EGRESS BY ROLE
Egress Compliance: The Facilities Manager’s Side of the Job
Safety writes the plan — facilities keeps the building physically able to deliver it. These are the egress items that live in your work-order system.
Most egress citations are, at their root, facilities failures: a door that no longer self-closes, an emergency light with a dead battery, a corridor narrowed by stored equipment. OSHA’s operational egress rules in 29 CFR 1910.37 read like a facilities maintenance schedule — because that is what compliance actually is once the routes are designed.
This page covers the egress obligations that live in the work-order system rather than the safety binder: hardware, lighting, finishes, and the renovation-time traps that quietly invalidate a previously compliant layout.
Door hardware is the #1 facilities egress failure
Exit doors must be side-hinged, swing out in the direction of travel where the room holds more than 50 people or contains high-hazard contents, and open from the inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge (29 CFR 1910.36(d)–(e); NFPA 101 §7.2.1). Every retrofit lock, access-control upgrade, or delivery-door security fix is a chance to break this — review egress impact on every door work order.
Fire doors protecting an exit must be self-closing and remain closed or close automatically on alarm (1910.36(a)(2); NFPA 80 governs inspection). Wedged-open fire doors are the single most common finding on the facilities side, and they turn a protected exit back into an ordinary corridor.
Turn Your Floor Plan into a Compliant Egress Map
Upload a floor plan, sketch, or PDF — get a print-ready egress map with exits, routes, and assembly points in about a minute. Free to use.
Create Your Egress Evacuation Map
See the safety plan from every angleWatch a sketch become a polished map, then step inside.Need to start from a rough layout?Sketch rooms and exits, then turn it into a clear safety map.
Drag & drop your floor plan here
or
PNG, JPG, HEIC, TIFF, BMP, SVG, AVIF, WebP, PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP, ODS, DXF, DWG - Hand-drawn sketches work too!
No floor plan handy? Try the included floor plan with real AI generation — no upload needed. This may take a minute or longer.
Move, resize, and recolor every exit sign, route, and icon.
Create a free account to save and download in HD. No credit card required.FREE
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this evacuation map generator really free?
Yes — you can generate your first OSHA-aligned evacuation map draft completely free. Just upload a floor plan and our AI drafts a professional map in about 30 seconds. No credit card required.
Are the generated maps aligned with OSHA?
Our AI drafts maps that follow OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36–37 and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code standards. Every map includes clearly marked exits, fire extinguisher locations, assembly points, and directional evacuation arrows. Supervisor review is required before posting to your facility.
What file formats can I upload?
We accept PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, BMP, TIFF, AVIF, HEIC, SVG, PDF, DOC/DOCX, PPT/PPTX, XLS/XLSX, ODT, ODP, ODS, DXF, and DWG floor plans. Office and CAD files are converted securely before processing; PDF uploads let you choose the source page.
How long does map generation take?
Most maps are generated in 20–40 seconds. Complex multi-floor plans may take slightly longer. You see the preview instantly — create a free account (no credit card) to download the file.
Can I edit the map after generation?
Yes — every generated map opens in a free drag-and-drop editor where you can move, resize, and recolor exit signs, routes, and equipment icons. Enterprise features like multi-floor support and branded maps are available on paid plans.
Is my floor plan data secure?
Yes. All uploads are encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and processed in secure cloud environments. We do not share your floor plans with third parties.
Lighting, signage, and finishes on a test schedule
Exit routes need lighting adequate for a person with normal vision (29 CFR 1910.37(b)(1)), and where the building relies on emergency illumination, NFPA 101 §7.9 sets the widely adopted regime: a 30-second functional test monthly and a 90-minute full-duration test annually on battery units. Put both on the PM calendar — an inspector asking for the last 90-minute test result is not unusual.
EXIT signs must be illuminated to at least 5 foot-candles by a reliable light source and have letters at least six inches high (1910.37(b)(6)–(7)). Internally illuminated signs need their lamps or LEDs verified on the same rounds as emergency lighting.
