Mounting NDIS SDA Evacuation Diagrams: Wall Selection and Cabinetry Constraints

Once an SDA evacuation diagram is drawn, the next question is where to put it on the wall. AS 3745 covers this in clause 3.5, but the clause assumes a relatively standard built environment. SDA dwellings are not standard.

Bedroom walls full of bedhead and built-in robes, kitchens lined wall-to-wall with cabinetry, and bathrooms with no usable mounting space all create real-world constraints that the standard does not address explicitly. This guide is the companion to NDIS SDA vs Commercial Evacuation Diagrams, which covered what the diagram should show. This post covers where it goes once it is drawn.

What AS 3745 clause 3.5 actually requires

Clause 3.5 of AS 3745 sets four mounting requirements, paraphrased here for clarity:

• Diagrams must be displayed in fixed locations within the building.
• The centre of the diagram should be between 1,200 mm and 1,600 mm from floor level.
• Diagrams must be in clear view, not behind doors when open, not obscured by furniture or storage, not on a wall in poor lighting.
• Diagrams must be located so the heads-up orientation under clause 3.6 matches the direction the viewer faces while reading.

The clause does not specify wall finishes, mounting hardware, or what to do when no usable wall exists. That is where SDA mounting picks up where the standard leaves off.

Why SDA mounting is harder than commercial fitouts

Several SDA-specific factors complicate wall selection in ways that a commercial office or retail diagram designer rarely sees:

• Bedhead walls. Primary and respite bedrooms typically reserve one wall for the bedhead and bedside tables. Mounting an A3 diagram beside the bedhead competes with the wall intended function and reads as out of place in handover photographs.
• Built-in cabinetry. SDA kitchens and laundries are often specified with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry to maximise accessible storage. There may be no continuous wall surface large enough for an A3 mount in the room.
• Resident dignity. SDA bedrooms are private living spaces, not common areas. Where the diagram sits affects how the room reads to the resident on day one.
• Mobility aid clearance. Mount points that look fine on plan can be blocked by wheelchair turning circles, ceiling-track hoists, or transfer-friendly furniture. The 1,200 to 1,600 mm centre window must clear the path of any mobility aid commonly used in the room.
• Lighting at use. Many SDA dwellings have ceiling fans, hoist tracks, or sensor lighting that shadow a wall-mounted diagram. Lighting needs checking at typical use, not just at installation handover.

Mount points for the primary bedroom

The wall opposite the room entry door is usually the cleanest surface, provided it is not the bedhead wall.

If the bedhead wall is opposite the entry door, a beside-the-door mount works instead. Specifically the wall section a visitor sees first when looking inside the open door, at standing eye level for a non-resident reader and seated eye level for the resident. The 1,400 mm centre nominal is a workable compromise that satisfies both viewing positions.

Avoid mounting on or beside any installed hoist track, ceiling-mounted lifting device, or wall-mounted assistive equipment. The diagram must remain visible during the typical operating range of the equipment.

Mount points for the respite or visitor bedroom

Respite bedrooms typically have less furniture than primary bedrooms, so finding a clear wall is easier.

The same logic applies as for the primary bedroom: the wall opposite the entry door is preferred, beside-the-door is the alternative, the bedhead wall is to be avoided.

Mount at the same nominal 1,400 mm centre as the primary bedroom for consistency across the dwelling. This matters when the same staff member walks the dwelling: consistent mount heights reduce the cognitive load of finding diagrams at speed.

Mount points for the kitchen or living area

The kitchen-living combined room is the most constrained wall surface in most SDA builds. Cabinetry, appliances, fridges, and islands eat most of the available wall area.

Preferred mount location: the wall section between the kitchen splashback edge and the entry to the room, if such a wall exists. This wall is usually a transition zone with no cabinetry on it.

Alternative location: a clear wall in the dining or lounge area, near the path to the front entry. The diagram must still face the direction of travel under clause 3.6, so the wall choice cannot be purely cosmetic.

Avoid mounting on a refrigerator door, dishwasher panel, or any cabinetry door. Mounting hardware on cabinetry voids the cabinetry warranty and the diagram moves with the door, breaking the heads-up orientation as soon as anyone opens it.

Mount points for the support staff office or utility room

Support staff offices typically have a clear wall behind or beside the desk. Mount above the desk if the desk wall is the clear surface, allowing for any monitor, shelving, or notice board installed.

Utility buildings (laundry, garage, separate storage shed) usually have a clear wall near the entry door. Mount on the inside of the door, on the wall the user sees on entering. Garage walls are often the cleanest surface in the entire build because they rarely have cabinetry.

Cabinetry constraints to watch for

The most common cabinetry pitfalls observed in SDA design certification:

• Pantry cabinetry running floor-to-ceiling. No mount point in the kitchen room. The diagram has to move to the adjacent dining or lounge wall.
• Built-in robe walls. All bedroom storage on one wall, leaving the bedhead wall and one feature wall as the only candidates.
• Wet-area exclusion. Bathrooms and en-suites are excluded from diagram mount selection because wet areas are unsuitable for paper-based signage. Any bedroom that connects to a bathroom must include the diagram on its own wall set.
• Waterfall benchtops with cabinetry on three sides. Any wall the benchtop wraps to is unavailable.
• Linen storage. Linen cupboards in hallways often eat the only available hallway wall, pushing the diagram into a bedroom or living area instead.

A practical pattern: ask the SDA designer for a marked-up floor plan that highlights each room intended cabinetry, fixtures, and fittings. The diagram designer can then mark mount points before any cabinetry is fabricated, allowing late changes if needed. The cheapest moment to relocate a kitchen pantry is on plan, not after install.

When no mountable wall exists

If a room has no mountable wall, options in order of preference:

• Move the diagram to the adjacent room that residents pass through to reach the unmountable room. The orientation will need to be re-checked under clause 3.6.
• Use a freestanding A-frame or stand that holds the diagram. Non-standard but accepted by some certifiers when no wall is available.
• Re-design the cabinetry layout before fabrication to leave a wall section. Only viable early in the build.
• Consult the SDA design certifier directly to confirm what they will accept for that specific room.

The first option is preferable in almost all cases. AS 3745 does not require a diagram in every room. It requires diagrams in clear view of every relevant evacuation path, mounted heads-up, with the centre between 1,200 and 1,600 mm from the floor.

Pre-mount checklist for the SDA designer

Before finalising mount points on a build, confirm each of the following for every diagram location:

• Wall is structural or has a substrate that will hold the mounting hardware (plasterboard with stud line, masonry, or rated mounting backing).
• Clear line of sight from the standard occupant position (bed, dining chair, workstation, doorway approach).
• Room lighting reaches the diagram at typical use, not just at handover.
• Mobility aid turning circle does not cross or block the mount point.
• The 1,200 to 1,600 mm centre window clears any installed shelving, furniture, or ceiling-mounted equipment.
• Diagram orientation per clause 3.6 matches the viewer direction at that mount point.
• Diagram size (A4 or A3) is appropriate for the wall section and does not crowd adjacent fixtures.

Get SDA-aligned diagrams with mount notes

EvacPath produces AS 3745-aligned evacuation diagrams for NDIS SDA accommodation builds across Australia. With each project we include a mount-point map identifying where each diagram should go, derived from the floor plan and any cabinetry annotations provided. Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 business days, no site visit required.

Send floor plans (with cabinetry notes if available) through our /get-started page or visit the SDA accommodation page to start. Pricing starts at A$70 per diagram, with volume pricing for multi-unit builds.