Q: What is an emergency exit plan?
Quick Answer:
An emergency exit plan documents how occupants should evacuate. Depending on the applicable OSHA standard and adopted local code, it may include procedures, route assignments, training, and diagrams. Federal OSHA does not universally require maps posted throughout a building.
A practical guide to OSHA exit-route duties, locally adopted posting rules, and creating an emergency exit-plan draft for workplace and AHJ review.
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OSHAMap is designed to help users organize key evacuation-planning information commonly associated with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 โ clearly marked exit routes, fire extinguisher locations within 75-foot travel distance, assembly points, YOU ARE HERE markers, and accessibility accommodations per ADA guidelines. Each draft must be reviewed and verified for the actual workplace by the employer, safety officer, or AHJ before posting.
Yes. If you renovate your office or add an emergency exit, re-upload the updated floor plan and create a new draft for review. Free accounts include up to 5 regenerations per upload; verify each revision against the workplace before posting.
Our generator works for any building type including warehouses, manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, schools, retail stores, and office buildings. The AI adapts to any facility size and layout, generating appropriate exit routes, fire safety equipment placement, and assembly point locations.
An emergency exit plan is a documented strategy and visual map showing how building occupants should exit the building during any emergency โ fire, severe weather, chemical release, active threat, or other hazard. Under OSHA, exit plans are governed by two key standards: 29 CFR 1910.36 (Design and Construction Requirements for Exit Routes) and 29 CFR 1910.37 (Maintenance, Safeguards, and Operational Features for Exit Routes). Together with the Emergency Action Plan requirement (29 CFR 1910.38), these standards form the foundation of workplace emergency preparedness.
| Violation | Max Fine |
|---|---|
| EXIT sign letter height | 6 inches min |
| EXIT sign stroke width | 3/4 inch min |
| Visibility distance | 100 feet min |
| Emergency lighting backup | 90 minutes min |
| Exit route lighting (minimum) | 1 foot-candle |
| Route clear width | 28 inches min |
| Ceiling height | 7 ft 6 in min |
Common emergency exit-plan diagram content includes current available exits and routes, a location-specific "You Are Here" marker, relevant emergency equipment that is actually present, assembly information when used by the plan, applicable accessible-egress information, building or floor identification, a legend, and a revision date. Federal OSHA does not prescribe universal evacuation-map content or color coding. Confirm required content, symbols, colors, orientation, and posting locations under the adopted code and with the AHJ.
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Create Your Free MapThe number one mistake I see during inspections is businesses that have exit plans posted but the plans don't match the current layout. Every renovation, furniture rearrangement, or equipment installation that affects exit paths means your exit plan needs updating. I tell building managers: walk every exit route on your plan once a quarter. If the path doesn't match what's on paper, update it immediately. With tools like OSHAMap, regenerating an updated plan takes 30 seconds โ there's no excuse for outdated exit plans.
Required exits, separation, and travel distance depend on the locally adopted building or fire code, occupancy, occupant load, sprinkler protection, layout, and amendments. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36 generally requires at least two exit routes, but permits one where the number of employees, building size, occupancy, or arrangement allows safe evacuation. Have a qualified reviewer or the AHJ calculate the requirements for the actual facility.
An emergency exit plan documents how occupants should evacuate. Depending on the applicable OSHA standard and adopted local code, it may include procedures, route assignments, training, and diagrams. Federal OSHA does not universally require maps posted throughout a building.
The answer depends on applicable OSHA provisions and the locally adopted building or fire code, including occupancy, occupant load, arrangement, and protection features. OSHA generally requires at least two exit routes but permits one in the circumstances described by 29 CFR 1910.36(b)(3). Confirm the site-specific count with a qualified reviewer or AHJ.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.37 requires: EXIT signs at every required exit doorway, letters at least 6 inches high with 3/4-inch strokes, visible from 100 feet, illuminated at all times with 90-minute battery backup. "NOT AN EXIT" signs on doors that could be mistaken for exits.
Exit plans should be reviewed whenever the building layout changes, exits are modified, or equipment is moved. At minimum, conduct an annual review. OSHA requires retraining employees when the plan changes. Best practice is quarterly exit route walkthroughs to verify plan accuracy.
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Yes โ 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.
Our AI drafts maps that follow OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36โ37 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.
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.
Most maps are generated in 20โ40 seconds. Complex multi-floor plans may take slightly longer. You see the preview instantly โ create a free account (no credit card) to download the file.
Yes โ 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.
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.
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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.
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