Apartments and Condos

Fire Escape Plans for Apartments, Condos.

Multi-unit residential communities—such as apartments, condos, and student housing—require clear, accurate, and up-to-date maps for both everyday navigation and emergency situations. Campus-style directories, building orientation maps, and wayfinding diagrams help residents and visitors move easily through large or multi-building complexes. These maps are also valuable for property management websites, brochures, leasing packets, and resident apps.

Emergency and safety maps—including fire evacuation maps, severe weather shelter maps, and security/lockdown diagrams—play a critical role in protecting residents and helping first responders act quickly during an emergency. Whether showing the safest route away from a fire, identifying tornado or storm-safe areas, or marking the location of emergency equipment, professionally designed safety maps are essential to every building’s emergency action plan.

At Fire Escape Plans.com, we design fully customized, site-specific diagrams for apartments, condos, and schools, ensuring every map meets all required NFPA, OSHA, IBC/IFC, and local fire code standards. Our team ensures every diagram is accurate, compliant, and ready for installation.

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Why Apartment Maps Must Stay Up-To-Date

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments respond to over 80,000 fires each year in apartments and multi-family housing. Under NFPA and local fire code requirements, property owners and landlords must install and maintain evacuation diagrams in common areas such as:

• Lobbies

• Hallways and corridors

• Stairwells

• Elevator lobbies

• Shared facilities

These maps must clearly show exits, routes, and emergency equipment so residents can evacuate quickly and safely. If diagrams are missing or outdated, property owners may be held legally liable for injuries or deaths that occur during an emergency.

Beyond fire safety, updated diagrams support effective planning for severe weather events, security threats, and emergency response procedures.

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Apartment Safety Map Requirements

Fire Escape Plans and emergency maps for apartments, condos, and schools must comply with:

• NFPA Life Safety Code (NFPA 101)

• NFPA symbols (NFPA 170)

• OSHA 1910 emergency planning standards

• IBC / IFC requirements

• Local fire marshal regulations and inspection requirements

A compliant safety map should include:

• Clear, readable floor plans

• A “You Are Here” marker

• Primary and secondary egress routes

• Fire exit doors and stairwells

• Fire extinguishers, alarms, hose cabinets, and AEDs

• Mechanical rooms and shutoff locations (when required)

• Severe weather shelter areas

• Security/lockdown instructions (if applicable)

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All Fire Escape Plans must be customized to each specific building, floor, and installation point, and updated after renovations, layout changes, or safety-system upgrades.