Do fire escape stairs count as a means of Egress?

Do fire escape stairs count as a means of Egress?

• A. NO
• B. YES
• C. Only if enclosed
• D. Only in high-rise buildings

Answer: (A)

Means of egress are the continuous, protected paths people use to go from an occupied space to the outside during an evacuation. This typically includes interior stairs or corridors that are part of the building’s engineered exit routes and are kept clear and properly protected. Exterior fire escape stairs are not considered part of that continuous, protected egress path because they sit outside the building, are often exposed to weather, and aren’t integrated into the interior egress system. While a fire escape may be used as a distant or supplemental exit in some cases, it does not count as a required means of egress for compliance. That’s why fire escape stairs do not count as a means of egress.

Means of egress are the continuous, protected paths people use to go from an occupied space to the outside during an evacuation. This typically includes interior stairs or corridors that are part of the building’s engineered exit routes and are kept clear and properly protected. Exterior fire escape stairs are not considered part of that continuous, protected egress path because they sit outside the building, are often exposed to weather, and aren’t integrated into the interior egress system. While a fire escape may be used as a distant or supplemental exit in some cases, it does not count as a required means of egress for compliance. That’s why fire escape stairs do not count as a means of egress.