What essential aspect must fire safety design ensure?

Fire safety design primarily focuses on ensuring safe egress for occupants in the event of a fire and compliance with established fire codes. Safe egress means that occupants can quickly and safely exit the building without encountering obstacles, which is critical to minimizing potential injuries or fatalities during a fire emergency.

Compliance with fire codes involves adhering to regulations that outline how buildings should be constructed and equipped to manage fire risk effectively, including aspects such as the layout of escape routes, installation of fire alarms and suppression systems, and the use of fire-resistant materials. These codes are designed to protect life safety as a priority in any built environment.

Although aspects like aesthetic standards, natural lighting, and construction costs are important considerations in architecture, they do not directly relate to the primary function of fire safety design, which is to protect life and ensure safe evacuation during a fire emergency.