Outswing exterior door

[Marc]

Can someone point me in the direction of an IRC citation that requires at least one exterior door to swing outside instead of inside?

I looked at R311.4 but it doesn't say 'outswing'.

Thanks.

Marc

[Erby]

Wasn't aware that the IRC required such. Seldom see it around here in Kentucky!

[Bill Kibbel]

I don't know of any residential code requiring an outswing door.

How would you open it when there's a 6' snow drift against it?

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[Jim Baird]

There is none in residential Marc.

On most manufactured homes both entries swing out to save floor space, but not due to any regs.

[Marc]

Thanks for the responses.

It might be a local thing. I'll look around.

Marc

[caryseidner]

Doors that swing out will have their hinge pins on the outside of the house. That would be a security risk, assuming standard hinges are used.

[Marc]

Doors that swing out will have their hinge pins on the outside of the house. That would be a security risk, assuming standard hinges are used.

Folks use security hinges here, with the set screw on the hinge pin, pretty much what you're talking about.

I think I'll get with the chief building inspector tomorrow AM, get this straightened out.

Marc

[Jerry Simon]

I asked about a similar item a couple years ago here, but never did get a *good* answer. In Chicagoland, most every exterior door swings inward. However, while strolling up and down the Florida streets one day on vacation, I noticed most every - if not all - residential front doors swung outwards.

Gotta be a reason. . .

[John Kogel]

I asked about a similar item a couple years ago here, but never did get a *good* answer. In Chicagoland, most every exterior door swings inward. However, while strolling up and down the Florida streets one day on vacation, I noticed most every - if not all - residential front doors swung outwards.

Gotta be a reason. . .

That way, the wind will blow it shut. [:-graduat

[Jim Katen]

Out swinging doors seal better against wind driven rain. Much better.

[kurt]

That's a function of door design and construction, pressure differential dissipation, and installation details, not swing direction.

Next time you're up on a high rise observation deck, look at the door design. Good doors perform like curtain walls. Lots of redundant water management.

[Steven Hockstein]

Bill is right. We do not design homes with outswing exterior doors where there can be snow. There are some exceptions (i.e. at a covered porch), but they are rare.

[Inspectorjoe]

Bill is right. We do not design homes with outswing exterior doors where there can be snow. There are some exceptions (i.e. at a covered porch), but they are rare.

Then what about storm doors? They always swing outward and they are ubiquitous here in eastern PA, where we get a lot of snow.

[Erby]

That's when you have the kids climb out the back window, and shovel the snow away from the door. Use to do it many times out in northwest Nebraska.

[Jim Katen]

That's a function of door design and construction, pressure differential dissipation, and installation details, not swing direction.

Next time you're up on a high rise observation deck, look at the door design. Good doors perform like curtain walls. Lots of redundant water management.

Of course. But high rise doors aside, a typical single-family commodity-grade inswing door will be more likely to leak than a typical outswing door with a bumper threshold.

[kurt]

Yeah, typical cheap doors leak. No doubt.

[Steven Hockstein]

Bill is right. We do not design homes with outswing exterior doors where there can be snow. There are some exceptions (i.e. at a covered porch), but they are rare.

Then what about storm doors? They always swing outward and they are ubiquitous here in eastern PA, where we get a lot of snow.

I have no control over what people add to their homes. I just said that we do not design homes with outswing exterior doors in areas where snow can block exiting.

I often see storm doors too. Does not make it a good idea, but it is permitted.

R311 in the IRC 2009 (NJ Edition) is the code reference that was originally requested in the beginning of this thread.

Read IRC 311.3.1 that references direction of door swing and step-down. The problem is when there is not a step-down, and no roof over the entryway, the door can easily be blocked by snow.

[Marc]

Read IRC 311.3.1 that references direction of door swing and step-down. The problem is when there is not a step-down, and no roof over the entryway, the door can easily be blocked by snow.

I need to get a new copy of the IRC. My 2006 doesn't have a R311.3.1

Thanks Steven.

Marc

[BADAIR]

Read IRC 311.3.1 that references direction of door swing and step-down. The problem is when there is not a step-down, and no roof over the entryway, the door can easily be blocked by snow.

I need to get a new copy of the IRC. My 2006 doesn't have a R311.3.1

Thanks Steven.

Marc

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/

occupancy capacity could apply on egress

i'm pretty sure over 50 requires outswing...ymmv

[Marc]

Read IRC 311.3.1 that references direction of door swing and step-down. The problem is when there is not a step-down, and no roof over the entryway, the door can easily be blocked by snow.

I need to get a new copy of the IRC. My 2006 doesn't have a R311.3.1

Thanks Steven.

Marc

I didn't see it there. Nothing about outswinging exterior doors.

Marc

[Mike Lamb]

It would be a special order to get out-swinging doors around Chicago. When I see them swinging out, they are doors designed to swing in, and they leak.

[Jim Katen]

Read IRC 311.3.1 that references direction of door swing and step-down. The problem is when there is not a step-down, and no roof over the entryway, the door can easily be blocked by snow.

I need to get a new copy of the IRC. My 2006 doesn't have a R311.3.1

Thanks Steven.

Marc

I didn't see it there. Nothing about outswinging exterior doors.

Marc

It's related to a step down at the door. The NJ edition might have something about snow.

Why do you think it would be a problem in your area? Not much snow there.

[Marc]

Read IRC 311.3.1 that references direction of door swing and step-down. The problem is when there is not a step-down, and no roof over the entryway, the door can easily be blocked by snow.

I need to get a new copy of the IRC. My 2006 doesn't have a R311.3.1

Thanks Steven.

Marc

I didn't see it there. Nothing about outswinging exterior doors.

Marc

It's related to a step down at the door. The NJ edition might have something about snow.

Why do you think it would be a problem in your area? Not much snow there.

Problem? Not a problem, just trying to get the code citation on it so I speak to clients, etc from an informed view.

Had a house earlier this week that didn't have one. Realtor/builder grapevine around here says at least one outswing must be installed but there's no consensus.

Marc

[Steven Hockstein]

for your reference

Download Attachment: Threshold.pdf

867.25?KB

There is no reference to snow. Common sense dictates that you don't place an outswing door that can be blocked by snow.

[Marc]

for your reference

Download Attachment: Threshold.pdf

867.25?KB

There is no reference to snow. Common sense dictates that you don't place an outswing door that can be blocked by snow.

Still not a word about outswinging doors.

Marc