There is no absolute truth in this matter. The best solution is based on an understanding of all the nuances in each case.
When installing a swing door, there are four options for installing it on the opening side. How to choose the right one from four options so that it is convenient to open and close doors, turn on and off the light, go into the room and leave it? What are the safety regulations and requirements for this?
First you need to figure out which door is called "right" and which is "left". And it's not all that simple. The fact is that in many European countries, the opening side is determined when the door is located “away from you”, while in Russia it is from the opening side “towards you”. Hence the difference: Russians consider doors with a handle on the right "left", and with a handle on the left - "right". But in Europe it's the other way around. In Russia, if a door is opened with the right hand, it is considered to be “right”. And if you need to use your left hand to open it, then such a door is considered “left”.
In order to avoid confusion and difficulties in selection, many manufacturers prefer to install universal hinges on their products, although this option is not entirely convenient. Universal hinges, as a rule, are one-piece, and in order to remove the canvas, it is necessary to completely dismantle the hinges.
There is another way out - when going to the door salon, have a plan of the room with you indicating the place where the doors will be installed. Experienced consultants themselves will determine the desired side of the door opening, suggest which hinges are best used for installation.
Before you buy interior doors, you need to know not only the exact dimensions of the doorways, but also where these doors will open. The direction of opening the doors must be determined at the stage of the design project, since the location of the furniture and the switch in the room will largely depend on which direction the doors will open.
The direction of door opening should be convenient and safe. The safety of opening doors in Russia is regulated by the building code and rules (SNiP) “Fire Safety of Buildings and Structures” dated January 21, 1997, the main thesis of which reads: “Doors at emergency exits and on escape routes should open towards the exit of the building.” This is necessary in order to make it easier to get out of the room: it is faster to open the doors, it is easier to break in.
This is especially true for non-residential public spaces. In office rooms, for example, the doors must all open outward, especially, according to the norms of SNiP, for rooms in which there will be more than 15 people.
Another important point: according to SNiP, doors in apartment buildings must be installed with outward opening, since from the point of view of fire safety this is the most suitable option. In the case of evacuation or removal of the wounded on a stretcher, such a door does not represent a serious obstacle, which cannot be said about the door that opens inward. However, it is far from always convenient to install an outward-opening front door, especially when it comes to an apartment building. It is important to coordinate the direction of opening the canvas with the nearest neighbors, since an open door should not prevent the emergency evacuation of people living in the neighborhood in case of a fire or any other emergency.
The norms of SNiP do not apply to apartments, private houses, bathrooms, storerooms. Therefore, when planning the direction of opening the door, we will be guided by the convenience of opening and do not forget about safety.
On the other hand, if the standards established by the Ministry of Emergency Situations are not met, the owner of the “wrong” door will face penalties, and in some cases, legal proceedings, which in any case will not be exculpatory for the violator. In order to change the side of the opening, you do not need permission from the BTI, since this event is not a redevelopment. But no oral, and even written, agreements with neighbors do not relieve the owner of an incorrectly installed door from liability.
But for owners of private households, there are no restrictions - doors can be installed in any direction and change direction without any approval from the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
As for administrative buildings and enterprises, there are also certain requirements in this regard. If the door opens a passage to the hall or corridor, which is intended for a large crowd of people in it, it should open "towards itself". This is necessary in order to avoid bruises and injuries passing along the corridor. In other cases, the doors must unconditionally be installed with an outward opening.
Rule 1: Doors should open from a smaller room to a larger one.
For example, in a bathroom or dressing room, opening outward and not inward will not take up additional space in an already small room. In addition, opening the doors to the bathroom from the outside makes the bathroom safer in case someone gets sick and falls on the floor and can block the doors.
Opening the doors to the children's room is more correct to do inside. If the child closes in the room and at this time a situation arises in which you need to urgently help the child, then it will be much easier to break the doors if they open into the children's room.
Rule 2: The door should swing open to most of the room.
