An International Building Code (IBC) accessible means of egress may include any combination of the following, but must be continuous when leading to the public way:

• Accessible routes (referred to as continuous accessible paths of travel in some legislation)
• Stairways (including interior exit, interior exit access and exterior exit stairways)
• Elevators (also referred to as passenger lifts in some countries)
• Platform lifts
• Horizontal exits
• Ramps
• Areas of Refuge
• Exterior area for assisted rescue
• Two-way communication
• Accessible signage
• Directional signage
• Where an exit stairway forms part of the accessible means of egress is must include either an ‘area of refuge’or an exterior ‘area for assisted rescue’
• In buildings where accessible floors are four or more stories above or below a level of exit discharge, at least one required accessible means of egress must be provided by an elevator as outlined above.

The following sections provide further definitions from the IBC 2012[1].

[1] International Code Council, International Building Code 2012, http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/2012/index.htm, viewed 23 August 2015