In an emergency there is no time to think: smoke fills the corridor, people head for the exit they came in by, and the lift looks like the fastest way out. The evacuation plan is the thinking done in advance that sets who does what, where each person goes, and how to confirm everyone is out. The civil defense regulation for residential and office buildings requires the safety officer to prepare a detailed evacuation and fire-fighting plan, contact the competent civil defense centre, and train staff on it. This guide explains the plan's components, evacuation principles, evacuation time, horizontal evacuation, and how to turn the plan into signs and drills.
Components of the Evacuation Plan
- Description of the building and occupancy: number of floors and occupants, and peak times.
- Potential hazards: fire and other emergencies.
- Escape routes and exits for each floor, with alternative routes.
- Safe assembly points outside the building; the hospitals regulation, for example, requires assembly areas with fresh air and safety conditions for providing help and carrying out a headcount.
- The emergency team: an evacuation warden for each floor, a headcount officer, and who contacts civil defense.
- People with disabilities, the elderly and children: who helps them and how.
- Communication: emergency numbers; civil defense lists 911 in the Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Eastern regions, and 998 in other regions.
- Training and drills, and updating the plan.
Emergency Team Roles
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Safety officer | Leading the plan and liaising with civil defense |
| Floor warden | Directing occupants to exits and confirming the floor is clear |
| Headcount officer | Matching those at the assembly point against records |
| Assistance team | Helping people with disabilities, children and the elderly |
| First-response fire team | Using extinguishers on small fires if safe |
Evacuation Principles Emphasised by Civil Defense
- Follow the designated safe corridors and exits.
- Use the stairs, not the lifts.
- Go to the assembly point and make sure everyone has arrived.
- Do not return to the incident site.
Evacuation Time
Civil defense regulations refer to designing means of escape so the building can be evacuated within a set time; the hospitals regulation, for example, calls for evacuating the building within no more than three minutes in emergencies, and the residential and office buildings regulation sets times by building type.
Evacuation Is Not Always Total
The preventive requirements for facilities state that it is not always necessary to evacuate the whole building, and the building may have a smoke-protected horizontal evacuation area allowing relative safety until the emergency is over. This is important in hospitals and tall buildings. Read: The high-rise towers requirements guide.
Plans by Type of Facility
- Schools: large numbers of children and regular training. Read: Requirements for schools.
- Hotels: guests who do not know the building, so signs in rooms are essential. Read: Requirements for hotels.
- Factories: special hazards and assembly points away from hazardous materials.
- Collective housing: high density and sleeping periods. Read: Requirements for collective housing.
Turning the Plan Into Signs
Read: Evacuation signs and escape routes, and for training: The evacuation drill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who prepares the evacuation plan?
The facility's safety officer, who can engage an engineering office to prepare the drawings.
Are signs enough instead of a plan?
No, signs are part of the plan, which also covers roles and training.
When is the plan updated?
After any change in the building, occupancy or systems, and after every drill that reveals issues.
Is the plan linked to the alarm system?
Yes, the alarm is the starting signal. Read: Alarm system requirements.
Is an evacuation plan required for licensing?
Civil defense regulations require it for many facilities, and your actual requirements appear on the Salamah portal.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that prepares evacuation drawings and plans with routes, assembly points and signs compliant with the regulations, and helps organise and document drills. See our evacuation plans service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.