Today, in class we went over the importance of stairs and egress. There are a lot of factors that go into the design of stairs and the egress system. Some major components are the exit access, which are passages that lead to the exit. Another is the exit. The exit is not just a doorway leading to the outside, but rather an enclosed and protected means of evacuation. These areas are fire rated. Lastly, the exit discharge, which is a safe place of refuge, outside of the building.

Steps are a required element in all buildings, as they are a part of the fire safety requirements and egress. Stairs have specifications for all their minute details, including height and width of the riser and tread, dimensions for the height and diameter of the handrail, and even the overall angle of the steps