Evacuation plans for educational establishments

All educational establishments — kindergartens, primary schools, colleges, lycées, universities, training centers, boarding schools, day-care centers — are classified as ERP type R under the French fire-safety regulation (decree of 25 June 1980 as amended, articles R 1 to R 33). This classification triggers reinforced obligations regarding the display of evacuation plans, general fire-safety instructions and safety signage.

Display is mandatory at each level, in circulation areas and near exits. Plans must comply with NF X 08-070 (fire-incident instructions) and ISO 7010 pictograms. For complex buildings (campuses, boarding schools, multi-building lycées), evacuation and intervention plans follow ISO 23601.

Evacuation drills are mandatory: at least once per term in primary, at least twice per year in secondary, with the first drill held within the month following the start of the school year (article R 33 of the ERP type R regulation). An up-to-date, legible plan adapted to the school audience is essential to running these drills well.

Type R ERPs have strong specifics: presence of children, sometimes very young, whose evacuation must be supervised by teachers and staff; sleeping accommodation for boarding schools (with reinforced requirements); rooms with particular risks such as science labs, workshops, canteen kitchens, boiler rooms and technical premises.

Universities and large campuses add a multi-building logic with lecture theaters (often classified type L or X depending on use), university libraries, student residences (type O or R), gymnasiums (type X) and university restaurants (type N) — each with its own display obligations and assembly points to coordinate.

Assembly areas — typically schoolyards or forecourts on universities — must be clearly marked on the plan, ideally with routes from each room.

With Fabrik, the teacher or safety officer produces a plan per floor or per building in minutes, exports a print-ready PDF for A3 printing (up to 300 dpi), and updates plans after every change (new room, lab relocation, change of zone use).

Before the periodic safety-commission inspection, verify that every posted plan is up to date, legible, includes the orientation arrow, the 'You are here' marker, evacuation routes, exits, safety equipment and assembly areas. The inspection becomes a formality rather than a stress.