For Airbnb hosts and short-term rental property owners, guest safety should always be a priority. Because guests may be unfamiliar with the property, they need clear and easy-to-understand information about what to do in an emergency.

An Evacuation Diagram provides a simple visual guide showing where occupants are, how to reach an appropriate emergency exit, and where important fire and safety equipment may be located.

For short-term rental properties, a well-prepared evacuation diagram can be especially useful because different guests may stay at the property throughout the year. The diagram should be accurate, easy to read, and prepared with the applicable requirements for the property and location in mind.

In this guide, we’ll explain what Airbnb and short-term rental property owners should know about evacuation diagrams, what information they should contain, where they may be displayed, and when they should be reviewed or updated.

The “You Are Here” marker shows the guest’s current location on the evacuation diagram. It should be easy to identify and positioned correctly in relation to the surrounding rooms, corridors, exits, and other features.

This is particularly important for short-term rentals because guests may have little knowledge of the property’s layout. A clearly marked location helps them quickly understand where they are and determine which escape route to follow.

Emergency exits should be clearly identified on the evacuation diagram so guests can quickly recognize where they can leave the property safely.

Exit doors should be shown in their correct locations and clearly distinguished from ordinary internal doors. If more than one suitable exit is available, the diagram should make the available escape options easy to identify.

The diagram should also show the route from the guest’s current location toward an appropriate emergency exit. Escape routes should be presented clearly without creating confusion or directing occupants through areas that are not intended to be used during an emergency.

Escape routes show occupants how to move from their current location toward an emergency exit. They should follow the actual layout of the property and be easy to understand at a glance.

Directional arrows can help show the intended direction of travel. Where more than one appropriate escape route is available, the diagram should clearly show the relevant alternatives.

The goal is simple: a guest should be able to look at the diagram and understand where they are, where they should go, and which exit they can use without having to interpret a complicated floor plan.

Where applicable, important fire and emergency equipment should be identified on the evacuation diagram. Depending on the property, this may include fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire blankets, manual call points, first aid equipment, or other relevant safety equipment.

Showing the location of this equipment helps occupants quickly understand where important emergency resources are located. Symbols should be clear, consistent, and easy to distinguish from other features on the diagram.

Only equipment that is actually present at the property should be shown. The diagram should accurately reflect the current location of emergency and safety equipment.

An assembly or muster point is the designated location where occupants should gather after leaving the property during an emergency.

Where an assembly or muster point has been designated for the property, its location should be clearly identified on the evacuation diagram. The symbol or label should be easy to recognize and should not be confused with an emergency exit.

For short-term rentals and Airbnb properties, clear information about where guests should gather after evacuation can be particularly useful because guests may not be familiar with the surrounding property or local emergency arrangements.

An evacuation diagram should use clear and recognizable symbols to identify important safety features. A legend or key helps occupants understand what each symbol represents without having to interpret technical information.

Common symbols may identify emergency exits, fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, fire blankets, manual call points, first aid equipment, and assembly points, depending on the property and applicable requirements.

Symbols should be used consistently throughout the diagram and should remain easy to recognize when the diagram is printed or viewed from a short distance.

An effective evacuation diagram should provide enough information for occupants to understand the building layout and orient themselves quickly. Important features such as rooms, corridors, doors, stairs, exits, and other relevant areas should be represented accurately.

Where appropriate, the diagram may also include basic orientation information, such as the building name, property area, floor or level, and an indication of direction.

The purpose is not to show every detail of the property. Instead, the diagram should provide the essential information occupants need to understand their surroundings and follow an appropriate evacuation route.

The evacuation diagram should reflect the actual layout of the property as accurately as possible. Rooms, doors, corridors, stairs, exits, and other important features should be shown in their correct locations.

An outdated or inaccurate floor plan can create confusion during an emergency. Property owners should therefore make sure the diagram matches the current condition of the building.

If the property has been renovated or its layout has changed, the evacuation diagram should be reviewed and updated as necessary.

An evacuation diagram should be easy to read and understand at a glance. During an emergency, occupants may be stressed or have limited time to interpret the information, so the design should remain simple and clear.

Avoid unnecessary details, overly small text, confusing symbols, or crowded layouts. Important information such as the “You Are Here” location, emergency exits, escape routes, and safety equipment should be easy to identify.

A well-organized diagram allows occupants to quickly understand the information without having to study the entire floor plan.

Evacuation diagram requirements are not identical everywhere. Requirements may vary depending on the country, state or territory, local authority, building classification, occupancy type, and applicable fire-safety regulations.

For example, accommodation properties and short-term rentals may have specific requirements for displaying emergency information. Commercial buildings, schools, healthcare facilities, and other public buildings may also have additional requirements.

For this reason, an evacuation diagram should be prepared with the applicable local requirements in mind. A professionally prepared evacuation diagram can help property owners present important emergency information clearly, but it should not be treated as a substitute for advice from the relevant fire-safety authority or qualified professional where required.

Even a well-designed evacuation diagram can become ineffective if important information is missing, inaccurate, or difficult to understand. Property owners should review their diagrams carefully and avoid common problems such as:

1. Using an outdated floor plan
The diagram should reflect the current layout of the property. Changes to rooms, doors, exits, stairs, or safety equipment should be considered when reviewing the diagram.

2. Missing or unclear “You Are Here” location
Guests need to know where they are before they can determine which evacuation route to follow.

3. Failing to show available emergency exits
Emergency exits should be clearly identified and distinguished from ordinary internal doors.

4. Showing incorrect escape routes
Escape routes should reflect the actual property layout and should not direct occupants through unsuitable areas.

5. Using unclear or overcrowded designs
Too much information, small text, confusing symbols, or poor organization can make a diagram difficult to understand quickly.

6. Ignoring local requirements
Requirements can vary depending on the location, building type, and applicable regulations. Property owners should check the requirements that apply to their particular property.

An evacuation diagram should be reviewed whenever there is a significant change to the building or its emergency arrangements. Keeping the diagram current helps ensure that occupants are not relying on information that no longer matches the property.

Consider reviewing or updating the diagram after renovations, changes to room layouts, alterations to doors or exits, relocation of fire-fighting equipment, changes to stairs or access routes, or changes to the designated assembly point.

It is also good practice to periodically review evacuation information to make sure it remains clear, accurate, and appropriate for the property.