| Abstract | This report presents a scoping review of the scientific literature on egress performance in residential buildings, focusing on those with a single-exit stairwell. Motivated by increasing interest in permitting single-stair configurations in low- and mid-rise multi-unit buildings, the review examined the fire safety and evacuation implications of such designs. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 194 studies were reviewed across themes including passive and active fire safety measures, evacuation performance, and modeling approaches. Only 9% of the studies explicitly addressed single-exit designs, revealing a significant research gap. Key findings indicate that human behavior, occupant diversity, and functional limitations substantially affect evacuation performance but are not well represented in current models or codes. Emerging strategies such as elevator egress and IoT-based guidance show potential but require validation for single-exit conditions. Factors such as smoke control, door operation, and firefighter access were also identified as critical yet understudied. Overall, the review highlights the need for targeted research to inform evidence-based fire safety provisions and policy decisions regarding single-exit stair designs in residential buildings. |
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