Adequately planning for building emergencies takes preparation—employers are expected to have an emergency action plan (EAP) for employees to follow, and oftentimes, an emergency evacuation map can be a crucial component of that plan. For an evacuation map to fully succeed in its objectives, it must be easy to locate, easy to read, and designed to prevent any additional confusion in the midst of an emergency.
Best Locations for Emergency Maps
Where should evacuation plans be posted? Emergency maps should be in a conspicuous and well-lit area, ideally in areas where emergency exits are least obvious and where visitors are most likely to look for a map.
Be certain that staff members and visitors know where to look for evacuation maps, no matter what floor or hallway they find themselves in. Increasing awareness of the tools around them can provide evacuees with additional valuable time in case of an emergency. Incorporate egress map locations into employee training since this can help keep them calm and clear-headed during an emergency.
The best safety map locations can be different based on the size of the building and the type of business or organization.
Please note that map placement requirements may be different from the examples shown here. Always consult your local fire inspector or a safety expert like Building Maps for specific requirements or best practices specific to your building and occupancy needs.
Schools
In a school setting, evacuation maps should be posted next to the door in every classroom. They should also be posted at stairwells and elevators, which can also be helpful wayfinding information.
Consider how visitors use the school space, including public events and hosting other schools’ sports teams. Evacuation maps should be posted in locker rooms and near the doorways of large auditoriums or event spaces.
Office Buildings
Like schools, office buildings should have evacuation maps posted near all stairwells and elevators and in all conference rooms.
While employees may be familiar with the building, they may not understand which exit is the closest, so it is particularly important to post maps in areas where exits are not obvious. High-traffic areas, including doorways, are highly visible locations, while facility bulletin boards offer familiarity as a source of employee communication.
Retail Stores and Restaurants
Safety maps should be posted at all entrances and near the restrooms of retail stores and restaurants. There should be a map posted in the employee break room, such as on the bulletin board that employees use for other information.
Hotels and Healthcare Settings
An evacuation map should be posted on or near the door of every guest/patient room in a hotel or hospital. In addition, every conference room and every event room should have a map posted near each door. There should also be maps near the building entrances and by the elevators and stairs.
Manufacturing or Industrial Facilities
Again, all stairwells and elevators should have clear evacuation maps posted. Many manufacturing facilities have stand-up meetings near bulletin boards or information centers, and these should include an evacuation map. It’s important to add maps in areas where the exits are not immediately visible or obvious.
Map Orientation is Critical to Intuitive Map Reading
Evacuation map availability and accessibility is an important step, but there are other practices to consider. One that often goes ignored is the proper orientation of the floor plans on posted safety maps.
Posted egress maps should be turned so that the top of the map aligns with the forward walking direction. This orientation provides several benefits at once, ensuring:
- Maps can be read as easily and fast as possible
- Occupants will be immediately guided in the correct direction, allowing for a speedy egress
- Those evacuating will be less likely to make a wrong turn and become lost
For more information, Proper Evacuation Map Orientation details how and why having the right map orientation makes maps faster and easier to use.
What Details Should You Include on Your Emergency Maps?
When putting together an emergency evacuation map, there needs to be a balance of information. An overly detailed safety map is tedious to sort through, making a timely evacuation difficult, but with too little information, no one will know where to go! OSHA created an interactive floor plan to illustrate the elements of a good emergency evacuation floor plan. Their example includes:
- Designate primary and secondary exits
- Clearly marked exit signs
- Designated assembly areas
- Indicate exits with wheelchair access
- A “You Are Here” symbol or sign
Keep in mind that OSHA’s interactive floor plan is only a starting point on the journey of creating a good fire evacuation map. You will likely need other information or design elements for the map to be safe and meet local codes or ordinances. Working with industry experts like the team at Building Maps, you can be confident your safety map has achieved the balance needed to facilitate the best possible evacuation for your employees in an emergency situation.
Building Maps: Experience Where It Counts
While we can tell you the best practices for emergency evacuation maps, every building is different. Missing a critical map posting location can cause confusion and add time to an evacuation in an emergency.
The best way to ensure that your employees and visitors can achieve fast, easy, and intuitive egress during an adverse event is to partner with an experienced evacuation planner. Building Maps is well-versed in helping businesses and organizations ensure safety and code compliance with intuitive, easy-to-read evacuation maps.
If you’d like the safety experts at Building Maps to create professionally illustrated maps of your building, contact us for a quote today. We’ll help keep you safe.
About the Author: Tony Jones, CFPS, is the owner and founder of Building Maps. He is a fire evacuation mapping and code compliance expert. Tony holds his work to the highest standard because he knows “it’s not just a map, it’s about saving lives.”