Evacuation Diagrams for Warehouses in Australia: A Practical Guide for Warehouse Managers
Warehouses can be complex workplaces. Large floor areas, storage racks, loading docks, forklifts, machinery, multiple work zones and changing stock layouts can all affect how people respond during an emergency.
For warehouse owners, operators and facility managers, emergency planning is therefore about more than identifying the nearest exit. Workers, contractors and visitors need clear information to help them understand where they are, where emergency exits and fire safety equipment are located, and where they should assemble after evacuating.
Safe Work Australia states that workplace emergency plans must address evacuation procedures, emergency-service notification, medical assistance, communication, testing of emergency procedures, and information and training for relevant workers. Emergency planning should also reflect the particular workplace, including its hazards, size, location and workforce.
A clear and professionally prepared evacuation diagram can form an important visual part of that broader emergency planning framework.
Why Are Evacuation Diagrams Important in Warehouses?
Warehouses can be very different from conventional offices.
A worker may be surrounded by tall pallet racking. A delivery driver may only be familiar with the loading dock. Contractors may be working temporarily in another part of the building. Visitors may have little knowledge of the site.
During an emergency, these differences matter.
A well-designed evacuation diagram provides a simple visual reference that can help people identify their location and understand the evacuation route, emergency exits, fire equipment and assembly area relevant to that part of the facility.
Safe Work Australia specifically identifies a workplace map showing fire protection equipment, emergency exits and assembly points as information that may form part of an emergency plan.
What Should Be Considered on a Warehouse Evacuation Diagram?
The exact information required will depend on the facility and applicable requirements, but a warehouse evacuation diagram may need to identify relevant features such as:
the “You Are Here” location;
designated evacuation routes;
emergency exits;
assembly areas;
fire extinguishers;
fire hose reels;
other relevant fire or emergency equipment;
stairs and exit paths;
key walls, rooms and internal areas; and
other information relevant to the emergency arrangements for the facility.
The diagram should represent the actual workplace accurately enough for people viewing it to understand their position and the emergency information relevant to them.
This is particularly important in large warehouses where one floor plan may require several evacuation diagram locations, each correctly oriented for its particular display position.
Warehouse Layouts Can Change
One of the practical challenges with warehouses is that layouts can change over time.
New pallet racking may be installed. Internal areas may be altered. Fire extinguishers or hose reels may be relocated or added. A new office, storage area or partition may be constructed. Operational activities may also change.
Emergency planning should not simply be prepared once and forgotten.
Safe Work Australia advises that emergency plans should be reviewed when workplace changes occur, when workforce arrangements change, when work activities change, and after emergency procedures have been tested.
If changes affect information represented on an evacuation diagram, the diagram should also be checked to determine whether it needs updating.
Large Warehouses May Need Multiple Diagram Locations
A common question from warehouse managers is:
“How many evacuation diagrams do we need?”
There is no sensible one-number answer for every warehouse.
A small warehouse with one straightforward work area is very different from a large distribution facility containing multiple entrances, offices, loading docks, storage zones and operational areas.
When planning diagram locations, relevant considerations can include the building layout, points from which occupants need emergency information, travel patterns through the facility and the overall emergency arrangements.
Each displayed diagram should also be prepared for its actual location rather than simply reproducing an identical plan without considering the viewer's position.
The Importance of the “You Are Here” Position
The YOU ARE HERE marker is one of the most useful elements of an evacuation diagram.
In a large warehouse, knowing that an emergency exit exists somewhere on the floor plan is not enough. The person viewing the diagram first needs to understand their current position.
From there, the diagram can communicate the relevant evacuation information more effectively.
This becomes particularly important where several evacuation diagrams are installed around the same facility. Each diagram needs to correspond to its actual display location.
Emergency Exits and Evacuation Routes
Warehouse evacuation routes should reflect the site's emergency arrangements and actual layout.
Areas around exits and evacuation paths can be affected by operational activity, including stock movement, pallets, temporary storage and equipment.
The evacuation diagram should therefore be based on current and reliable site information.
The broader emergency plan must include evacuation procedures, and workers must receive appropriate information, training and instruction about emergency procedures. Safe Work Australia also identifies evacuation and assembly points among the subjects that should be covered in emergency-procedure training.
Fire Safety Equipment on Warehouse Diagrams
Warehouses may contain several types of fire and emergency equipment.
Depending on the facility, this may include fire extinguishers, fire hose reels and other equipment relevant to the emergency arrangements.
The locations supplied for the evacuation diagram should be accurate.
If equipment has recently been installed or relocated, the floor plan or existing diagram should be updated before the new evacuation diagrams are finalised.
At Evacuation Diagram Australia, clients can provide this information using an existing floor plan or marked-up plan. Where appropriate, clear photographs and marked-up drawings can also help communicate changes to the drafting team.
