Evacuation Maps for Your New Facility Opening
Opening a new build-out, tenant fit-out, or relocated location? Upload your architect's plan, a CAD/PDF export, or a sketch and OSHAMap turns it into a clean evacuation-map draft for every posting location — exits, primary and alternate routes, the assembly point, and a "YOU ARE HERE" marker oriented to each spot. Start from the permit set during fit-out, then regenerate the final as-built version before opening day. Free to start, no credit card.
No design software. Upload the architect set — a sketch works too.
Get opening-day evacuation maps for your new space — free
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From Permit Drawing to Posted Map
A construction set is not a posted evacuation map. Here is the difference for a new opening.
- Dense dimensions, door schedules, and trade notes
- No occupant-facing exit routes drawn
- No "YOU ARE HERE" anchor for any wall
- No assembly point outside the building footprint
- No legend or plain-language emergency instructions
- Reads as a build document, not a life-safety poster
- Simplified, high-contrast layout occupants can scan in seconds
- Primary route in safety-green plus a marked alternate route
- "YOU ARE HERE" placed and oriented for each posting point
- Assembly point snapped outside the building footprint
- Extinguishers, pull stations, AED/first-aid, and a clear legend
- Building address + floor/suite designation, print-ready
Three Steps from Floor Plan to Opening-Day Maps
Built for the pre-opening window — draft early, finalize as-built.
Upload the New-Space Plan
Architect set, CAD/PDF export, lease drawing, or a sketch of the build-out. Start from the permit set while the fit-out is still underway.
Generate the Draft + Variants
Routes, exits, assembly point, extinguishers, and pull stations are placed automatically — then spin a position-specific variant for each posting location.
Verify, Print & Post
Walk the finished space, confirm each exit and route is real and clear, review with your AHJ where requested, then print and post everywhere before opening.
Which New-Opening Situation Are You In?
Each trigger changes the egress story — and means you cannot reuse an old tenant's map.
New Ground-Up Build
A brand-new structure heading toward its first Certificate of Occupancy. No prior map exists, so every posting location starts from the architect set.
- Draft from permit drawings
- Regenerate after punch list
- Full posting set for opening
- Coordinate CO walkthrough
Tenant Fit-Out
Leasing a shell or second-generation suite and building it out. Walls, exits, and equipment move, so the egress arrangement is new even in an old building.
- Map the suite + shared egress
- Coordinate with the landlord
- Confirm common-corridor path
- Building assembly point
Brand Conversion
Taking over an existing space and re-concepting it. The prior tenant's map is usually wrong after the conversion and can mislead occupants.
- Discard the old map
- Re-map moved walls
- Update occupancy use
- Re-verify exits
Relocation
Moving the business to a new address. New layout, new exits, new assembly point — the old maps do not transfer to the new building.
- New address + floor/suite
- New routes and exits
- New assembly location
- Re-train staff on layout
Expansion / Added Space
Knocking through to an adjacent suite or adding a floor. Existing maps no longer cover the larger footprint or the new connecting routes.
- Re-map combined footprint
- New connecting corridors
- Updated exit counts
- Refresh every posting point
Grand Opening / Pop-Up
A short timeline with a hard opening date. You need a complete, oriented posting set ready for the fire-safety walkthrough and day one.
- Same-day draft set
- Oriented per location
- Print-ready output
- Walkthrough-ready
Generate Your New-Facility Evacuation Map Now
Upload the architect/CAD plan or a sketch — get a post-ready draft you can verify and print before opening.
One Plan, Several Posted Maps — Why Orientation Matters
A posted evacuation map only works if it reads correctly from where it hangs. The "YOU ARE HERE" marker and the up-direction have to match the viewer's real position and facing. So a single uploaded floor plan becomes several posting variants: the walls and exits are identical, but the anchor dot and the orientation change for each spot.
Main Entrance
Anchored at the front door, oriented so the reader's straight-ahead matches the map's up. First map most occupants and visitors see.
At Each Exit
Each required exit gets its own oriented variant so the nearest route and alternate read correctly from that door.
Break Room / Employee Area
Staff spend real time here, often with the entrance behind them — a flipped orientation prevents the classic "map points the wrong way" confusion.
Elevator Lobby (Each Floor)
Multi-floor openings need a per-floor map at the lobby showing that floor's routes to the exit stairs and the path to discharge.
