Utganger

Utganger is the Norwegian term for exits or means of egress in buildings. It denotes the routes and doors that allow occupants to leave a building from any occupied space, particularly in emergencies.

Origin: the term derives from utgang, meaning exit; the plural is utganger.

Usage: In architecture and safety planning, utganger include doors, corridors, stairwells and external access points that provide continuous, unobstructed paths to safety.

Requirements: Building regulations require a sufficient number of separate, clearly marked utganger with direct access to the outside or to a safe area. The travel distance to an utgang should not exceed prescribed limits, and the routes must be kept free of obstruction.

Signage and lighting: Utganger are typically indicated by internationally understood signs featuring a green background and a running figure; emergency lighting ensures visibility during power outages.

Accessibility: Doors in utganger must be easily operable, often with devices such as panic hardware; from inside they shall be unobstructed and able to be opened without keys during an emergency.

Maintenance: Regular inspection ensures that signs, lighting, and door hardware function correctly; blockages or lockable features can compromise safety.

Regulation: National building regulations in Norway (Plan- og bygningsloven and TEK17) set requirements for means of escape; compliance is enforced by local authorities and building owners.

See also: means of egress, emergency exit, building safety codes.