Which term describes the route occupants use to reach a safe exit?

• A. Exit route
• B. Emergency access path
• C. Means of egress
• D. Escape channel

Answer: (C)

Means of egress is the continuous path that occupants use to reach a safe exit, starting from where people are and extending all the way to a public way outside. It covers the whole sequence: the area where you gain access to an exit (exit access), the exit itself, and the area outside the building (exit discharge). This broad scope is why it’s the best term for describing the route to safety, not just a single doorway. An exit route is a specific path to one exit, which is narrower in scope, and emergency access path or escape channel aren’t standard terms used for the means of egress in building codes.