Evacuation maps can be illustrated and posted in a building in a number of ways. In theory, there is nothing wrong with trying to get your evacuation maps illustrated and posted yourself or in-house. However, depending on the organization, the person or people put in charge of this task are not always well-versed in the local and national codes, standards, and practices that should be followed when doing so.
One of these best practices that often goes ignored is the proper orientation of the floor plans on posted safety maps.
What Does “Proper Evacuation Map Orientation” Mean?
Proper evacuation map orientation means turning your floor plans in a forward-facing direction. This is determined by where the map will be posted in your building. While it is often referred to as default to make north forward-facing on maps used for other purposes, posted evacuation maps should have the floorplans turned so that the top of the map is in the forward walking direction.
Why is it so Important to Properly Orient My Maps?
Depending on your occupancy type, building location, and building type, proper evacuation map orientation is often required by one or more of the fire codes. However, even when it is not fully required, it is always prudent to do so.
In the event of an emergency, you want your maps to be as easy and quick to read as possible. You also want to make sure your occupants walk away from your maps being guided in the correct direction for timely egress. When not done properly, an occupant is much more likely to make a wrong turn during their attempt to evacuate. This means longer egress routes or even occupants getting lost in your building in the middle of an emergency.
Especially if you are illustrating your maps in-house, this often gets ignored or looked over because it can be difficult to accomplish and manage. If this is happening at your facility, you may want to consider contacting a professional safety map illustration service. When working with Building Maps, we make sure that every evacuation map we draw is properly oriented and ready to print and post on your wall.
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Building Maps is the industry leader in creating and maintaining safety maps for organizations like yours across the U.S. Our entire team is trained and well-versed in NFPA, ICC, and OSHA codes and standards. We’re not just illustrators – we’re building safety experts.
Contact us today for a quick and free quote and have our maps included in your pre-incident plan!
