Alright, let's get this out of the way first: kicking down a door is not the best option for opening a locked door. It will damage the door and cost you lots of money to fix it. It is better to call a locksmith, pick the lock, or attempt to crawl in a window. But let's say it's an emergency.
Usually, an exterior door that opens outward is more vulnerable to force attacks than an inward opening one. However, if you know its weak points, you can secure any outward swinging door pretty fast without much hassle.
A minimum of 10, 75-pound strikes are reported to be the equivalent of over 100 foot pounds, which is why the Grade 1 deadbolt locks have been tested. A really strong criminal would have to kick your door over 100 times in order for it to begin to degrade or show signs of weakness.
Generally speaking, deadbolts are sturdy locks that can withstand kick in and other forced entry attempts. However, a door with a deadbolt can still be kicked down if the door itself is not solid. So, to protect your door against kick in, you want to make sure both the lock and door are of high-quality grade.
Fork. In a pinch, a simple fork can be used to temporarily lock a door that inwardly opens. To secure the door, bend the tines of the fork so that the tips of the tines fit into the door latch and the rest of the fork can comfortably remain in the gap between the door and the doorframe when the door is closed.
In certain cases, exterior doors will open outwards. For example, most exterior doors in public buildings are outward opening. This is for safety reasons. If a large crowd of people attempt to escape from a building, they will all have to back up to open an inward opening door.
You can have outward swinging front doors, even though they are not common in the UK. The only time you would need to be careful is if your home opens up onto a highway, as there is legislation that means you'd need to get in touch with your local authority in order to make sure you could have it swinging outwards.
What are the 3 weakest points of a door? A door is usually most vulnerable at its strike plate, its hinges, and its existing lock hardware. Burglars and criminals are prone to attacking these points because that's where it's easiest to get in.
Most interior doors have hollow wood or fiberboard materials, and so doesn't pose a big challenge. These doors do not offer much in terms of security. But outside doors have a solid core made with shaved wood and laminate, so it's hard to kick down.
Assuming the wooden door is 2 inches thick, 6 feet 8 inches high and 3 feet wide, and is perfectly dry, it would have a breaking force of 1250lbs or 8.61844662MPa, assuming the size of the immovable rod is 2cm diameter and 30cm long, is a perfect and regular dodecagonal prism and does not deform under high pressures.
Homes in certain parts of Florida do have an outward opening door to comply with the state's Building Code requirement. This is to ensure the occupants' and their properties' highest level of protection in case a strong weather disturbance, like a hurricane, hits the area.
Patio doors are typically two side-by-side doors that open out onto your patio or deck. Patio doors can dramatically change the atmosphere of a room by improving air circulation and providing an inviting path to patios and outdoor decks.
“A door, gate or bar which is put up on any premises and opens on a street shall be so put up as not to open outwards unless, in the case of a door, gate or bar put up on a public building, the local authority for the area in which the building is situated and also, if the street is a highway, the highway authority ...
The rule of thumb is to install interior doors to open into the room. This approach prevents doors from becoming an obstruction in tight areas like hallways. Doors attached to tight spaces will often swing out to keep someone from getting trapped inside.
In public buildings most entry doors open outward. Why is this? This is a basic safety measure in case a building needs to be evacuated quickly. These outward swinging doors are great in case of a mob emergency situation but are best left for stores and not your home.
Security. Outswing doors are notably difficult to force open from outside, making them great for security areas. On the flip side, though, hinges are on the outside, meaning if security is a concern, you have to choose a style without removable pins.
Since deadbolts are one of the best ways to secure your home, you will have the peace of mind you need when leaving home. A burglar will not be able to break through a deadbolt with a crowbar or pick them open, which ensures the safety and security of your home.
The BHMA/ANSI has three, separate grades for deadbolts, simply labeled grades 1 through 3. Grade 1 is the highest quality, and the most dependable deadbolt you can have. Grade 3 is your average deadbolt which will provide an accepted, but minimal, level of security.
The common methods are to use a lever, such as a Halligan bar or crowbar, or to use a tool to concentrate a large amount of force on the door, such as a sledgehammer, hydraulic jack, or battering ram.
Ultimate Lock has the ability to withstand up to 4000 pounds of force, to put things in perspective, most deadbolts can only withstand roughly 100-200 pounds of force.