For safety in case of fire. It would be much easier to leave house or apartment. Previously it was an official requirement according to state building standard, but now it's just a recommendation. If someone builds a very small house (like a forest house for winter hunting), its door will often be opening inwards.
One legend posits that a large group of people once died in a single fire, and thus it was decreed that doors should open outward to allow for easier escape. Another theory suggests that at one time lodgings in Scandinavia were very small, and thus space on the interior of the property was at a premium.
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.
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.
Entry doors that open outward offer a wide range of benefits and continue to grow in popularity. An outswing door with impact glass makes it nearly impossible for criminals to break into your home. Impact glass is manufactured to withstand flying objects without shattering and breaking into a million pieces.
In older style doors, having the door open outwards would mean that the hinges would be on the outside. This would mean that the door could easily be unattached and opened by a burglar with the right tools. Whilst there are hinges that can be hidden in the door, it's become the norm to have them inward opening.
Security – inward-opening doors keep the door's hinges safely inside the house, which prevents any potential tampering, and can also be more easily fitted with extra security features such as latches and chains.
Doors in all commercial establishments always open outward, per both commercial building and fire codes. This insures that means of egress will not become choke points in the event of fire, natural disaster, or general panic. Why don't all front doors open inward?
Opening the door with your right hand can save a biker's life. If you live in a city, you see people driving dangerously all the time. But even parked cars can be hazardous. This is especially true for cyclists.
The most common way to install French doors is so that they open outwards, but it is possible to have them open inwards instead if you are short of space in your garden. This can actually make for a more secure option too, as the hinges will be hidden inside your home.
We've been exploring why Scandinavian countries in Europe, that's Denmark, Norway and Sweden and a few other countries have doors which open outwards rather than inwards.
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.
They will always provide a means to secure your things, like a coin locker or storage room where you can leave your belongings safe while exploring the city. If you wonder why pods cannot be locked, it is because capsule hotels are technically not considered actual hotels in Japan, thus not requiring a locking system.
One of the reasons given for this is modesty, as it is easier to cover up before someone comes around an opening door. Another argument for inward-facing interior doors is safety. If your bedroom door opens onto a passageway with high traffic, you may knock someone over as they walk past.
Two doors indicated that the house probably had more than one room, which was a real symbol of prosperity for the American pioneer class. This reason makes sense when you consider that many midcentury homes (and even today's houses) make a show of the number of garage doors attached to the dwelling.
No One Uses Their Front Door (But Everyone Has One)
“Front door” is a misnomer. They're just decorations to confuse out-of-state guests. No one uses them. You might be bewildered to see planters, barrels and all manner of seasonal landscaping placed squarely in the way of front doors.
The Dutch Reach is a practice for drivers and passengers where, rather than using your hand closest to the door to open it, you use your far hand1. This choice sets off a series of five linked actions: reach, swivel, look back, open slowly, and then exit facing traffic.
To Prevent Other Break-ins
Leaving your door unlocked overnight can potentially give access to those wishing to do more than steal things. So, it's very important that you not only make sure your door is locked at night, but also adding some extra security to your door, such as a door chain.
As the name indicates, the 'Dutch Reach' originates from the Netherlands. It is a safety method encouraging vehicle drivers or passengers to open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side.
Outward opening windows (casement windows)
These are traditional types of windows used in Ireland and the United Kingdom for centuries, mostly due to the prevailing weather conditions and strong winds, and because this type of window opening was the only one available.
Irish culture has many known associations with the red front door. When Queen Victoria ordered them to paint their doors black, red doors were a sign of rebellion. There is also folklore symbolism with some choosing to believe a red front door warns off evil spirits and ghosts.
The maximum width of a swinging door leaf shall be 48 inches (1219 mm) nominal. The minimum clear height of door openings shall be not less than 80 inches (2032 mm).
But why do bathroom stall doors swing in? The most common answer is that it comes down to space saving. Public restrooms are often cramped and crowded. People are trying to move from the stalls to the sinks and back out the door.
Australian houses, especially Federation houses and those built before World War II, would often have door handles two-thirds of the way up the door. The exact reason why is still unclear. Some people argue that it was to ensure children couldn't enter rooms, while others say it was more a trend or fashion.
Inward opening doors are generally regarded as safer because the hinges are on the inside, so no one can tamper with them. Exposed hinges are a security weak point and makes it harder for burglars to gain entry. If the hinges are easy to move, the room becomes less secure making you feel more vulnerable at night.