Recording emergency escape routes in building plans

Consider how the evacuation of the workplace will be arranged, in the light of the risk assessment and the other fire precautions in place. These arrangements form an integral part of the emergency plan and must be included in the instruction and training given to employees.

Account must be taken not only of people in the workplace, employed or otherwise, who can make their own escape, but also of those who may need help, for example by having enough staff in premises that provide treatment or care.

A plan should be developed and displayed in the building, oriented to match its specific location, so that when the plan is on the wall, up is straight ahead. The exact plan locations must be decided before the plans are produced. For larger buildings it may be necessary to show only a part of the floor on a plan.

As a minimum, plans should include:

• direction arrows
• the building name and floor number
• evacuation routes and exit arrows
• a "You are here" mark
• fire safety equipment symbols for fire alarms, extinguishers and fire alarm control panels
• an inset map showing the evacuation assembly point and its relative position
• areas of evacuation assistance or areas of refuge, where provided
• evacuation waiting areas, where designated
• the emergency communications panel, where provided
• symbols for toilets, lifts, exit stairways and stairway numbers
• emergency contact numbers

Further Reading

• Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings (BS 9999)
• Fire safety risk assessment series, UK Government publications
• Fire safety in construction (HSG168), second edition, 2010
• Storage of flammable liquids in tanks (HSG176)
• Safety in the use of chemicals at work, ILO Code of Practice, 1993, sections 6 and 7
• The health and safety toolbox: how to control risks at work (HSG268)
• The storage of flammable liquids in containers (HSG51), third edition
• The safe use and handling of flammable liquids (HSG140)
• The safe use of compressed gases in welding, flame cutting and allied processes (HSG139)

Summary notes for Element 10 · Cheat sheet · Glossary. A study aid, not published or endorsed by NEBOSH.