Case Study
Evacuation Diagrams for St Patrick’s College in Ballarat
EBC Group was engaged to deliver a complete set of evacuation diagrams for St Patrick’s College, located at 1431 Sturt Street in Ballarat. As a large and historic educational campus with multiple buildings, varied floor layouts, and high daily occupancy, ensuring clear and compliant evacuation information was a critical priority for the college. Our team worked closely with the school to produce accurate, compliant, and easy-to-understand evacuation diagrams designed to support safe emergency response across the campus.
Supporting Safety Across a Large Educational Campus
Schools present a unique environment when it comes to emergency planning. Large numbers of students, staff, and visitors move between classrooms, administration areas, halls, and sporting facilities throughout the day. In the event of an emergency, clear guidance must be available so occupants can quickly understand evacuation routes and assembly points.
For St Patrick’s College, the project required careful consideration of the layout and function of each building across the campus. The EBC Group team conducted a detailed site assessment to review existing safety documentation, verify floor layouts, and confirm all required emergency information.
From this process, we developed evacuation diagrams tailored to each relevant area of the school, ensuring they accurately reflected the building configuration and emergency procedures.
Accurate, Compliant Evacuation Diagrams
Evacuation diagrams must meet strict Australian requirements to ensure they provide clear and reliable information during an emergency. Our diagrams for St Patrick’s College were developed in accordance with AS 3745 – Planning for Emergencies in Facilities, which outlines the standard for emergency procedures and evacuation information in Australian buildings.
Each evacuation diagram prepared for the college includes key information such as:
- Clearly marked evacuation routes and exits
- The “You Are Here” location indicator
- Fire safety equipment locations
- Assembly areas
- Relevant emergency instructions and procedures
- A clear and easy-to-read layout designed for quick understanding
These diagrams were carefully designed so that staff, students, and visitors can quickly interpret them if an emergency occurs.
Site Verification and Documentation
Accuracy is essential when preparing evacuation diagrams; even small inconsistencies between drawings and the physical building can create confusion during an emergency. To avoid this, the EBC Group team carried out on-site verification of building layouts and exit pathways across the St Patrick’s College campus. This process involved confirming:
- Exit locations and travel paths
- Emergency equipment placement
- Assembly areas and external gathering points
- Correct building orientation for each diagram
By validating these details during the site visit, we ensured that the final diagrams precisely reflected the actual layout of the buildings.
Clear Communication for Students, Staff and Visitors
In educational environments, evacuation information needs to be easily understood by a wide range of occupants, including students, teaching staff, contractors, and visitors who may not be familiar with the buildings. Our evacuation diagrams were designed with clarity in mind, using a simple layout and intuitive visual cues so occupants can quickly identify exits, follow evacuation paths, and locate emergency equipment. Strategic placement of the diagrams throughout the campus ensures they are readily visible in key areas such as corridors, entry points, and shared spaces.
Helping Schools Meet Compliance Obligations
Educational facilities have a responsibility to maintain emergency information that complies with Australian safety standards. Well-prepared evacuation diagrams form an important part of a broader emergency management framework. By providing clear, compliant evacuation diagrams for St Patrick’s College, EBC Group helped ensure the school’s emergency information supports both regulatory compliance and occupant safety. Projects like this reflect our broader commitment to helping organisations navigate complex building compliance requirements with practical, reliable solutions (we’ve also delivered similar comprehensive solutions for Chobani Australia, Coles Truganina, Capitol Grand South Yarra, La Trobe University and more).
Need assistance with evacuation diagrams or building compliance?
Whether you manage a school, commercial building, or multi-site facility, accurate emergency documentation is essential for maintaining compliance and protecting occupants. The EBC Group team works with organisations across Australia to deliver evacuation diagrams, block plans, essential safety measures management, and building compliance services tailored to each facility. If you need support reviewing or updating your evacuation diagrams, our experienced consultants are here to help.