flow
• Forklift and vehicle traffic zones need to be marked on diagrams
• Loading docks may serve as both work areas and emergency exits
• Hazardous goods storage areas require specific evacuation procedures
• Mezzanine levels need their own diagrams with stairway locations
• High noise levels mean workers may not hear verbal alarms

What Must Be Shown on a Warehouse Evacuation Diagram

All standard AS 3745 requirements apply, plus warehouse-specific elements:

• Floor plan showing racking layout and aisle widths
• All exit routes clearly marked through racking corridors
• Loading dock exits identified as emergency exits where applicable
• Hazardous materials storage zones and exclusion areas
• Forklift traffic zones and pedestrian separation areas
• Fire hose reels, extinguishers, and hydrant locations
• Manual call points and alarm panel location
• Assembly area (typically in the car park or loading yard)
• Mezzanine levels shown with stair access points
• Emergency lighting locations for power failure scenarios

Placement in a Warehouse

Diagram placement in warehouses needs more thought than in an office. Workers move through large spaces and may not pass a single fixed point regularly.

Recommended placement locations:

• At every personnel entry door and loading dock entrance
• At the base of mezzanine staircases
• In break rooms, lunchrooms, and office areas within the warehouse
• Near hazardous goods storage entrances
• At driver check-in points for visiting trucks
• On warehouse columns at major aisle intersections

Hazardous Goods Considerations

If your warehouse stores dangerous goods under the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, your evacuation diagrams must reflect this. Fire authorities and WorkSafe inspectors will look for:

• Dangerous goods storage areas clearly marked on the diagram
• Spill containment and emergency shower locations
• Specific evacuation routes that lead away from hazardous zones
• Wind direction indicator if outdoor assembly areas are used (relevant for chemical spills)
• Reference to the site emergency plan and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Common Compliance Issues in Warehouses

When fire authorities inspect warehouses, the most common evacuation diagram issues are:

• Diagrams show the original empty floor plan without racking. If racking has been installed or reconfigured since the diagrams were created, they are out of date.
• Diagrams are only posted in the office, not in the warehouse itself
• Loading docks are not identified as exits even though workers use them daily
• Mezzanine levels have no diagrams at all
• Assembly areas are located where trucks reverse or in loading zones

How Often Should Warehouse Diagrams Be Updated

Warehouse layouts change more frequently than office layouts. Stock levels, racking configurations, and tenant fit-outs can alter evacuation routes.

Update your diagrams whenever:

• Racking is added, removed, or reconfigured
• New mezzanine levels or offices are built
• Hazardous goods storage areas change
• Fire equipment is relocated
• Loading dock usage or traffic flow changes
• A new tenant moves into a shared warehouse

Get Warehouse Evacuation Diagrams

EvacPath creates AS 3745-compliant evacuation diagrams for warehouses, distribution centres, and industrial facilities across Australia. We work from your floor plans and racking layouts, so no site visit is needed.

We understand warehouse-specific requirements including racking corridors, mezzanine levels, loading docks, and hazardous goods zones. Print-ready PDFs delivered in 3 to 5 business days.

Pricing starts at A$70 per diagram.