For which occupancy is shelter-in-place most likely to be the best option?

Shelter-in-place strategies are most effective in scenarios where the risks associated with evacuation outweigh the dangers of remaining in place. High-rise buildings often present significant challenges during emergencies, such as limited egress routes, potential for smoke and heat spreading through stairwells, and increased difficulties in managing evacuation for large numbers of occupants.

In a high-rise situation, the ideal course of action can often be to stay put in a designated safe area rather than attempting to evacuate. This is particularly relevant when the emergency is not directly affecting the immediate vicinity of the occupants. For example, if there's a chemical release or an active shooter situation outside, staying inside a secure room until help arrives can be safer than trying to navigate a chaotic environment.

In contrast, the other occupancy types like indoor assembly or townhouse may have more straightforward and safer evacuation routes, and outdoor assembly typically does not necessitate a shelter-in-place strategy since individuals are already in an open environment where they can easily disperse away from danger. Hence, in high-rise buildings, the complexity of evacuation processes makes shelter-in-place the most viable safety option.