Evacuation Plan Creator

An evacuation plan is a graphic representation of a building that shows all the information needed to leave the building safely in an emergency. This includes evacuation routes, emergency exits and the locations of fire extinguishers, hydrants and assembly points.

Why it matters: In emergencies such as fires, earthquakes or other hazards, people often become disoriented because of panic and stress. A clearly marked evacuation plan helps them find their way quickly and leave the building safely, which can save lives.

Statistics: Research shows that properly posted evacuation plans can reduce evacuation time by 30-50%, which is critical in the first minutes after a fire breaks out, when smoke spreads exponentially.

Fire safety regulations typically make evacuation plans mandatory for certain categories of buildings. Failing to meet this obligation can result in significant fines and legal liability in the event of an accident.

• Public buildings - schools, kindergartens, hospitals, health centres, sports halls, cultural institutions
• Commercial buildings - offices, shopping centres, hotels, restaurants
• Industrial facilities - factories, warehouses, production halls, especially those with an increased fire risk
• Residential buildings - larger multi-unit apartment buildings
• Places of public assembly - cinemas, theatre and concert halls, nightclubs

Evacuation plans use standardized symbols according to ISO 7010 and ISO 23601. Using standard symbols ensures that everyone can understand the plan, including foreign visitors and people who are in the building for the first time.

Symbol

Meaning

Description

Emergency exit

Marks doors that lead to a safe route out of the building

Evacuation route

A green arrow shows the direction of travel toward the exit

Fire extinguisher

Location of a portable fire extinguisher

Hydrant

Indoor or outdoor fire hydrant

Assembly point

A safe place to gather after evacuating

You are here

Shows the viewer's current location on the plan

According to ISO 23601, an evacuation plan must include certain mandatory elements to be valid and effective. An incomplete plan may be rejected by fire safety inspectors.

• Floor plan - a clearly legible, to-scale layout of rooms, corridors and stairways
• Evacuation routes - marked with green arrows leading to the exits
• Emergency exits - all exits clearly marked with the standard symbol
• "You are here" marker - shows the viewer's current position
• Fire safety equipment - locations of extinguishers, hydrants and fire alarm call points
• Assembly point - the marked gathering place after evacuation
• Legend - an explanation of all the symbols used
• Emergency contacts - phone numbers of the emergency services

Posting an evacuation plan in the right places is just as important as its content. The plan must be visible and accessible to everyone in the building at all times.

• Entrance areas - main entrance, reception, lobby - the first point of contact with the building
• Corridors and stairways - on every floor, especially near stairs and elevators
• Areas with many people - conference rooms, cafeterias, waiting rooms
• Mounting height - the centre of the plan 1.5 m (about 5 ft) above the floor
• Lighting - the plan must stay visible in low-visibility conditions
• Orientation - the plan must be oriented so that "up" on the plan matches the direction the viewer is facing

Creating a good evacuation plan requires a systematic approach. Follow these steps to create a plan that meets all legal requirements and provides maximum safety.

• 1. Get a floor plan - use architectural drawings, or measure the space and draw the floor plan yourself
• 2. Identify the exits - mark all exits, including windows that can serve as emergency exits
• 3. Define evacuation routes - mark the shortest and safest routes to the exits from every room
• 4. Mark the equipment - add the locations of fire extinguishers, hydrants and fire alarm call points
• 5. Choose an assembly point - pick a safe place far enough away from the building
• 6. Add a legend and contacts - include an explanation of the symbols and the emergency service numbers
• 7. Verify the plan - have it checked by a qualified fire safety professional

Many people make mistakes when creating an evacuation plan that reduce its effectiveness or make it non-compliant with regulations. Avoid the following:

• Unclear graphics - the plan must be legible from a distance of 1 metre (about 3 ft), so avoid small details
• Outdated information - the plan must reflect the current state of the building, so update it after every change
• Wrong orientation - "up" on the plan must match the direction the viewer is facing
• Missing "You are here" - without this marker, people cannot tell where they are
• Too much information - the plan must be simple and quick to read, so avoid unnecessary details
• Non-standard symbols - use only symbols that comply with ISO 7010

Our evacuation plan creator lets you easily create a professional plan in just a few steps:

• Upload a floor plan - click "Upload floor plan" and select an image of your floor plan
• Choose a tool - use the drawing tool to mark routes, or choose symbols to add markers
• Add symbols - click the symbol you want, then click the spot on the floor plan where you want to place it
• Draw routes - select the drawing tool and the green colour, then draw the evacuation routes
• Export the plan - when you're done, click "Export" to download the image

Tip: For a professional look, use green for evacuation routes and exits, red for fire equipment and blue for assembly points.