When we enter a room, we must immediately see everything that is in it at the entrance. This is possible in cases where the entrance is located in one of the corners of the room, and not in the middle of the wall. In this case, the door opens towards the nearest wall.
If the entrance to the room is in the middle of one of the walls, then the opening should be towards the switch. This means that when we enter or exit, we open the doors with one hand, and turn off or turn on the light with the other. If the switch has yet to be installed, then it is more correct to open it towards the window so that when entering the room, the first thing we see is the window, the light from which would enter the corridor.
Rule 3 Note: Adjacent doors must not touch each other when opened at the same time.
If the doors are very close and touch each other even when installed to the far edges of the opening, then one of the doors will have to open to another room, or move the doorway. Hitting each other doors, when opening, not only can injure themselves, but can also hit someone leaving the room. But most importantly, it must not be allowed to block one door from another.
In small rooms such as pantries, an inward-opening door will minimize the usable area of the room. Doors from rooms to the corridor should open inside the room, since a door opening into the corridor will make it difficult to move along the corridor and may exclude the possibility of moving large pieces of furniture into and out of the room.
The basic rule for installing interior doors is: they should open in the direction where the space is larger. Most often, with a standard layout, this rule implies that interior doors should open towards the room. But on the staircase, the situation is the opposite. That is, it should go outside, not inside. This requirement is dictated by security considerations. Outsiders will not be able to crack it with a simple physical effort, that is, such a door cannot be knocked out. However, if when you open your front door it takes up a lot of space in the stairwell and makes it difficult to move, it would make more sense to make it open in the opposite direction.
REGULATIONS SNIP
According to building codes and regulations (SNiP) “Fire Safety of Buildings and Structures” dated 01/21/1997, doors at evacuation exits and on evacuation routes should open towards the exit from the building. In all other cases, the direction for opening is not regulated, since it does not have standards. Below is a list of them:
- apartment buildings;
- private houses;
- premises in which no more than 15 people can be at the same time;
- pantries, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is not more than 200 m²;
- bathrooms;
- the outer walls of buildings that are located on the northern side of the climatic zone.
Also, the SNiP document dated January 21, 1997 states that at the design stage of the building it is necessary to position the doors in such a way that at the moment of simultaneous opening they should not block each other. That is why there are situations when, in the same room, the doors, although they open in one direction, but from a different hand.
Two years ago I bought an apartment in an elite house under construction. The house has been completed and it's time to renovate. I decided to start by replacing the front door, but I ran into certain requirements. The elder in the house told me that this door should be installed in such a way that it does not contradict fire safety standards. Where should the front door to the apartment open? I decided to give the answer to this question and many others in this short but very useful article.
The installation of an entrance door structure in an apartment in an urban high-rise building or a private cottage is accompanied by various mandatory factors. They are aimed at maintaining the functionality of the structure and at the comfort of its subsequent operation.
At the same time, you yourself should also know what rules and regulations exist in this area. This will allow you to control the installation process.
There is no single scheme and standardization of the door installation process. There are some features that are expressed in the careful regulation of individual moments. They relate to the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the requirements of SNiP. These guidelines state that the door to the dwelling should open outwards. There are also certain additional rules for installing a door structure.
Similar rules are spelled out in a special technical document "Fire safety of modern structures". The principles and options for evacuation are indirectly spelled out here.
Exits in such a room must be opened strictly in accordance with the developed urban structure project. Other equally important rules include:
- If the landing in the house is relatively small, and the door turns inward, it will be necessary to replace it according to the established technical requirements.
- Opening to the outside can only be allowed if there are no obstacles for other residents during a quick emergency evacuation.
- If you install a door contrary to accepted rules, the owner of the apartment may face litigation and fines.
- To avoid problems during the installation of doors, it is worth coordinating this process with the management of the house. In some cases, permits may be required.
- In modern buildings, it is recommended to install doors so that they open inwards. In an emergency, these doors are much easier to knock out.
