Interior doors should generally open into the room.
Why Doors Should Open Inward
Based on general recommendations, interior doors are typically hung to open into the room they serve. This practice is primarily for safety and practicality, especially concerning traffic flow outside the room.
As stated in a recommendation from December 20, 2023, "It is generally recommended that interior doors be hung to open into the room, rather than out into a hallway or other common area. This helps to avoid doors being opened into a pathway of traffic and potentially obstructing or colliding with someone passing by."
Opening a door outward into a busy hallway or landing can create a hazard, as someone walking by could be hit by the opening door. Conversely, opening the door inward contains the door swing within the room, minimizing this risk.
Key Considerations for Door Swing
While opening inward is the standard, specific situations might warrant an exception. However, the primary driver for the recommendation is safety and traffic management.
Here's a quick look at the main point:
| Door Swing Direction | Primary Justification |
|---|---|
| Into the Room | Prevents obstruction or collision in hallways/common areas. |
| Outward (Rare) | Might be necessary in very small rooms where inward swing is impractical or conflicts with furniture. |
Practical Implications
- Safety First: Avoiding collisions in high-traffic areas like hallways is the main benefit of opening doors inward.
- Space Management: While generally opening inward, consider the layout of the room to ensure the door doesn't obstruct key furniture or traffic flow within the room itself. However, this is a secondary consideration compared to hallway safety.
- Accessibility: In specific accessibility contexts, different swing directions or types of doors (like sliding doors) might be necessary, but the general recommendation for standard hinged interior doors remains opening inward.
In summary, adhering to the guideline of hanging interior doors to open into the room is a standard practice rooted in enhancing safety and improving the flow of movement outside the room.
