What is means of egress?

• A. The continuous path from any occupied portion of a building to a street or another safe area, including exits, corridors, stairs, and discharge.
• B. A building's HVAC system path.
• C. A security checkpoint route inside the building.
• D. An exterior walkway around the building.

Answer: (A)

Means of egress is the continuous path people follow to escape from any occupied part of a building to a street or other safe area. It must connect seamlessly from where you are inside to an outside or safe location, passing through the elements that make up the evacuation route—exit access (the area you move through to reach an exit), the exit (doors, corridors, stairs), and the exit discharge (the area outside). This uninterrupted path is what ensures people can evacuate safely. Other ideas described don’t guarantee a safe evacuation: an HVAC route is about air movement, not a way out; a security checkpoint path is about controlled access, not a guaranteed exit; and an exterior walkway around the building isn’t by itself a complete evacuation route to safety.