Well, to put it simply, despite not appearing in any building regulations, all bathroom doors should swing inwards. And there are a number of very good reasons for this, which we'll get on to shortly. As you go about your daily life, you shouldn't ever encounter outward-swinging toilet doors.
Don't Block The Hallway/corridor
This is actually the most pertinent reason behind the “push to enter” doors. The best thing about “push to enter” doors is that, since they open inwards, they don't block the hallway/corridor. Suppose there's a high 'traffic' restroom in the hallway.
By coding laws, a hinged shower door should always open outward and not inward. The reason for this is safety. For instance, if you fell while in the shower and needed assistance, a person from the outside could not reach you because the door swings inward and you are blocking it.
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.
Panel Doors: This type of door is made with wooden panels and is suitable for your bathrooms. Panel doors are durable and can withstand wet conditions. Sliding Doors: It helps save a lot of space while adding style to your bathroom.
One of the most important aspects of bathroom design is the door size or opening dimensions. The standard bathroom door size should have a clear opening of 32 inches and a door width of 34 inches. The 34-inch clear width is considered the universal design for bathroom doors.
Opening in is the Safest Way for a Door To Swing
In most houses and apartments, bathrooms are located either on a landing or along a corridor. If a bathroom door opened into the corridor, it could pose a risk to anyone outside the bathroom making their way to another room.
Should exterior doors open in or out? Exterior doors tend to open inwards for security reasons. For the door to open outwards, the hinge mechanism would be located on the outside of the home. However, any hinges located outside pose a big risk to your home's security.
Outward-opening doors are also more secure than inward-opening doors because they're less likely to be forced open from the inside. Additionally, outward-opening doors can be secured with locks and latches that are located on both the outside and inside of the door, making it difficult for intruders to gain access.
Security is enhanced. A very high percentage of home invasions and burglaries begin with the intruder simply kicking in a door. That's virtually impossible when the door swings outward. Windows may still offer a relatively easy way to access a property, but outward-opening doors will certainly deter many intruders.
Textured or patterned glass:
This is becoming popular as it provides privacy while still allowing light to enter the shower area. Textured or patterned glass has several benefits, including: Privacy: Textured or patterned glass can provide privacy while still allowing natural light to enter a room.
After you've stepped out of the shower, leave the shower door open to help moisture to escape from the shower walls, door and floor. If you have a shower curtain, however, create a gap to allow air to circulate, but keep the plastic or fabric relatively flat to prevent moisture from getting trapped in the folds.
Choosing a Shower Door Style
If space is limited, a traditional sliding bypass door remains a good choice, but a pivot door that swings inward might also be a more stylish option. An accordion-style folding door might work well for larger showers where there is limited space for a swinging door.
A feng shui bathroom door is a closed bathroom door! Shutting the bathroom door and putting the toilet seat down are two of the golden rules of feng shui, according to Ivy Marie Lim, a realtor and feng shui consultant. Making sure these are closed will stop positive energy from getting washed away.
The top answer is security. The simplest door designs have exposed hinges, a security weak point. By positioning these hinges on the inside of a front door, it makes it harder for burglars to gain entry. It's also easier to open inward-facing doors just a crack to check who is outside.
You'll often notice gaps between the sides of the stall doors as well – This is in place to discourage inappropriate behavior within the bathroom stalls. It's also easier for law enforcement to locate criminals if they are on the run and have chosen a public restroom as their hiding place.
Florida has one of the most stringent building codes in the United States, as all exterior doors must open outward if you live in South Florida. Outward opening doors provide you with an added layer of protection, as an inward swinging door only has a latch and a deadbolt to prevent it from blowing into your home.
The front door usually opens outward, which is opposite of in Western houses. This is because Japanese people do not wear shoes in the house, they take off and line up their shoes at the entrance. If the door opens inward, the shoes will be in the way and could cause you to be not able to open the door.
Harsh And Extreme Weather
Scandinavian houses are faced with a harsher climate than Australia and endure plenty of rain and heavy snowfalls. Doors which open outwards help to reduce the amount of water and snow entering the property, minimising any damage.
Beyond code requirements, both inward- and outward-swinging doors have benefits. For example, inward-swinging doors are less likely to be blocked by debris, while outward-swinging doors provide more usable space within the safe room.
Steel doors are among the best front doors for security. It's nearly impossible to break through; even if beaten or abused, these doors are more likely to dent than come down. Having covered the advantages of steel doors, the best steel door is the Jeld-Wen's Camber Top Mission Primed Steel Door.
A steel door is your best bet if security and durability are top priorities. Steel units are stronger than wood or fiberglass doors, and they won't crack or warp.
In many European homes, however, the tradition is to keep bathroom doors securely closed at all times. I think this is probably a heritage from the days when 'water closets' were malodorous places and one sought to keep unpleasant odors out of the rest of the house.” Merry Andrews.
Doors to toilet rooms shall have an opening of not less than 32 inches (813 mm) clear in width and shall be equipped with hardware which will permit the door to swing outward or in a manner to negate the need to push against a patient who may have collapsed within the toilet room.
A general rule is to use one hinge per 30 inches of door. If a door is 60 inches tall, you may be able to use two hinges with it. Doors taller than 60 inches, however, will likely require three hinges. You should still take into account the door's weight and whether it's an interior or exterior door.