Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS)

In which type of occupancy does the egress system not meet the strict definition of a means of egress but provides a safe way out?

1. Hotels

2. Lodging or rooming houses

3. Office buildings

4. Storage facilities

The correct answer is: Lodging or rooming houses

The correct focus here is on lodging or rooming houses, as they are designed to provide accommodation for transient residents, but may not always adhere to the strict requirements of egress systems found in more commercialized settings like hotels or office buildings. In lodging or rooming houses, the layout might include common areas or shared exits that do not fully align with the defined parameters of a means of egress. Often, these types of buildings may have unique architectural features and occupancy patterns that lead to an informal or less regulated egress arrangement compared to larger and more structured facilities. While these egress systems might not strictly comply with codes, they still effectively serve their primary function: providing occupants a safe path to exit in case of an emergency. The presence of shared exits or corridors, which may not provide direct individual egress routes, exemplifies how these accommodations manage safety pragmatically. Other types of occupancies, such as hotels, office buildings, or storage facilities, generally adhere more closely to stringent egress requirements due to higher occupancy loads or more frequent public access, reflecting a different context in which officials enforce specific safety standards and codes.