Fire Evacuation Plan for a Small Business

Map the building as it is used

Mark primary and alternate exits, fire extinguishers, alarm pull stations, electrical shutoffs if relevant, and the outside assembly area. Update the map after any construction, layout change, or occupancy change.

• Post maps where employees can see them.
• Identify exits that are not usable for every work area.
• Plan for visitors, contractors, and people needing assistance.

Assign simple emergency roles

Name primary and backup people for calling 911, sweeping assigned areas if safe, helping visitors, taking a roster, and meeting the fire department. Everyone else should know their immediate evacuation responsibility.

Write the evacuation sequence

1. 1Discover and notify — Activate the alarm or alert others and call 911 with the business address and known hazard.
2. 2Evacuate — Use the nearest safe exit, closing doors behind you if safe without locking them.
3. 3Assemble — Go to the designated meeting point away from the building and emergency vehicle access.
4. 4Account and report — Use a roster, schedule, or supervisor check to identify missing people and report their last known location.

Never use elevators during a fire emergency. Do not permit employees to re-enter for personal items, to silence an alarm, or to look for a coworker.

Plan for real operating conditions

Consider deliveries, customers, shift changes, remote workers visiting the site, locked areas, and after-hours occupancy. An evacuation plan that works only when the manager is present is incomplete.

• Keep emergency contact information current.
• Brief new hires before their first shift.
• Give contractors and visitors a short exit instruction.
• Include accessible evacuation assistance in the plan.

Practice, review, and maintain

Run drills at intervals appropriate to your occupancy and local Tennessee AHJ requirements. Review the outcome, fix blocked exits or unclear roles, and document the changes.

Common questions

What is the most important part of an evacuation plan?

A clear, practiced route to a safe assembly area and a way to account for everyone outside.

How many exits should a plan show?

Show every available exit and identify primary and alternate routes for each work area, subject to the building’s approved egress arrangement.

Who calls 911?

Assign a primary and backup person, but every employee should call if no one else has done so.

Should we practice the plan?

Yes. Practice reveals blocked routes, unclear roles, and accountability gaps before an emergency.