Most residential exterior doors, particularly front doors, open inwards and swing due to practical considerations of security, weather protection, and safety
Key Reasons include:
- Security: Inward-opening doors hide hinges inside, reducing the risk of tampering by intruders. They also allow for added security features like safety chains and allow the person opening the door to easier force it closed to deny entry
- Weather Protection: Inward-opening doors are less exposed to being flung open or damaged by wind and rain.
- Practical Consideration: Inward opening doors reduce the risk of hitting the person standing outside when opening the door and are easier to use when entering the house.
- Safety: Inward opening doors are less able to be blocked from opening by debris such as snow or fallen trees. Rescuers can also more easily force entry in emergencies
Exceptions to when you would use inward facing exterior doors include commercial buildings, where outward-opening doors are used to enable easier evacuation during emergencies and groups of people blocking the door from being opened
