For which type of buildings is it essential to have horizontal exits as part of the exit strategy?

Horizontal exits are particularly crucial in high-rise buildings due to their complexity, occupancy levels, and the potential challenges presented during emergencies. High-rise structures often have a greater number of occupants spread over multiple floors, leading to unique evacuation needs.

In contrast to single-story homes, where exit paths are more straightforward and accessible, high-rise buildings may pose significant evacuation difficulties in emergencies such as fires. Stairwells may become congested or even untenable, making horizontal exits—passageways that allow occupants to evacuate laterally to a safe area—an essential component of a comprehensive exit strategy. These exits enable occupants to move away from the danger zone while remaining on the same level, reducing reliance on vertical egress systems, which may be compromised.

While low-occupancy structures and single-story homes certainly also have their own exit requirements, they do not typically experience the same scale of emergency risk or occupant distribution as high-rise buildings. Thus, horizontal exits are especially important for ensuring safety in the context of high-rise structures.