Smoke alarms provide an early warning when smoke is detected.

Property owners should make sure smoke alarms are:

• Installed in appropriate locations

• Working correctly

• Regularly tested

• Properly maintained

• Suitable for the property and applicable regulations

For example, NSW’s STRA fire safety requirements include interconnected smoke alarms for applicable properties.

An emergency exit is only useful if people can actually reach it.

Check that:

• Hallways are not blocked

• Doors can be opened when required

• Furniture does not obstruct escape routes

• Stairs and passageways remain accessible

• Emergency routes are not being used for storage

During a fire, occupants may have limited visibility and only a short amount of time to react.

A fire safety plan and an evacuation diagram serve different purposes. If you’re unsure how these documents work together, read our guide Fire Safety Plan vs. Evacuation Diagram: What’s the Difference?

One of the most important parts of a property’s emergency preparedness is making sure occupants can quickly understand where they are and where they need to go.

A good evacuation diagram should clearly communicate:

YOU ARE HERE → EXIT ROUTE → EMERGENCY EXIT → ASSEMBLY AREA

For NSW STRA properties, the government fire safety standard specifically requires evacuation diagrams in specified locations, including near the entrance door and bedroom doors, with requirements for placement, legibility and durability.

An evacuation diagram isn’t simply decoration on a wall. It is a visual emergency guide designed to help people make decisions quickly.

What Makes an Evacuation Diagram Effective?

A useful evacuation diagram should be:

• Easy to read at a glance

• Based on the actual property layout

• Clearly marked with the occupant’s location

• Easy to follow during an emergency

• Updated when the property layout changes

• Clearly displayed where occupants can find it

The goal is simple: people should be able to look at the diagram and immediately understand how to get to safety.

For a more detailed explanation of what should appear on an evacuation diagram, read our guide to What Should an Evacuation Diagram Include?

Fire extinguishers can provide an important first response to a small fire, but they are only useful when occupants can locate and access them quickly.

Fire extinguishers should be:

• Appropriate for the potential fire risks

• Correctly installed

• Accessible

• Clearly identifiable

• Maintained according to applicable requirements

Fire extinguishers should never be hidden behind furniture, stored in inaccessible areas, or blocked by other objects.

Remember that using a fire extinguisher should never put a person at unnecessary risk. If a fire is spreading or cannot be controlled safely, occupants should evacuate and contact emergency services.

For example, NSW STRA requirements include a 2.5 kg ABE portable fire extinguisher in an accessible kitchen location for certain classes of STRA dwellings

Kitchens can present significant fire risks.

Where required, a fire blanket should be:

• Easily accessible

• Properly located

• Clearly identifiable

• Maintained appropriately

NSW’s STRA Fire Safety Standard requires a fire blanket in an accessible kitchen location for applicable dwellings.

Fire and Rescue NSW also advises keeping fire blankets accessible in the kitchen and away from the stove.

Guests, employees and visitors may not know the property as well as you do.

Emergency information should therefore be easy to locate.

Depending on the property and applicable requirements, information may include:

• Emergency services — 000 in Australia

• Property address

• Host/manager contact details

• Emergency procedures

• Evacuation information

• Location of fire safety equipment

• Assembly location

For short-term rental properties, this information should be easy for guests to find, especially if they are unfamiliar with the property or local area.

A clearly presented emergency information sheet can help guests know what to do and who to contact during an emergency.

NSW STRA guidance also requires emergency information to be provided to guests.

Getting out of the building is only the first step.

People should also know where to go after evacuating.

A designated assembly area should be:

• Away from immediate danger

• Easy to identify

• Communicated to occupants

• Suitable for the property

The assembly area should also be considered when preparing the property’s emergency information and evacuation diagram.

Having fire safety equipment installed is only the first step. It also needs to be properly maintained.

Property owners and managers should regularly check that:

• Smoke alarms are present where required

• Smoke alarms are working correctly

• Batteries or power supplies are maintained

• Fire extinguishers are accessible and appropriately maintained

• Fire blankets are accessible where required

• Emergency lighting and other safety equipment are maintained where applicable

Maintenance requirements can vary depending on the type of property and the applicable fire safety regulations.

If you are unsure whether your property’s fire safety equipment is properly maintained, consider having it checked by an appropriately qualified professional.

An evacuation diagram should reflect the current layout of the property.

If you renovate, add walls, change rooms, relocate furniture, alter exits, or make other significant changes to the property, review your evacuation diagram to make sure the information is still accurate.

An outdated diagram can be confusing during an emergency.

Ask yourself:

• Does the diagram still match the property layout?

• Are the exits shown correctly?

• Is the YOU ARE HERE location accurate?

• Are evacuation routes still correct?

• Are emergency equipment locations still accurate?

Keeping your evacuation information updated is an important part of maintaining an effective emergency plan.

Every property is different.

A residential holiday rental may have different risks from:

• A dental clinic

• A warehouse

• A school

• An office

• A restaurant

• A church

• An animal shelter

Consider potential ignition sources, electrical equipment, cooking facilities, storage areas, chemicals, machinery and other hazards specific to the property.

The goal is not simply to have generic fire equipment.

The goal is to have a fire safety approach appropriate to the actual property.

For example, you may:

• Renovate a room

• Add a wall

• Change furniture layouts

• Change doors

• Add an extension

• Change the property’s use

• Modify access routes

If the physical layout changes, review the evacuation diagram.

An outdated evacuation diagram can be worse than having no diagram because occupants may rely on information that is no longer correct.

During an emergency, people may be stressed, unfamiliar with the property, or unsure what to do.

Fire safety information should therefore be:

• Clear

• Easy to read

• Easy to locate

• Simple to understand

• Appropriate for the property

For accommodation properties, remember that your guests may have never visited the property before.

A well-designed evacuation diagram gives them a quick visual reference instead of requiring them to read lengthy instructions before they can understand where to go.

Fire safety should not be treated as a one-time task.

Regularly review your property’s emergency arrangements and check whether anything has changed.

A simple review can include checking:

• Smoke alarms

• Fire extinguishers

• Fire blankets

• Emergency information

• Evacuation diagrams

• Exit routes

• Assembly areas

• Property layout

• Emergency contact information

If something has changed, update the relevant safety information.

Finally, don’t look at each safety item separately.

Think about the entire emergency process:

Fire detected → Alarm → Occupants alerted → Evacuation route identified → Building evacuated → Assembly area → Emergency services contacted

Every part should work together.

For NSW STRA properties, hosts must ensure the dwelling complies with the applicable fire and safety requirements before registration.