The presented rules require strict implementation. You can get around them only with the help of reworking the project, conducting a special examination. Owners of ordinary city apartments are unlikely to go this way. The listed additions require certain costs. In this case, you should be aware that the fine for violating the installation will be an order of magnitude higher.
If the house has just been built, a special commission checks the correct direction of the doors. During the verification process, official acceptance documents are issued.
In addition, compliance with fire safety standards is checked. A similar check is carried out by the inspector of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. He checks not only entrance, but also interior door structures. The latter should open according to the principle - from a small to a large room.
fines
The imposition of sanctions is impossible without a preliminary trial.
An exception is the use of the premises for commercial purposes, for example, if the apartment is rented out as an office. If the inspector finds a violation of the rules for installing doors, he writes out an official order and a fine.
In the case of private housing in high-rise buildings, the court will issue a verdict in favor of the inspection organization that filed the claim.
If the owner refuses to comply with the court decision, the bailiffs will simply cut down the door.
If there is no updated project documentation and permission for redevelopment, the homeowner will not have a chance to win in court.
Experts in the field of installation of door structures advise during installation to monitor compliance with such factors:
- Nearby doors must be free to move when opened at the same time. They shouldn't hit each other. For standard urban high-rise buildings, this is a fairly common problem.
- If a neighbor has installed a canvas that opens outward, you should install a door that opens inward. This will protect the residents of the apartments and maintain the integrity and appearance of the structure.
- The door opening angle must be correlated with the established GOST standards. Full opening is the best option.
- When arranging corner apartments, the above rule is not feasible. Here different standards apply.
The standards of the building process require the placement of doorways at a sufficiently large distance from each other. This rule is based on common sense and ease of use.
In private houses, all entrance doors are brought out. According to modern legislation, after the construction of such structures, they are required to be handed over to fire inspectors.
The door is installed incorrectly - what to do?
In order not to face fines and think over your own safety in case of an unforeseen situation, it is worth checking the correct installation of the door. Documents, technical passport and other papers should be checked. If the check showed that the door was installed incorrectly, it will be necessary to reinstall the structure.
Door reinstallation
To properly carry out such an operation, you will need to turn to professionals. Specialists have the necessary experience and professional tools. The following steps are taken during the reinstallation process:
- The direction that allows you to open the door as necessary is determined. This will allow you to understand whether or not you need to change the canvas;
- Reinstallation involves removing the door from the hinges of one side and installing it on the opposite side;
- The lock is transferred and holes from previously installed locks are sealed.
The problem associated with reinstalling the door is specific, but can be solved quickly enough.
Conclusion
- There are certain requirements for the installation of entrance doors. They should not interfere with free exit.
- In order for the door to the living room to be installed correctly, it is worth entrusting this process to professionals.
- If the door is installed incorrectly, you can face litigation and fines.
The question in which direction the entrance doors should open is solved differently in different traditions.
Since ancient times, in Russian villages, they opened only inside the hut. In winter, heavy snowfalls and blizzards often occur. The entrance can be blocked by a huge snowdrift. If the door opens outward, then leaving the house is simply unrealistic. If inside, you can simply open it and blaze a path in the right direction. In many villages, this rule is still observed, born out of experience and common sense.
Feng Shui and proper door installation
The philosophy of feng shui is in complete solidarity with Russian traditions. According to this teaching, the positive energy of luck qi enters the home through the front doors. The correct opening of the front door is inside the building. So it will not block the way for qi flows. Opening the door outward changes their direction, driving away good luck and prosperity.
For the free flow of qi energy, it is also important that secret vertical “arrows” are not directed at the entrance: the spiers of neighboring buildings, lampposts, drains, sharp corners. They degrade the feng shui of the home. To accumulate good energy, you can hang a lantern in front of the entrance of the house (it is important that the place is well lit). Feng Shui experts advise people living on the upper floors to hang a small round mirror above the front door. It will reflect the flows of bad energy.
