Free evacuation plan maker

Launch your evacuation plan effortlessly with our free, user-friendly tool, rich with professional templates for easy customization. Start now—safety is just a click away.

Your easy-to-use evacuation plan maker

Get inspired by professional templates
Explore the vast template community of EdrawMax and get inspired by over 10,000 free templates including a wide range of professionally designed evacuations plans. Get started with your work without a hitch or copy elements from other evacuation plans for your own use.
Customize at will with an intuitive UI
Enjoy a seamless experience on our simple, clean, MS Office-like interface. Drag and drop symbols from our massive library with 26,000 symbols. And don’t forget to save elements in your personal libraries for future use.
Work from anywhere, anytime
View and edit your evacuation plans at any place and on any device, as EdrawMax is available on Windows, MacOS, Linux and the Web, allowing you to collaborate, make updates, and access plans from any device with an internet connection.
Export evacuation plans in a format you like
Export in a format you like. Choose from a dozen of options including JPG and PDF or editable formats like Visio, Word or PowerPoint. Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of exporting your plans in the format that best fits your requirements.
A lower price for a more user-friendly tool.
Design your evacuation plans using EdrawMax to enjoy a budget-friendly yet intuitive tool. In addition to a free version, EdrawMax also offers premium plans more affordable than expensive CAD software, making it ideal for both individuals and organizations mindful of their budgets.

Evacuation plan maker for everyone

banner
Facility Managers
Oversee building safety and emergency procedures.
banner
Architects
Design structures with evacuation in mind.
banner
Safety Consultants
Advise businesses on emergency preparedness.
banner
Event Planners
Incorporate evacuation routes in event design.
banner
Human Resources Managers
Develop staff evacuation procedures.
banner
Fire Safety Engineers
Specialize in creating fire escape plans.

Why teams choose EdrawMax?

banner
Seamless Teamwork
EdrawMax facilitates real-time collaboration, allowing team members to work together on diagrams and share feedback instantly, fostering teamwork, and accelerating project progress.
banner
Enhanced Efficiency
With its intuitive interface, pre-made templates, and extensive symbol libraries, EdrawMax enables teams to create professional-quality diagrams quickly, saving time, reducing effort, and increasing productivity.
banner
All in One
EdrawMax allows for making 280+ types of diagrams including flowcharts, mind mapps, Gantt charts, timelines and more, streamlining workflows and eliminating the need for multiple software, enhancing convenience.
banner
Improved Communication
Use visually compelling diagrams to convey complex ideas, facilitating clear and concise communication within teams and with stakeholders, boosting understanding and decision-making processes.
What is
an evacuation plan

An evacuation plan diagram is a visual representation detailing the immediate route out of a building or area in case of an emergency. It typically takes the form of a map, marked with a clear path of egress, guiding occupants to safety. The diagrams are strategically placed throughout facilities to provide easy-to-understand guidance on how to exit the building quickly and safely. These diagrams are essential in large buildings, such as schools, hospitals, office complexes, and shopping centers, where the complexity of the layout could potentially hinder a speedy evacuation.

The design of an evacuation plan is crucial; it must be simple and unambiguous, often using standardized symbols and signs that are universally recognized. It includes locations of exits, fire extinguishers, manual pull alarm stations, and assembly points once outside the building. The clarity of these diagrams is paramount—they must be understood at a glance, which is why they often use bright colors to delineate pathways and include a "You are here" marker to orient the viewer.

Regular updates and maintenance of evacuation diagrams are imperative to account for changes in building layouts or safety regulations. It is also common practice to conduct evacuation drills using these diagrams to ensure that all building occupants are familiar with the primary and alternative evacuation routes. In doing so, evacuation plan diagrams serve as both an informational guide and a vital component of a building's overall safety strategy.

Benefits of
the evacuation plan

An evacuation plan diagram serves as a vital navigational tool in emergency situations, clearly marking the quickest and safest routes out of a building. Its presence can significantly reduce the time it takes for occupants to evacuate, directly contributing to their safety. The diagram is strategically designed to be immediately understandable, displaying routes and exits in contrasting colors and using universally recognized symbols. This immediate clarity is essential when seconds count, guiding individuals to safety with efficiency and reducing the potential for bottlenecks or confusion during an evacuation.

Beyond its role in guiding occupants, the evacuation plan diagram is an integral part of emergency preparedness training. It facilitates drills by providing a reference point for practice and discussion, ensuring that in the event of an actual emergency, individuals will respond more effectively. The familiarity with evacuation routes built through regular engagement with the diagram translates into faster reaction times, a reduction in panic levels, and a more orderly evacuation process.

