An Evacuation Management Plan (EMP) is the document that describes how a building's occupants will be safely evacuated in an emergency. In NSW, EMPs are required for most commercial and multi-occupancy buildings under AS 3745:2010 — Planning for Emergencies in Facilities. Understanding what the standard requires is essential for building owners, facility managers and tenants.
Who Needs an Evacuation Management Plan?
AS 3745:2010 applies to facilities with occupants other than the facility owner or the owner's immediate family. In practice, this means all commercial buildings, offices, retail premises, industrial buildings, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, hotels and multi-unit residential buildings where the occupants include persons other than the building owner.
The Emergency Planning Committee (EPC)
The cornerstone of AS 3745:2010 compliance is the Emergency Planning Committee — a group of persons responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the EMP. The EPC must include at least one person with authority over the facility (typically the building owner or facility manager) and the Chief Warden.
The EPC is responsible for: developing and maintaining the EMP; appointing and training wardens; planning and conducting evacuation exercises; reviewing the EMP after each exercise or emergency event; and ensuring all occupants are aware of emergency procedures.
The Warden Structure
AS 3745:2010 requires a hierarchy of wardens with defined roles:
- Chief Warden: Overall control during an emergency; liaises with emergency services; makes evacuation decisions
- Deputy Chief Warden: Acts in the Chief Warden's absence; assists with overall control
- Area Wardens: Responsible for defined areas of the building; assist evacuation in their area; account for occupants
- Deputy Area Wardens: Act in the Area Warden's absence; assist with area duties
What Must the EMP Contain?
- Facility description — building details, occupancy, operating hours
- Risk assessment — identification of emergency scenarios relevant to the facility
- Emergency response procedures — step-by-step actions for each emergency scenario
- Warden structure — names, roles and contact details of all wardens
- Assembly area details — location, capacity and management of assembly areas
- Communications plan — how wardens communicate during an emergency
- Procedures for occupants who need assistance to evacuate
- Maintenance schedule for emergency systems and equipment
- Record of evacuation exercises including dates, results and identified improvements
Evacuation Exercises
AS 3745:2010 requires that evacuation exercises be conducted at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Exercises must be planned, conducted and reviewed by the EPC. Results must be documented, including the time taken to evacuate, any problems encountered and corrective actions taken. The standard also encourages 'discussion exercises' — tabletop scenarios used to test the EMP without physically evacuating the building — as a supplement to full evacuation exercises.
Essential Fire Safety Measure
For many buildings, the EMP is listed as an essential fire safety measure in the fire safety schedule. Where this is the case, the AFSP must assess the EMP as part of the AFSS process — confirming it exists, is current, and has been exercised within the required period.
Put This Into Practice
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