Exterior Door Backward

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by rmaday

Ditto.

I did not note it was an attached Garage (heated)

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Seeing an exterior door open to the exterior on residential is very rare, but have seen some on attached garages up here.
When I see those, I check for security hinges. They make different types.
Here is an example.
Door Hinges on Exterior Swinging Doors


Although most people don't give a second thought to the security options available in door hinges, there are door hinges available that can provide better security.
In some parts of the country, it is common to see doors swing out. When the door swings outward, the hinge pins are typically exposed on the outside of the house.
This could allow an intruder to tap the hinge pins up and out, and lift the door off its hinges, removing the door without unlocking it.
There are several door hinge designs available that make it more difficult to remove the hinge pins.


Non-Removable Pins

On these hinges, the pins are held in place by a setscrew. If the door is in the open position, the setscrew is exposed and can be retracted, and the hinge pins removed. If the door is closed, the setscrew cannot be accessed.

Safety Studs

These hinges come in full mortised type only, meaning the hinge sits in routed-out insets in the door and frame. Studs extend from one hinge leaf and a hole is punched in the corresponding position on the opposite leaf. When the door is closed, the stud sits in the hole. If the hinge pin is removed, the door still cannot be taken off its hinges because the stud holds it in place.


Fast-Riveted (Crimped) Pins


These hinges are designed so the hinge pin cannot be removed. The hinge pin is made longer than the hinge height, inserted into the hinge, and spun on the end to create a rivet-type end on the top and bottom of the pin.
Using hinges that keep an intruder from taking the door off can be a benefit even if the hinge pins are on the inside face of the door.
Combined with a deadbolt lock with a captured key feature, these features can help deter an intruder, who has broken in through a window, from unlocking the door or taking the door off its hinges.
It is important to use these security products on all exterior doors, including any from the garage to the outside, and on any doors from an attached garage to the house.
Security products can also be retrofitted onto existing hinges in older homes.

The non-removable pin is popular because it looks like a regular hinge. (NRP)
The other problem with outswing doors is water infiltration from the top of the doors.
In this case a drip cap is usually installed but never is.

It would also be prudent to observe that any door exiting to the exterior should not open over stairs.
It is code legal to have two risers or less with out a landing at exterior doors per the IRC 2006 I believe.

Landings should also be no more than 1-1/2" lower than the thresholds.

Hope this helps a little.

Marcel

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by tneri

Since were on the subject of doors, is there any particular code that states the main entry door has to open out. I see them open either way. Today I had a retired builder who says that the door has to open out. Does anybody know anyting about this.

Tom

Florida Hurricane Codes require that the entry doors swing outward.

[Nick Gromicko]

As should public buildings.

[jkogel]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

Florida Hurricane Codes require that the entry doors swing outward.

Guess they never get snowdrifts,eh Marcel?
Around here, the thieves don't know what hinge pins are. But they can pop a glass slider out of a track ok.

[Jeffrey R. Wicklander]

Originally Posted by tneri

Thanks for all of your input. This customer claims he was a builder and that the door was supposed to open outwards. I also talked to a builder friend who said there was no particular code for this.

Thanks again..

The residential door should open inward for security reasons. By example... if one of the seasonal "college-aged magazine subscription salesmen" come to your door and decide, when you're opening the door, to force their way in. It's a lot easier for the homeowner to block the door from opening inward than it would be to keep the door from opening outward.

Jeff

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by jkogel

Guess they never get snowdrifts,eh Marcel?
Around here, the thieves don't know what hinge pins are. But they can pop a glass slider out of a track ok.

I was glad my doors open in last winter ha. ha.

Marcel

[John Allingham]

Just for interest, from Ontario Building Code:

9.6.8. Resistance to Forced Entry
9.6.8.1. Application
(1)

Except as permitted in Sentence (2), this Subsection applies to,
(a) swinging entrance doors to dwelling units,
(b) swinging doors between dwelling units and attached garages or other ancillary spaces, and
(c) swinging doors that provide access directly or indirectly from a storage garage to a dwelling unit.

(2)

Sentence (1) does not apply to exterior doors to garages and to other ancillary spaces.

9.6.8.7. Outward Swinging Doors

(1) Except for storm doors or screen doors, doors described in Sentence 9.6.8.1.(1) that swing outward shall be provided

with hinges or pins so that the doors cannot be removed when they are in the closed position.