Editing Staircase (section)

== Emergency exit ==
[[File:102_University_Ave--Palo_Alto,_CA-Designed_by_Joseph_Bellomo_Architects_2014-05-20_21-12.jpg|right|thumb|Escape route via stairs with open steps]]
Often the stairs in a stairwell are an [[emergency exit]] in case of fire,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Types of Permissible Vertical Openings|first=Valerie|last=Ziavras|date=2021-08-06|url=https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2021/08/06/types-of-permissible-vertical-openings |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=[[National Fire Protection Association]]}}</ref> and the stairwell should then be a separate [[Compartmentalization (fire protection)|fire compartment]] separated from the rest of the building via [[fire door]]s.

For fire safety it can be advantageous that both the walls, ceiling and the stairs themselves in a stairwell are made of non-combustible materials, and be illuminated with daylight during the day and artificial lighting at darkness.

Storage of objects in shared stairwells is generally prohibited due to the fact that this is often an escape route.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ofte stilte spørsmål |url=https://branntips.no/faq |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Branntips |language=nb}}</ref> This applies to both flammable objects and other objects that may become an obstacle to the rescue work.<ref name=":0" /> Many [[housing cooperative]]s have general prohibitions against storage in common stairwells.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://branntips.no/en/faq |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Branntips EN |language=en}}</ref>