Conference / Training Rooms
Assembly-style rooms benefit from an oriented map near the door so a full room can clear quickly toward the nearest exit.
Regenerate After Field Changes
If the fit-out moves a wall or adds an exit, regenerate every variant from the updated plan so all posting points stay consistent.
Pre-Opening Evacuation-Readiness Checklist
A practical pre-occupancy walk. Confirm the specifics for your occupancy type and building with your AHJ — this is a starting point, not a legal minimum.
Occupancy & Posting
- ✓Certificate of Occupancy / final fire sign-off — know your AHJ's pre-opening checklist before the walkthrough.
- ✓Posting locations identified per floor — entrance, each exit, stair/elevator lobbies, break room, assembly-style rooms.
- ✓YOU ARE HERE oriented per posting point — a position-specific variant generated for each location.
- ✓Maps mounted and legible — at a consistent, visible height for your occupants; confirm placement expectations with the AHJ.
Routes, Exits & People
- ✓Exits and routes verified as-built — every illustrated door exists, is unlocked from the inside, and is unobstructed.
- ✓Primary + alternate route from each area — at least one alternate where required by your layout and code.
- ✓Assembly point confirmed — outside the building footprint and clear of fire-apparatus lanes; coordinated with the landlord in multi-tenant buildings.
- ✓Staff trained before day one — OSHA 1910.38(e) expects training at hire and when the plan changes; brief the opening crew on routes and assembly.
What the Generator Places on a New-Facility Map
Exits, Numbered
Required exits identified from the plan and labeled; storefront/main entrance flagged as primary egress.
Primary + Alternate Routes
One clear primary route per area in ISO 7010 safety-green plus a marked alternate where the layout requires it.
Oriented YOU ARE HERE
A position-specific anchor for each posting location, generated from the same uploaded plan.
Assembly Point
Snapped outside the building footprint, away from the facade and apparatus lanes.
Extinguishers + Pull Stations
Placed for the layout; verify each against the finished installation during your walk.
AED + First Aid
Marked where applicable so the opening crew and visitors can find them quickly.
Address + Floor/Suite
Building address and floor or suite designation on the map so responders and occupants orient fast.
Legend + Print-Ready Output
Clear legend and plain-language instructions, exported at 8.5x11 or 11x17 for posting.
What the Standards Actually Say for a New Opening
Cited accurately — and remember that local adoption and amendments control what your AHJ enforces.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910
- §1910.38 — When an OSHA standard requires an Emergency Action Plan, employers with more than 10 employees must keep it in writing; it covers reporting, evacuation, and assembly procedures.
- §1910.38(e) — Train employees on the plan at hire and when the plan or their duties change — relevant the moment your opening crew starts.
- §1910.36 — Design requirements for exit routes: capacity, width, and unobstructed access.
- §1910.37 — Exit routes kept free and unobstructed, with exits marked and openable from the inside without a key.
- §1910.157 / 1910.151 — Portable extinguishers and first-aid provisions where applicable.
NFPA, IFC & AHJ
- 📕NFPA 101 Life Safety Code — occupancy-specific egress, capacity, and arrangement; the chapter that applies depends on your use (business, mercantile, assembly, etc.).
- 🔥International Fire Code (IFC) — egress and fire-safety provisions adopted (and sometimes amended) locally; controls much of the CO process.
- 🏛️Local AHJ — your fire marshal or building official sets the pre-opening checklist and posting expectations; confirm specifics during the CO walkthrough.
- ♿ADA accessible egress — provide accessible routes and, where required, areas of refuge for occupants with disabilities.
Honest about what this is: OSHAMap produces an OSHA-aligned evacuation-map draft based on the information you provide. It is built to help you prepare a clear map for your new opening — it does not certify your building or replace the inspection. Final review by your employer and the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) or a qualified safety professional may be required before opening.
New-Opening Scenarios
2,000 sq ft Café Build-Out
First-generation suite fit-out. Draft from the architect set during construction, regenerate after the kitchen and seating are final, then post an oriented map at the entrance, by the rear exit, and in the back-of-house.
Single-Floor Office Suite
Tenant fit-out in a multi-tenant building. Map the suite plus the path through the common corridor to the exit stair; coordinate the building assembly point with property management.
