Wayfinding with Directional Signs and Evacuation Maps Egress route diagrams are required by law as set forth by the authority having jurisdiction. Posting is the responsibility of the Building Coordinator or Facility Manager. It is important to realize that there is no general consensus on the quantity of evacuation route maps required in a facility, however, certain states (California Title 19) regulate sign graphics, size and sign placement according to local code. Many CA jurisdictions also require that Building Evacuation Diagrams be submitted for verification prior to installation. As PictoGraphix is primarily a signage company and is involved in neither fire protection consulting nor evacuation planning, the onus of developing a fire protection plan remains the responsibility of the client. Before beginning an EvacMap project It is highly recommended that the Authority Having Jurisdiction (fire inspector) be contacted to determine local ordinance requirements. Below you will find only our recommendations on how to proceed with the signage component of the Emergency Action Plan. While PictoGraphix works closely with the client developing the safety sign program, the clients understanding of the facility, occupant traffic flow and local fire code will ultimately determine the effectiveness of an EvacMap sign project. We recommend the following for directional safety signs and maps for all facilities: 1. Building evacuation signs must conform to the fire or building codes as required by the authority having jurisdiction (state, provincial or municipal agency). The following criteria are required or are considered acceptable in most jurisdictions: 1. The signs should be posted at all stairway and elevator landings and immediately inside all public entrances to the building. 2. The signs must show the floor plan for the level on which it is placed. It should be seen immediately by someone entering the floor of the facility. 3. Emergency procedures for the physically disabled should be indicated. It is important that routes to destinations (Exits) be the same for the able bodied and persons in wheel chairs. 4. The signs should indicate the locations of exits and fire alarm pull stations. 5. A description of what the alarm sounds / looks like (audible and visual warning devices) should be mentioned (California Title 19). 6. The fire department emergency telephone number (911) or phone number of a dispatch operator/fire control center should be indicated. 7. If there are elevators, the signs should clearly indicate if they are to be used. 8. Primary and secondary exit routes should be indicated leading to official Fire Exits (solid and dashed lines; California). 9. Signs should be place between 47-63 inches above the floor (120-160 cm). 10. Sign size: No restrictions but the floor plan diagram and all text must be clearly legible (California: min. 144 sq. in.)
2. For directional signs we recommend as good way finding practice, the use of four signs per intersection irrespective of its configuration. This ensures maximum visibility of vital directional information for visitors coming from all directions. 3. It is very helpful in complex settings such as hospitals or universities to locate properly oriented or aligned maps strategically at decision points. This will also tend to reduce the need for additional information on signs -particularly if one of the maps displays only local information. 4. When it becomes essential to provide additional information (direction to Exit), this should take the form of additional signs (arrows, Exit signs, etc.). Wayfinders must be able to follow a trail or series of signs located at reassuring intervals, to choose their destination. Once a destination is featured on a directional sign at a given intersection, there is an obligation to include it on every subsequent sign until the destination is reached. In large open-landscape interiors where walls or columns are not available to mount signs, floor pathway marking systems should be considered to ensure that the required destination is reached. 6. The ease of legibility of the signs remains vital to its effectiveness. Safety signs, particularly evacuation diagrams, should be placed on a non cluttered wall that is not overloaded with information. The wayfinding person should be able to read the map at a glance. 7. In choosing the size of your evacuation sign, keep in mind that the floor plans must fit the chosen casement yet be large enough to remain legible and to accommodate safety icons. Large floor plans may be sectioned into several zones or larger casements/drawings might be needed if the floor plan is too small for proper viewing. 8. Signs should be positioned in areas that are well illuminated. 9. In an emergency situation map viewers must quickly and easily locate their position on the floor plan diagram. It is very important to orient or aligned the maps with the setting they portray (Viewer Specific). When a person stands and looks at the posted floor plan of the facility the natural features of the viewer s setting (left or right) must be immediately apparent.
Emergency Evacuation Diagrams Single or Multi Facility Projects EvacMap Quote: Pictographix will provide a detailed quote for EvacMap design work, display, plaques and hardware. Multi-facility projects will be quoted on the quantity of signs requested. The following information should be submitted for a firm quote: Pictographix will require facility floor plans to assess the design work for all projects requiring a quote. For similar building multi-facility projects, floor plans for two or three typical buildings are required. Floor plans for a building considered to be typical in size as well as plans for the largest and smallest building must be sent for review. A sign / project schedule must be provided that lists all buildings requiring EvacMaps. The quantity of signs required in each building and the number of levels in the respective facility must be indicated on the sign schedule. If available, the number of rooms/fl. and the approximate sq./fl. should be forwarded as well. Only levels requiring EvacMap diagrams should be considered. If specific casements or displays are required, the size and model should be indicated in the sign schedule. California Title 19 requires displays 144 sq. in. or larger. Workflow: The client and Pictographix will determine a mutually convenient timeframe with respect to data and artwork delivery. Pictographix will accept data in batches of approx. (10) buildings/batch (max 40 buildings/month). Large projects with many files, or files larger than 8 MB must be sent to our server. Electronic delivery (.pdf) of EvacMap artwork (Proofs) would be available approx. 2-3 weeks following delivery for each batch of buildings (10). If printing services, framing or lamination of diagrams are required, a delivery date for finished products would be calculated based the required media. Template Approval: Artwork for corporate logos or other identifiers must be forwarded prior to template design work. Once identity standards are established and the sign program is in place, Pictographix will prepare the sign template(s) for client review. The text, color and layout must be verified and approved by the client. Approval is required to avoid unnecessary template revisions at a later date. Accuracy of Data: It is essential that the current floor plans and worksheet be delivered with the accurate labelling of all fire and safety equipment. Delivery of Client Data: Data can be submitted electronically (email), or by mail. Details are lost in fax transmission of floor plans/data. All client submitted floor plans, must be up to date and with all building detail clearly legible. Plans can be forwarded electronically in.pdf,.dwg, JPEG file format. Paper copies of floor plans may be mailed to our head office. Please do not send originals. The building name, address, assembly point and site-plan (if required) must be forwarded. A worksheet (paper or electronic) version of the floor plans must be forwarded with all safety equipment locations clearly marked (pull-outs). Fire/safety equipment can be identified on the worksheets using pull-outs with abbreviated text (FE, FH etc.), by using color references or labelled by number.. A reference sheet must accompany the worksheet if labelling by numbers, text or color. Please note that the accuracy of the labelled worksheet (equipment and sign location points) is very important.