Moreover, an evacuation plan diagram aids in compliance with health and safety regulations, often a legal requirement in public buildings. It supports the work of emergency responders by offering a quick layout reference, allowing for more targeted assistance to those in need. Regularly updated, the diagram reflects current safety standards and architectural changes, ensuring that building occupants are always informed of the most relevant evacuation procedures. Overall, the evacuation plan diagram is a cornerstone of a comprehensive safety strategy, combining clear communication with practical design to safeguard individuals in emergencies.

History of
the evacuation plan

The concept of evacuation planning has its roots in military history, where strategic withdrawal and the orderly movement of troops and civilians away from danger were critical tactics. However, the formalization of evacuation plans as we know them today, particularly in the civilian context, began to take shape during the 20th century with the advent of large-scale industrialization and urbanization. As buildings grew taller and more complex, and as the population in urban areas increased, the potential for large-scale emergencies became more apparent, necessitating planned responses to evacuate large numbers of people safely.

Significant events have shaped the evolution of evacuation planning. Notably, fires in high-rise buildings and factories, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, underscored the need for regulatory oversight and formal evacuation procedures. These disasters led to the development of building codes and safety regulations mandating the inclusion of emergency exits, fire escapes, and later, the implementation of evacuation diagrams and signage to direct occupants to safety.

The latter half of the 20th century saw further sophistication in evacuation planning, influenced by advancements in technology and a deeper understanding of human behavior during emergencies. The rise of computer-aided design allowed for more detailed and precise evacuation diagrams, and psychological research into panic and crowd dynamics informed better layout and positioning of signage. Today, the history of evacuation plans is ongoing, with continuous improvements driven by technological innovations, lessons learned from emergency incidents, and a growing emphasis on inclusive design that accommodates the needs of all building occupants, including those with disabilities.

Types of evacuation plans

School Evacuation Plan
Office Evacuation Plan
Home Evacuation Plan

How to create an evacuation plan?

  • Walk through your home or building and identify all possible exit routes, including windows and doors. Ensure each route is clear of obstructions and can be opened easily.
  • Draw a floor plan of your home or building. Mark the location of exits, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and collapsible ladders if you have multiple floors. Share this map with everyone in the building.
  • Choose a safe location outside where everyone will meet after evacuating. This spot should be far enough from the building to be safe but close enough to reach quickly.
  • Conduct regular evacuation drills to ensure everyone understands how to exit the building quickly and safely. Practice using different routes in case the primary path is blocked.
  • In a workplace or group setting, assign roles such as leaders, assistants for those with mobility issues, and someone to take a headcount at the meeting point.
  • Ensure that all building occupants are aware of the plan. Review and update the evacuation plan regularly, especially if there are changes in the building layout or occupancy.

What our customers say

Desmond Haines, architect
The tool is user-friendly for someone who just started to use it. It has a vast collection of symbols and templates specifically designed for emergency planning, making it easy to create detailed evacuation plans in no time. And I love how customizable EdrawMax is for creating evacuation plans. The ability to easily modify shapes, add text, and adjust colors helps me create visually appealing and informative plans that are tailored to our organization's needs.
Harris Ewing, safety consultant
The tool offers excellent flexibility. I appreciate the ability to export the plans in various formats, such as PDF or PPT files, allowing us to easily distribute and share the plans with stakeholders or emergency response teams. Also, i like it that we can work from different devices or online, as some of my colleagues use Mac computers. Quite convenient.
Jerome Wallace, facilities manager
I really appreciate how user-friendly and affordable EdrawMax's evacuation plan maker is. It's so easy to navigate and create detailed plans, and the low price makes it accessible to everyone. It's a fantastic tool for creating evacuation plans.

FAQs about evacuation plan makers

  • To create a personal emergency evacuation plan, first identify multiple escape routes from your home or workplace. Establish a designated meeting point outside. Prepare an emergency kit with essentials. Communicate the plan with family members or co-workers, and practice evacuation drills regularly to ensure readiness.
  • It is recommended to review and update your emergency evacuation plan at least once a year or whenever there are significant changes in your household, such as new family members or changes in your living or work environment.
  • Contact local emergency management agencies or organizations like the Red Cross to inquire about resources and assistance available for evacuation planning and preparation. They often provide guidance, training, and information specific to your region to help you create a comprehensive evacuation plan.
  • Yes, there are several free evacuation plan makers available online. Some popular options including draw.io, which is an open-source and web-based platform and EdrawMax, which offers a free trial version that allows you to design evacuation plans and customize them according to your needs.
  • There are several highly regarded evacuation plan makers available, each with its own strengths. Some popular options include EdrawMax, Visio, SmartDraw, and draw.io. It's recommended to explore their features and user reviews to determine which one best suits your specific needs and preferences.