Does a fire exit need to directly lead you outside a building or can it just give you access to an open area?

Im designing an apartment and now that im putting the fire exits on place, must i put the door leading straight outside the building or can it go straight out to an open dining area which opens up to a garden? THe only reason why im hesitant to put an exit w/c goes straight out of the front of the bldg is because i dont want the fire exit door to ruin my facade. That particular area is covered in stone cladding and if i put a fire exit door, it wont look as nice. Unlike if i put the door leading the other way inside, itl just exit to the back (open dining). Kind of a long hallway but nevertheless straight out. Can i just do that?? Help!!

Does a fire exit need to directly lead you outside a building or can it just give you access to an open area?
check your local building codes
Reply:Needs by law to go outside the building as per code in your state!@~
Reply:Forget about your facade and worry about your lawsuit and prison when somebody gets killed because YOU didn't design the fire exit to lead OUT of the building to safety.

sweating