What is a mandatory feature for ensuring safe egress in buildings?

Marked exits that comply with fire codes are a mandatory feature for ensuring safe egress in buildings. The purpose of these marked exits is to provide clear guidance for occupants to follow during an emergency, facilitating a quick and efficient evacuation. Compliance with fire codes ensures that these exits meet specific safety standards, such as visibility, accessibility, and correct placement throughout the building.

Clear signage is crucial, especially in smoke-filled or chaotic environments where panic may ensue. Properly marked exits help prevent confusion and allow individuals to find their way out efficiently. This is supported by regulations outlined in building codes and fire safety laws, which are designed to protect the lives of occupants in emergencies such as fires.

Other potential features, while they might contribute to building safety, do not fulfill the same critical requirement for egress as marked exits do. For example, wide staircases may enhance comfort or aesthetics, heavy doors may enhance security but could impede quick access in a crisis, and windows could serve as escape routes but are not universally reliable or compliant with safety standards.