Emergency lighting should be used in high occupancy residential and commercial buildings to ensure the safety and security of the occupants. Emergency lights should be placed in stairwells, hallways, and at designated exit points to guide the safest pathways out of the building. All access to exits must be marked by visible exit signs. Emergency exit signs have an arrow identifying the location of the direction of travel to the nearest exit. This may not be be immediately apparent or the direction of exit is determined by the local fire marshal.