What is a means of egress?

• A. A doorway that leads directly outside
• B. An emergency exit only during fires
• C. A continuous and unobstructed way of travel from any point in a building to a public way
• D. A path from a building to a parking lot

Answer: (C)

A means of egress is the continuous, unobstructed path from any point in a building to a public way. It encompasses the entire route occupants use to evacuate—through exits, corridors, stairs or ramps, and finally out to the outside world—so the path remains unobstructed and navigable from any location inside the building. This definition emphasizes that the route must always be usable, not just in a specific situation like a fire. Among the choices, describing a continuous and unobstructed way of travel from any point in a building to a public way best captures that concept. A doorway that leads directly outside isn’t enough by itself if it doesn’t form a complete, unobstructed path to a public way. An emergency exit only during fires implies limitation to fire incidents, which isn’t correct, and a path to a parking lot may not reach a public way or stay unobstructed.