Usually, each floor of a building has doors that lead directly outside or to a fire escape that leads outside. In your home, there may be an exit that leads directly outside or an exit from a common hallway leading to a fire escape that leads outside.

Doors leading outside, doors leading to fire escapes and the doors of your commercial space, as well as doors leading to a common hallway are your emergency exits.

As well, doors of common hallways leading to fire escapes must be kept closed at all times. If there is a fire, this will keep smoke from spreading into common areas that you, your clients or your employees will need to use to evacuate the building. 

Identification and visibility

Sometimes, it is required to place signs reading "SORTIE" or "EXIT" above the building's emergency exits. Most of the time, these signs are illuminated. It is important that the lightbulbs in these signs be replaced as needed; they should be illuminated whenever the building is occupied. 

Accessibility

Emergency exits must be free from obstruction at all times. Items such as boxes, furniture, toys, plants, clothing or shoes must never be stored in front of an emergency exit, even temporarily.  

Also, the doors leading to emergency exits must not have locks, bars or other devices that could be locked from the inside. They could be locked with people in the building, slowing down or keeping people from leaving the building quickly in the event of an emergency.