That portion of the means of egress that is separated from all other spaces by construction or equipment to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge is called a(n)?

• A. Smoke-Proof Enclosure
• B. Exit
• C. Area of Refuge
• D. Emergency Access

Answer: (B)

Understanding the parts of the means of egress helps here. The means of egress is divided into three segments: exit access, the actual exit, and the exit discharge. The description given— a portion that is separated from all other spaces by construction or equipment to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge—defines the part of the path that is protected to carry occupants toward the exterior. That is the exit.

A smoke-proof enclosure is a specific protected path (often a stair enclosure) within the exit, designed to resist smoke, but it’s a particular type of protected way, not the general term for the entire protected path. An area of refuge is a designated safe space for occupants to wait for assistance, not the route to the outside. Emergency access is the route used by responders to reach the building, not the occupants’ means of egress.