What provides an emergency escape route in a building?

Evacuation stairways are specifically designed to provide a safe and reliable route for occupants to exit a building during an emergency. These stairways are typically constructed to be fire-resistant and are located within the building's means of egress, allowing people to move vertically toward safety without relying on elevators or other potentially hazardous options.

In contrast, while emergency exits serve as pathways to leave the building, they do not always ensure a safe evacuation to ground level. Elevators, although convenient, should not be used during emergencies due to the risk of malfunction or failure in power during a fire. Window exits, while they can provide a means of escape, are not standard or primary emergency escape routes and may present challenges depending on the building's design, height, and occupant mobility. Evacuation stairways remain the most effective and safest path for getting out of a building in an emergency, making them the correct choice.