Companion stairs, commonly known as secondary stairs, are a vital aspect of building design for safety reasons. The purpose of a companion stairs is to provide occupants with an alternate means of egress in the event of an emergency. Other synonyms for companion stairs include secondary exit stairs, fire stairs, and emergency stairs. In some buildings, a second set of stairs is installed in a separate location for convenience, and these stairs are referred to as convenience stairs. Furthermore, in some cases, companion stairs are simply referred to as secondary stairs. All in all, companion stairs are an essential feature of building design, and they provide an invaluable escape route in the event of an emergency.