Where should the front door open according to Vastu Shastra
The Hindu philosophy Vastu Shastra advises to install the main door in the house so that it opens inward and only in a clockwise direction. It will bring good luck and health. The best directions for entry equipment are east and north. From the east, the powerful energy of the rising Sun penetrates into the house. It brings health, fulfillment of desires, glory and clarity of mind. Energy flows from the north bring fertility and luck in all matters.
Extremely undesirable are the southern and western directions. South along Vastu is the zone of influence of Yama. In Hinduism, this is the name of the god of death. Energy entering from the south brings disease, destruction and death. The west and southwest are in the zone of strong influence of Rahu. This is a shadow planet with negative energy. It hinders all good undertakings, brings illnesses and poverty.
Like feng shui, Vastu focuses on the fact that there are no large obstacles in front of the main entrance (trees, lampposts, etc.). They slow down good energy flows.
Rules of convenience and fire safety
According to fire safety standards, the front door must open onto the landing. In the event of a fire, it will not block the entrance, will not become an obstacle to the movement of panicked people. If there are several doors on a small landing at once, they are all installed so as not to interfere with each other (i.e., opening inwards).
If all neighboring doors swing open to the outside, they will interfere with each other and not all residents will be able to quickly evacuate from the burning house. For the arrangement of a private mansion, the rules are not so harsh. In it, the front door can open in any direction.
There is no single answer to this seemingly simple question, because if you put together SNIPs, individual preferences and cultural and historical traditions, many of the most unexpected nuances open up.
Entrance door
Historical and esoteric traditions in this matter are contrary to modern building codes. Since ancient times, in the northern climate, the doors of houses opened only inward, because when snowdrifts sweep outside, otherwise it is simply impossible to open it. Only when a porch appeared, protecting the house from snow drifts, did the doors begin to open outwards.The ancient Chinese tradition of Feng Shui is in solidarity with the beliefs of our Slavic ancestors. The door is the most important part of the house through which good luck and positive energy penetrate, therefore it can only open inwards so that this positive flow is not interrupted.
Navello
The huts are huts, and the specialists of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and SNIPs in this matter have a completely different opinion: the doors at the evacuation exits should open exclusively in the direction of the exit from the building, so that in the event of an emergency it would be convenient to take out the wounded on a stretcher.
In addition, if the front door opens outward, it is almost impossible to knock it out, therefore, criminals trying to enter the house for the purpose of robbery will have to spend more time and effort to break in. So, the external opening of the door is considered more correct, from the point of view of rescuers and law enforcement officers.
Another thing is that it is not always possible to comply with this requirement on a cramped stairwell of an apartment building. In addition, it conflicts with another rule, which states that the direction of opening the door leaf must be coordinated with the nearest neighbors, since an open door should not interfere with the evacuation of people in case of fire, etc.
Interior doors
All these recommendations concern, basically, entrance doors of apartments. In a private space, hardly anyone will interfere with installing the door in the way that suits you. And what do experts advise about interior doors?SNIPIs are more interested in the bathroom, kitchen and bathroom. In these rooms, the doors should open outwards so that in an emergency you can get out by simply pushing the door. If the person inside becomes ill, it is easier to open such a door, since the probability of accidentally blocking it is extremely small.
These recommendations are worth listening to. True, if the door swings open into a narrow corridor, it can knock on the forehead of a passing family member - and then he will need medical help.
The conclusion is simple: in a cramped space it is better to equip the entrance as common sense dictates. In the end, if the space is sorely lacking, you can install a sliding door, which is especially true for small bathrooms, tiny kitchens and dressing rooms.
Adielle
In the nursery, it is recommended to choose a door that opens inward, since it is easier to knock it out in an emergency if the child is suddenly locked from the inside. However, the age of the children also matters. In rooms for the smallest, locks and locks are rarely installed, but with a door that opens inward, you can accidentally hit the baby.
In general, the decision is again yours.
Ferrerolegno
What else needs to be considered when choosing the direction of opening interior doors?
