Are External Doors Always Open When?

Most homes’ entry doors open inward for security reasons, keeping the hinge mechanism inside the house. Public buildings’ doors open outward to facilitate quick and safe evacuation during emergencies, such as fires, by moving with the force of a crowd pushing against them. Both types of doors can swing either in or out, but the choice depends on factors like climatic conditions. Commercial buildings always swing outward, with only a few exceptions, because the door must open in the direction of the flow of people exiting.

Inward-opening doors are better shielded and less weather resistant than outswing doors. They also provide space maximization, as they don’t occupy exterior space, making them suitable for areas with limited outdoor space. The International Residential Code (IRC) requires at least one door in a home to have a minimum 32-in. clear opening, which requires a 3-ft.-wide door slab.

Inward-opening doors prevent easy access to hinge mechanisms by potential intruders, making it harder for them to forcibly enter the home by removing the door. While there is no universal building code that forbids the use of residential exterior doors that open outward, most exterior doors swing inward for security purposes. In the US, inward-opening exterior doors are the norm, as they allow storm/screen doors to be opened.

In public buildings, most entry doors open outward for safety reasons, as required by the building code for South Florida. This is a basic safety measure in case a building needs to be evacuated quickly. In conclusion, most external doors, particularly front doors, open inward for security, space maximization, and weather resistance.