Kijárat

Kijárat is a Hungarian noun that refers to an exit from a building or other enclosed space. It denotes a doorway or route through which occupants can leave the interior and reach the outside or a safer area. In routine use, kijárat can simply mean any door used to depart a room or building, but in safety contexts it often has a more formal meaning as an escape route or emergency exit.

There is a distinction between ordinary entrances and safety-oriented exits. A kijárat may be an everyday door that can be used for leaving, while a tűzvédelmi kijárat or emergency exit is a designated exit that must remain accessible, unobstructed, and suitable for rapid egress during an emergency. In buildings, multiple exits are typically provided to ensure safe and orderly evacuation, and their placement is guided by fire safety and building regulations.

Signage and design standards commonly accompany kijáratok. Doors marking a kijárat are usually clearly labeled and, in many jurisdictions, paired with illuminated or highly visible emergency signs. In Europe, emergency exit signs follow standardized pictograms and color schemes to indicate a safe path to exit routes.

Etymology-wise, kijárat combines ki- “out” and járat “passage” or “route,” reflecting its function as a way to go out. The term is widely used in architecture, safety instructions, and everyday language to describe exits and escape routes.

See also: exit signs, emergency evacuation, fire safety regulations, building codes.