Building Evacuation Design Plans

CAD Pro has put together these helpful guidelines for building evacuation design plans and the process of creating a simple building evacuation diagram.

In addition to exit signs that guide people to safety, some buildings — like hotels, hospitals, nursing homes and high-rise buildings — are required to post an evacuation diagram. These diagrams are critical to the safe evacuation of people during an emergency.

However, there is no fire or building code standard for building evacuation design plans: what they must contain, where they are located, what language(s) they must use, or any other item that may go on a diagram. That’s why it’s important for codes officials to create their own policies for diagrams that help building managers evacuate people.

CAD Pro’s drafting and design software provides the necessary design tools and features that anyone can use when creating building evacuation design plans. There are no limits to the variety of building evacuation diagrams you can create with CAD Pro.

Share your building evacuation diagrams with clients, contractors or friends and family using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint®.

Building Evacuation Design Plans

CAD Pro is Great for Building Evacuation Design Plans

General Guidelines for Building Evacuation Design Plans

  • Keep it simple. Show the basic layout of the building (by floor level), including walls and doors.
  • Make the sign large enough so that it is clearly seen.
  • Color-code items on the sign to make them easier to understand.
  • Post signs at or near means of egress, entrances to stairs, in elevator lobbies, and in any area where there are a lot of people.

What to Include in Building Evacuation Design Plans

  • Identify the starting point with the words “You are here.” This will vary according to where the sign is posted.
  • Provide a simple compass in one corner of the plan, showing north with the letter “N.”
  • Mark the egress paths that are available from the starting point. Highlight exterior or stair enclosure doors with the word “Exit.”
  • Show the location of fire extinguishers and manual fire alarm pull stations.
  • Identify any outdoor gathering areas.

Items to Consider for Building Evacuation Plans

  • Mark accessible exits, first-aid kits, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), eyewash stations, Material Safety Data Sheet locations, the telephone switchboard, or any other item that is significant to the building.
  • Include Braille code for any wording.
  • Use other languages that are appropriate for your community.

Steps for Building Evacuation Design Plans

  • Create or review policies that address and standardize building evacuation diagrams.
  • Gather examples of best practices for diagrams that you can share with building managers.
  • Review building evacuation diagrams when you conduct codes inspections.

Cad Pro’s popular design software is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive CAD software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating building evacuation design plans, custom home plansbuilding plansoffice plansconstruction details, and much more.

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CAD Pro has helped thousands of professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of evacuation plans. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors as well as the National Association of Landscape professionals.