Exit discharge is a component of which part of the means of egress?

• A. Exit access
• B. Exit discharge
• C. Fire barrier
• D. Corridor

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is that the means of egress is divided into three parts: exit access, the exit, and exit discharge. Exit discharge is the portion of the means of egress that begins at the termination of the interior egress and continues to the exterior of the building, including any exterior stairs, ramps, or spaces that lead to a public way. This is why it’s the correct choice: it specifically describes the segment that carries occupants from inside the building to the outside. It’s distinct from exit access, which covers interior paths leading to an exit, and from the exterior elements that make up the outside portion of the path. It’s also not a fire barrier or an interior corridor; those terms refer to fire separation and interior circulation, not the exterior discharge portion of the egress.