Evacuation Plans for Strata & Residential Buildings

Strata and apartment buildings need fire evacuation information for residents, visitors, contractors, and building managers. Unlike in a workplace, residents may not have regular briefings or training on safety. They may also use different areas of the building at different times. For a practical fire evacuation plan, people need to understand exits and assembly areas, as well as procedures for common areas, before an actual emergency. This also assists with AS 3745-2010 and BCA/NCC as relevant.

Clear Fire Safety Information for Residents and Visitors

Residential buildings can become disorienting in an emergency for visitors, or even for new residents. People may not know the location of the nearest stairwell, the safest exit path, or the assembly area. An evacuation plan helps not only in emergencies but also in safe movement out of the building. Fire evacuation plans should outline the next actions for residents to take, as well as the destination and issue reporting to building management.

Strata Challenges and Shared Areas

Strata buildings typically have shared lobbies, corridors, stairways, lifts, parking and storage areas, and even roof access. These will affect the movement of many people during an evacuation, so they need a detailed plan to show how residents exit their units into the shared area, and to safe exit points. This also needs to accommodate visitors, cleaners, and contractors who do not know the building.

Evacuation Diagrams for Common Areas

Building evacuation diagrams provide a visual outline of exit paths for strata and residential buildings. These diagrams can be located in lobbies, lift lobbies, circulation corridors, car parks, and other shared spaces. They should include emergency exits, fire safety equipment, assembly points, and “You Are Here” displays, as applicable. Emergency evacuation diagrams assist residents and visitors in understanding the safest path without the need to read extensive disclaimers.

Emergency Procedures for Strata Properties

Emergency procedures should be designed for the ease of residents. These procedures may include details on alarm response, the act of evacuation, the assembly area, and the instructions of strata managers/building representatives. These procedures may also be designed to address residents needing assistance during the evacuation. Having a manual of procedures provides strata committees/building managers a framework for emergency procedures, communication to residents, and future adjustments or amendments.

Support for Strata Managers

Strata Managers require specialist documentation that is easy to distribute and update. Fire safety manuals, fire evacuation plans and fire safety diagrams need to be updated whenever changes to the building and its works, building fire safety equipment and building layouts occur. Updating documents strengthens the fire safety compliance of the building and provides residents and management with the clarity needed to respond to questions about fire safety concerns. Addressing fire safety concerns and requests provides clarity to residents’ questions on emergency safety and response.