The worksheet for each level must be prepared and forwarded in addition to unmarked (clean) floor plans. Files or drawings for each level must be clearly labelled (eg. 1 st floor ABC building). Sign Location and You Are Here Locator: The wall location of EvacMap signs should be verified in advance so that the sign can accommodate the designated wall. The sign location should be clear of clutter and be in a high traffic area. Mounting: The bottom of the sign should be between 45 60 from the floor surface. The EvacMap sign location should be clearly and accurately marked on the worksheet. The You Are Here symbol will be indicated on the exact spot marked on the worksheet diagram and all floor plans will be oriented accordingly to ensure that the signs are viewer specific (Fire Code). Evacuation Route: A minimum of two egress paths to fire exits from the sign location should be indicated (Fire Code). If Pictographix must determine the direction to exits, we will indicate direction to the exits closest to the sign location. Direction to exits will be indicated as a solid Green line with arrows unless requested otherwise. Written Safety Data: If written safety information (In Case of Fire) with directives is required on the diagrams, instructions must be forwarded at the beginning of the project with all equipment data. Site Map / Assembly Area: If a mini Site Map with assembly area is required on the EvacMap diagrams, information concerning the assembly area(s) location should be forwarded. Pictographix prefers that the client provide an up to date location map of the property. Pictographix can utilize satellite mapping imagery to create a site map; however, accuracy is not guaranteed. Sign Header / Logos: Diagrams will be labelled EVACUATION PLAN unless specific title references are provided. The company name can appear on the header under the Evacuation Plan header if text is provided. The header color used will be Green unless a specific color is indicated. Diagram Size: EvacMap sign legibility is critical in delivering safety information to building occupants. The legibility of the EvacMap sign is essential to viewers with or without visual impairment. Please note that excessive reduction of text and floor plan size can severely impact sign functionality. In some jurisdictions font size and floor plan scale size are strictly enforced (California). The recommended diagram size for EvacMap signs is 11 x 17 with hallway widths depicted as ¼ in width or more. Smaller and custom diagram sizes are available (outside California) Sign size is ultimately determined by the information required on the diagram and by the floor plan size. The preferred diagram size must be determined at the beginning of the project. Pictographix will explore all layout options to fit the required data and the entire floor plan on the preferred diagram size. Large-scale floor plans would be divided into sections if the floor plan layout is impractical to depict as one level.
Template and Final Proofs Verification: The sign production and shipping of product is only following client approval of the EvacMap diagrams (Proof). To begin, a custom sign Template is designed for the client facility which is forward for approval. This general layout and design will be incorporated into all other EvadcMap diagrams. One revision to this Template is included in the quoted price. Following acceptance of the Template Proof, the client data is used to create the custom EvacMap signs. All final EvacMap diagrams (Proof) are then forwarded to the client for final verification and approval. Revisions to artwork following acceptance of proofs (not the fault of Pictographix) will be billed on an hourly basis. Revisions: The delivery of data must be accurate and timely in order for uninterrupted workflow. Revisions necessary due to Pictographix design errors will be corrected no charge. Revisions to completed artwork following acceptance of PROOFS (not the error of Pictographix) will be billed on an hourly basis. Interruption of work must be communicated to Pictographix in a timely manner Shipping: Products will be shipped to a designated address supplied by the client. Shipping charges can be placed on a client courier account (preferred) or Pictographix can add shipping charges to the client invoice. Depending on delivery arrangements, Pictographix shipping and handling fees would be calculated and included on all invoices or invoiced separately at the end of the project. Payment: Custom EvacMap diagrams require a minimum deposit of 50% (quoted price) to begin production. Payment by credit card (Visa/MasterCard) is accepted. If payment is by company check, please make payments to: Pictographix, Inc. 16 Westminster Ave., Montreal, QC Canada H4X 1Z1 Large projects requiring extended production time (+3 months), will be billed on a progressive payment schedule. All payments must be received prior to final delivery of finished goods. Payment Terms can be negotiated following receipt of a credit application. Late payments will be charged a monthly administration fee of 1.5% on outstanding amounts.