If two doors are located close to each other, you should think about moving the doorway, if this is not possible, consider the option when one door opens into the room and the other into the corridor. In any case, the doors must not block or overlap each other. It's traumatic!If the door is located in the corner of the room, it should swing open towards the nearest wall without blocking the view of the room. When the door is placed in the center of the wall, it is more correct to open it towards the window so that the light from it enters the corridor or the next room.
Right or left?
It also matters whether the door opens to the right or to the left, and here again cultural and historical differences come into play. In Russia, the “right” is the door, in which the hinges are located on the right, and the handle is on the left. In European countries, the situation is exactly the opposite: the “right” door has a handle on the right, and the hinges on the left.
Portek, Legnoform
Therefore, if you are buying an imported door, not a Russian one, make sure you order exactly what you need.
By the way, if you are left-handed, take the opportunity to equip comfortable doors at least in your home, because in public places, opening doors, as a rule, is designed for the “right-handed” majority.
Ferrerolegno
The choice of the direction of opening may seem like a trifle on the scale of the repair, however, improper installation of doors causes inconvenience and even injury. Therefore, solve the problem based on specific living conditions, safety considerations and common sense. Also, keep folding, sliding, and roto doors in mind, as they can sometimes be a way out of a tricky situation – literally and figuratively.
Perhaps not many people wondered in which direction the door in the apartment should open? The answer seems obvious - outside. But is everything so clear or are there situations in which it is considered more convenient to open the front door inward? We will help you understand this topic, taking into account SNiPs and everyday practicality.
In which direction does the door open according to SNiP
There are technical regulations and SNiP, which are approved by the Federal Law and determine the location and option for opening doors. At the same time, they apply exclusively to industrial and public facilities. In such buildings, the opening of the front door in the apartment is carried out in the direction of movement towards the exit to the street. In addition, this applies only to those places located on the evacuation route.
As for apartment buildings, in the current fire safety regulations and any other there is no clear answer to the question of how the door to the apartment should be opened. Accordingly, everyone sets the design to their taste. Of course, most people order doors that open outward, that is, to the platform.
The location of the doors in the apartment and other factors
To choose the optimal opening of the front door to the apartment, you need to take into account a number of factors, so as not to regret the decision later. Architects, designers and interior designers recommend adhering to the following rules and recommendations:
- Comfort and convenience. These factors should be decisive when choosing the door opening side.
- Location and options for opening adjacent doors. An erroneous choice in this case can lead to a situation where two entrance doors simply will not open at the same time, colliding with each other. This state of affairs can lead to conflict situations.
- Opening side of the second door in the opening. Often, apartment owners establish a second line of protection from the cold, extraneous sounds and intruders. In this case, two doors should open in different directions: one inward and the second outward.
Guided by these simple rules, the conclusion suggests itself: the direction of opening the doors is convenient - outward.
Why is it better to open the door outward?
The type of plowing outward has advantages. It is they who most often push people to choose the option of opening the doors in the apartment to the outside, that is, to the site. Let's see what exactly it is connected with:
- Leaving the apartment, you do not have to step back 1-2 steps to open the door.
- If the main door will open outward, you will be able to install another one with an inward opening on the inside of the opening.
- Saving space is perhaps the main advantage. When the front door opens into the hallway, near it, at a distance of almost 1 meter, you will not put either a bedside table or a wardrobe.
How should apartment doors be opened for safety? For burglary resistance and ease of evacuation in case of fire, it is better to order an installation with an outward opening.
When are inward opening doors installed?
Despite all the advantages, many had to be in apartments in which the front door opens inwards. For example, door leafs open inward in apartments located in old houses. Previously, such a layout was used during construction so that the residents of neighboring apartments would not block access to each other and would not create mutual discomfort.
Opening the door inward is required in cases where there is an additional door that opens outward. It can not be in any other way. Another common situation is the presence of a narrow vestibule. Under such conditions, you simply cannot open the door normally to the outside, but there are exceptions.