Our aim is to simplify your understanding of safety while improving operational excellence at your facility. Today we will continue our discussion of NFPA 101's Life Safety Code, and in particular, focusing on the area entitled "Means of Egress." 

Last week we covered "Exit Access" which is that area from any occupied area that leads to an Exit. So, today we will be discussing the "Means of Egress" components known as "Exit" and "Exit Discharge."

The term "Exit" is defined by the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code as:

That portion of a Means of Egress that is separate from all other spaces of the building or structure by construction, location or equipment, as required to provide a protected way of travel to the Exit Discharge.

And "Exit Discharge" is defined by the NFPA Life Safety Code as: 

That portion of a Means of Egress between the termination of an Exit and a public way.

Annex A of NFPA 101 provides further explanatory material that helps us to better understand these terms. For example, Exits include: Exterior exit doors, passageways, horizontal exits, exit stairs, and exit ramps.

In one "Exit" example involving a stairwell enclosure, the following is included:

Stair enclosure, the door to the stair enclosure, the stairs and landings inside the stair enclosure, and the door or doors from the stair enclosure or associated enclosed passageway that discharges the stairs directly to the outside. 

In cases where an exit door leads directly from an open warehouse area to the street or open air, the "Exit" comprises only the exit door. That is unless, and by using one example, there exists a fire rated horizontal enclosure that is a direct passageway to the outside.

Doors from small individual rooms, such as hotel rooms, while constituting Exit Access from the room, are not referred to as "Exits," except where they lead directly to the outside of the building from the street floor. 

So - let's take a moment to recap.

 "Exit" is the part of a building route that you use to safely leave during an emergency. It is commonly made in such a way that it's protected and separated from other parts of the building. 

This may involve doors that go straight outside, or enclosed stairways ramps, or corridors that discharge people to the outside.

"Exit Discharge" refers to the part of the escape route that goes from the end of termination of the exit to a safe place outside, like to a sidewalk or to an open outdoor space.

Remember, the Life Safety Code is out there to make sure that if there's a fire or other emergency requiring evacuation, that people will have the ability to get out of the building safely, quickly and calmly.

Thanks for being with us today. Be sure to explore Mighty Line safety products and how they can help your facility become a facility of operational excellence and safety excellence. We look forward to seeing you next week. Have a safe day.