What Is an Area of Refuge in a Building?
When a fire alarm activates or another emergency occurs, everyone inside a building must be able to reach safety—including individuals who cannot use stairs.
Building and life-safety codes address this through a requirement known as an accessible means of egress. In simple terms, it means there must be a safe and accessible path for people with disabilities to reach a protected location or exit the building during an emergency.
This requirement is defined in the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code published by the National Fire Protection Association, along with accessibility standards such as ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.
Quick Summary
An area of refuge is a protected space within a building designed for occupants who cannot immediately evacuate during an emergency. They are an important part of modern life safety planning and inclusive building design, helping ensure that evacuation strategies account for all occupants—not just those who can exit the building independently. Areas of refuge provide fire and smoke protection but also often include two-way communication systems for contacting emergency responders.
Where you'll see them
- Multi-story office buildings
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Schools and universities
- High-rise residential buildings
Common features
- Fire- and smoke-resistant construction
- Fire-rated walls and doors
- Two-way emergency communication systems
- Accessible routes and clear signage
Why it matters
- Designed primarily for individuals who may not be able to use stairs during an emergency event.
- Must be protected from smoke and fire to protect occupants until assistance arrives or evacuation is possible.
Fire Code Guide for Building Owners
While the code clearly defines what qualifies as an accessible means of egress, building designers generally have three primary options for meeting the requirement.
1. Direct Access to the Public Way
The most straightforward solution—especially for single-story buildings—is providing a direct, accessible path from the building to a public way.
A public way typically refers to an exterior space, such as a street, sidewalk, or open outdoor area that leads safely away from the building. For this option to qualify as an accessible means of egress, the path must remain accessible for all occupants. That often means incorporating:
- Ramps instead of stairs,
- Accessible doorways, and/or
- Clear, unobstructed exit paths.
This approach is commonly used in retail spaces, small office buildings, and schools and community facilities. When feasible, it is typically the simplest and most direct way to meet the accessible egress requirement.
2. Horizontal Exits
In larger or multi-story buildings, exiting directly to the outside is not always possible. In those cases, designers may incorporate a horizontal exit. A horizontal exit allows occupants to move across the building into a protected area on the same floor, rather than using stairs. This is accomplished using fire-rated construction, such as:
- Fire-resistance-rated walls,
- Fire-rated doors, and
- Smoke-resistant barriers.
These features separate occupants from the fire and smoke, allowing them to enter a protected area of refuge within the building. For example, a corridor may lead to a fire-rated wall with a protected fire door. Passing through that door places occupants into another compartment of the building that is protected from the fire.
Detailed requirements for horizontal exits—including fire-resistance ratings and occupant capacity—are outlined in Section 7.2.4 of NFPA 101.
3. Areas of Refuge
Another option permitted by the code is an area of refuge, a protected space where occupants who cannot immediately exit the building can wait safely during an emergency. These spaces are designed to protect individuals from smoke and fire during evacuation or rescue operations.
Areas of refuge typically include:
- Fire- and smoke-resistant construction
- Clear signage and identification
- Two-way communication systems
- Accessible routes leading to the space
In some buildings that are fully protected by sprinkler systems, an entire floor or a section of a floor may qualify as an area of refuge if it meets the separation requirements.
Areas of refuge are frequently found in:
- High-rise buildings,
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities,
- Large office buildings, and
- Educational buildings with multiple stories.
These protected spaces ensure that individuals who cannot use stairs during an evacuation can still reach a safe location within the building.
Why Accessible Egress Planning Matters
Although the Life Safety Code itself is not an accessibility code, it works alongside accessibility standards to ensure all occupants can reach safety during a fire or other emergency.
Accessible egress planning helps building owners and designers:
- Improve overall life safety compliance
- Ensure inclusive evacuation planning
- Reduce liability during emergencies
- Support emergency responders during rescue operations
The National Fire Protection Association also provides a helpful guide on emergency evacuation planning for people with disabilities.
Common Accessible Egress Design Mistakes
Even well-designed buildings sometimes run into compliance issues during inspection. A few common problems include:
- Assuming stair exits satisfy accessibility requirements
- Missing communication systems in areas of refuge
- Renovations that unintentionally block accessible paths
When Fire Marshals Review Accessible Egress Plans
Local fire marshals and code officials typically review accessible egress during plan review and final inspection. They evaluate evacuation routes, fire-rated construction, and communication systems to ensure occupants can reach a protected location during an emergency.
Planning for Accessible Evacuation
Accessible egress planning ensures that all occupants have a viable path to safety during an emergency. Whether through direct exits, horizontal exits, or areas of refuge, these requirements help buildings provide inclusive and effective life safety strategies.
If you are planning a renovation, new construction project, or fire alarm upgrade, working with an experienced fire protection partner can help ensure your systems align with both code requirements and real-world emergency response needs.
Accessible egress requirements often intersect with fire alarm systems, emergency communications, and building design. Coordination between the architect, engineer, contractor, and life safety team is critical to ensure systems work together properly.
At Prestige Alarm, we regularly work with building owners, contractors, and design professionals to help ensure fire alarm and life-safety systems support code-compliant evacuation strategies. If you have questions about fire alarm design, life safety compliance, or system upgrades, give us a call.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accessible Means of Egress
What is an accessible means of egress?
An accessible means of egress is a continuous and unobstructed path that allows people with disabilities to safely exit a building during an emergency. The path must lead to one of three safe destinations: an area of refuge, a horizontal exit, or a public way.
These requirements are outlined in the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and accessibility standards such as ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.
Do all buildings need an accessible means of egress?
Most buildings must provide at least one accessible means of egress from accessible spaces. The exact requirements depend on factors such as:
- Building occupancy type
- Building height
- Whether the building has multiple stories
- Whether the building is protected by a sprinkler system
Design professionals use life safety codes and accessibility standards to determine the appropriate solution for each building.
What is the difference between a horizontal exit and an area of refuge?
Both options are permitted under the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code when direct exit to the outside is not feasible, and both allow occupants to reach a protected location without using stairs. However, they function differently. A horizontal exit allows occupants to move into a separate fire-protected area of the building through a fire-rated wall and door. An area of refuge is a designated protected space where occupants can wait safely for assistance during an emergency evacuation.
Are areas of refuge required in every building?
No. Areas of refuge are one option for meeting accessible egress requirements, but they are not always required. For example, single-story buildings often satisfy accessible egress requirements by providing a direct accessible path to the outside, such as a ramped exit that leads to a public way. Meanwhile, areas of refuge are more common in multi-story buildings where occupants may not be able to reach ground-level exits immediately.
How do fire alarm systems support accessible evacuation?
Fire alarm systems play an important role in accessible evacuation by providing:
- Audible and visual notification appliances (horns, strobes)
- Emergency communication systems
- Voice evacuation instructions in larger buildings
These systems ensure that occupants—including those with hearing or mobility impairments—receive clear emergency notifications and instructions for reaching safety.
