According to life safety codes, what is the minimum width of a public way?

The minimum width of a public way is critical for ensuring safe egress and access for individuals in various public settings. In many life safety codes, a width of 10 feet is specified as the minimum for a public way, which allows for sufficient movement and the accommodation of emergency vehicles or personnel during an evacuation or emergency incident. This width ensures that there is enough space for people to exit a building or area safely, even when it may be crowded.

While other options could theoretically allow for passage, widths less than 10 feet may restrict movement in emergency situations, leading to potential hazards. A width of 5 feet might not be sufficient to handle crowd control safely, and widths of 15 feet or 20 feet exceed the minimum requirements, primarily serving larger environments or specific conditions that necessitate such space. Therefore, the requirement of 10 feet balances safety and practicality in public way design.