Retail Brand Conversion
Taking over a former store and re-concepting it. Discard the prior tenant's map, re-map the moved walls and new stockroom egress, and verify exits before the grand opening.
Multi-Floor Clinic Relocation
Moving to a three-floor space. Generate per-floor maps for each elevator lobby and exit stair, confirm areas of refuge, and train the team on the new layout before day one.
New Facility Evacuation Map — FAQ
Do I need evacuation maps before my new location can open?
In most jurisdictions, posted evacuation information is part of what the fire marshal or building official looks for before granting a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or final fire-safety sign-off. Where an OSHA standard requires an Emergency Action Plan, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 says employers with more than 10 employees must keep it in writing (smaller employers may communicate it orally), and NFPA 101 and the locally adopted fire code (often the IFC) expect occupants to be able to identify exits. Exact pre-opening requirements vary by occupancy type and by your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), so confirm your specific checklist with the AHJ during the CO walkthrough. OSHAMap produces an OSHA-aligned evacuation-map draft from your floor plan so you have something ready to post and to show during that walkthrough.
Can I create maps from the architect or CAD plan before the build-out is finished?
Yes — that is the whole point of starting early. Upload the architect set, a CAD/PDF export, or even a marked-up lease drawing while construction is still in progress, and you can generate a working draft now. Because each map is saved, you can regenerate after the final field changes (a relocated demising wall, an added exit, a revised electrical room) without starting over. Many operators draft from the permit set during fit-out, then do one clean regeneration after the punch list closes so the posted map matches as-built conditions.
My new space takes up one floor of a multi-tenant building. What do I map?
Map your tenant suite plus the shared egress path that occupants actually use: your suite exits, the path through the common corridor, the exit stair or exit discharge, and the building assembly point. The base-building landlord usually controls the common-corridor and stair signage and the master fire-safety plan, so coordinate with property management on the designated assembly area and stair identification. Your posted map shows occupants how to get from your suite to a point of safety; the building map covers the rest of the structure.
Why do I need several versions of the same map for one new space?
A posted evacuation map should read correctly from where it hangs — the "YOU ARE HERE" marker and the map orientation have to match the viewer's actual position and facing. One floor plan therefore becomes several posted variants: one per posting location (near the main entrance, by each exit, in the break room, at the elevator lobby on each floor, in conference rooms). The walls and exits are identical; the YOU ARE HERE dot and the up-direction change. OSHAMap generates these position-specific variants from a single uploaded plan so each posting point gets an oriented map.
What goes on a new-facility evacuation map?
A clear room and corridor layout, all marked exits, a primary route and at least one alternate route from each area, the outdoor assembly point, a YOU ARE HERE marker oriented to the posting location, fire extinguishers and pull stations, AED and first-aid when applicable, the building address and floor/suite designation, a legend, and short emergency instructions. The generator places these elements automatically; you then verify each one against the finished space before opening, because a permit drawing and the as-built field conditions are not always identical.
How many posting locations do I need for opening day?
There is no single universal number — it depends on your occupancy type, size, number of floors, and the AHJ. A practical pre-opening approach: post an oriented map at the main entrance, at each required exit, near each stair and elevator lobby on every floor, in the break room or employee area, and in assembly-style rooms (conference rooms, training rooms, waiting areas). Walk the space with your AHJ checklist and confirm the count for your specific building; treat the list above as a starting point, not a legal minimum.
We are converting an existing space to a new brand — do we still need new maps?
Usually yes. A brand conversion or tenant fit-out typically moves walls, changes the egress arrangement, relocates equipment, and updates the occupancy use — all of which can change exit routes and posting locations. An old tenant's map is rarely accurate after a conversion and can mislead occupants. Generate fresh maps from your revised plan, then confirm them against the finished space and with your AHJ before opening.
How fast can we go from floor plan to posted maps?
Generating the draft takes about a minute per plan once you upload, and the position-specific variants come from the same upload, so a single-suite opening can have a full posting set the same day. The slower part is verification and the AHJ walkthrough, which is why drafting early during fit-out helps. Remember the output is an OSHA-aligned evacuation-map draft based on the information you provide; final review by your employer and the local AHJ or a qualified safety professional may be required before opening.
Create My New-Facility Maps
Upload your architect or CAD plan and generate an oriented, post-ready evacuation map for every location — before opening day.
Free to start · No credit card · Architect set or sketch both work.
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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.
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