Assembly Areas
The evacuation process does not necessarily finish when occupants leave the building.
People need to know where they are expected to assemble in accordance with the workplace's emergency arrangements.
Safe Work Australia specifically refers to assembly points both in emergency planning information and worker training.
Where relevant to the diagram and emergency arrangements, the designated assembly area should therefore be clearly represented.
What Information Do We Need to Prepare a Warehouse Evacuation Diagram?
Preparing the diagrams does not necessarily mean you need to create a new professional architectural drawing first.
If you already have a suitable warehouse floor plan, existing evacuation diagram or other usable building drawing, it can provide a starting point.
Helpful information may include the current floor layout, emergency exits, relevant fire safety equipment locations, assembly area and the intended locations of the evacuation diagrams.
If fire equipment has recently changed, you can also mark the changes directly onto a printed copy of the existing plan and send a clear photograph of the marked-up plan.
This can be particularly convenient for warehouse and facility managers who need diagrams updated but do not have editable CAD drawings available.
Warehouse Emergency Planning Goes Beyond the Diagram
An evacuation diagram should not be treated as the entire emergency plan.
Australian workplace emergency planning involves broader procedures covering how emergencies will be handled, evacuation, communication, contacting emergency services, medical assistance, testing and worker training.
Higher-risk workplaces can also require additional emergency-planning considerations. Safe Work Australia identifies workplaces involving matters such as hazardous chemicals, confined spaces, major hazard facilities and certain other higher-risk activities as examples where extra requirements may apply.
Warehouse operators should therefore consider the evacuation diagram as one component of their overall emergency-management arrangements.
When Should Warehouse Evacuation Information Be Reviewed?
Review the relevant emergency information whenever significant changes occur.
For example, consider a review after changes to the building layout, refurbishment, changes to workforce arrangements or work activities, or following emergency-plan testing. These circumstances are consistent with Safe Work Australia's guidance on maintaining effective emergency plans.
For warehouses, practical triggers may also include changes to information shown on the evacuation diagram, such as altered internal layouts or relocated emergency equipment.
Need Evacuation Diagrams for Your Warehouse?
Evacuation Diagram Australia specialises in the preparation of evacuation diagrams for businesses and fire-industry professionals across Australia.
Whether you operate a small warehouse, distribution centre, logistics facility or large industrial site, our team can work from your available floor plans and site information to prepare professional evacuation diagrams for your facility.
Simply send us your existing floor plan or current evacuation diagram.
If fire extinguishers, hose reels or other relevant items have recently changed, mark the updated locations on your plan or send us clear supporting information.
Are You a Fire Protection or Fire Service Provider?
If you are a fire protection company, fire safety consultant or fire service provider looking for a reliable long-term evacuation diagram partner, Evacuation Diagram Australia can support your ongoing projects across Australia.
With more than 20 years of experience in evacuation diagram drafting, our team understands the importance of accuracy, consistency, fast turnaround and dependable ongoing support.
We work with fire industry professionals who need a specialist evacuation diagram provider they can rely on for individual projects as well as regular and bulk requirements.
Why Work With Evacuation Diagram Australia?
20+ years of evacuation diagram experience
Specialist evacuation diagram drafting service
Support for single, recurring and bulk projects
Competitive and affordable B2B pricing
Consistent professional drawing standards
Fast and reliable turnaround
Australia-wide project support
Long-term support for fire protection and fire service companies
White-label and outsourced drafting support available
Whether you require one evacuation diagram or ongoing support for multiple client sites, our aim is to provide a reliable, efficient and cost-effective service that helps your business deliver professional evacuation diagrams to your clients.
Looking for a long-term evacuation diagram drafting partner?
Partner with Evacuation Diagram Australia for reliable B2B evacuation diagram support.
FAQ Section
Do warehouses need an emergency plan in Australia?
Under the model WHS framework described by Safe Work Australia, workplaces must have an emergency plan addressing matters including emergency response and evacuation procedures. The precise legal framework applicable to a particular warehouse should be checked for the relevant state or territory.
How many evacuation diagrams does a warehouse need?
This should be assessed according to the facility and applicable requirements rather than assuming the same number for every warehouse. The size, layout and intended diagram locations are relevant considerations.
Can you prepare diagrams from an existing warehouse floor plan?
Yes. A suitable existing floor plan or current evacuation diagram can be used as the starting information, with changes marked where required.
What if our fire extinguishers or hose reels have moved?
Provide the updated locations. A marked-up copy of the floor plan and clear supporting photographs can be used to communicate the changes.
Should warehouse emergency arrangements be reviewed after layout changes?Yes. Safe Work Australia recommends reviewing emergency plans when workplace arrangements or activities change and after testing.