Exit route surfaces count too: routes must be free of tripping hazards, and any change in elevation handled by stairs or a proper ramp (1910.37(a)(2)–(3)). Loose transition strips, delaminated tile, and stored floor mats in stairwells are all facilities findings.
Renovations: where compliant buildings go to fail
OSHA requires exit routes to remain available and unobstructed during construction, repairs, and alterations (29 CFR 1910.37(d) addresses safeguards during these periods; 1926.34 covers construction egress). A demising wall that adds travel distance, a temporary partition that hides an EXIT sign, or a contractor staging zone in a corridor each need a documented interim egress plan — not just a mental note.
After any layout change, the posted evacuation maps and the emergency action plan must be updated to match (29 CFR 1910.38(b) requires the plan to cover the actual workplace). Regenerating maps at project closeout should be a standard line on your renovation punch list.
Facilities PM items for egress
- ✓Monthly 30-second + annual 90-minute emergency lighting tests, logged (NFPA 101 §7.9)
- ✓Quarterly exit door hardware check: latching, panic bars, self-closers, no added locks (1910.36(d))
- ✓Verify EXIT sign illumination ≥ 5 foot-candles and 6 in. lettering (1910.37(b)(6)–(7))
- ✓Walk routes for tripping hazards, elevation changes, and stored items (1910.37(a)(2)–(3))
- ✓Fire doors: self-close fully, no wedges, gaps within tolerance (1910.36(a)(2); NFPA 80)
- ✓Renovation closeout: interim egress plan filed and evacuation maps regenerated (1910.37(d); 1910.38)
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must emergency lighting be tested?
OSHA requires adequate lighting (29 CFR 1910.37(b)(1)) but defers testing detail; NFPA 101 §7.9 — adopted by most fire marshals — calls for a 30-second functional test monthly and a 90-minute annual test on battery-powered units, both documented.
Can we add a keypad or maglock to an exit door?
Only if the door still releases immediately for egress — occupants must be able to open an exit door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge (29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1)). Access-controlled egress doors must meet strict fail-safe release rules (NFPA 101 §7.2.1.6); involve the AHJ before installing.
Do we have to keep exits usable during renovations?
Yes. Employees must not occupy a workspace unless exit routes are maintained; during repairs or alterations you need either continued compliant egress or documented equivalent safeguards (29 CFR 1910.37(d), 1926.34 on construction sites).
Whose job are the evacuation maps — safety or facilities?
The EAP is a safety document (29 CFR 1910.38), but the maps only stay accurate if facilities feeds every layout change back into them. The best pattern is a closeout step on every project: regenerate the map, replace the posted copies.
Put Your Egress Routes on Paper — Free
A posted, current egress map is the fastest way to show your routes were planned. Generate yours from any floor plan in about a minute.
Generate my egress map →Important Legal Disclaimer
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not approve, endorse, recommend, or certify any commercial products or software. This platform is a compliance assistance tool only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA or any government agency.
All AI-generated evacuation maps, safety plans, and compliance documents must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a qualified safety professional, fire marshal, licensed engineer, or appropriate authority before being posted, distributed, or used for emergency planning purposes.
Employers retain full legal responsibility for workplace safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). Users are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. This software does not guarantee OSHA compliance.
This software does not constitute legal, safety consulting, engineering, or professional advice. Content is for informational purposes only. Users should consult qualified safety professionals and legal counsel for compliance guidance specific to their operations.
While we strive for accuracy, workplace safety regulations change frequently. We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or current validity of any information. Users must independently verify all regulatory requirements applicable to their specific circumstances.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, OSHAMap, its owners, operators, affiliates, and licensors shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of this service, including but not limited to workplace injuries, OSHA violations, regulatory fines, property damage, or any other losses.
Cost comparisons and savings estimates are based on industry averages for professional safety consultant fees and are provided for informational purposes only. Actual costs, savings, and results may vary significantly based on your specific situation.
By using OSHAMap, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms. For complete terms, see our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
OSHAMap is not endorsed by OSHA. Review this checklist with a qualified safety professional and verify all requirements that apply to your workplace before use.