When purchasing an exterior door first determine which type of door you need for a particular installation whether it s inward or outward swing.
Exterior door swing code.
Inswing exterior doors dominate the residential market but a better case can be made for an entry door that swings out rather than in.
I think the building codes should be changed to favor outswing doors in all but a few instances.
This is a pretty strong statement that will raise a few neck hairs so if you don t.
The landing or floor on the exterior side shall be not more than 7 3 4 inches 196 mm below the top of the threshold provided the door does not swing over the landing or floor.
Doors to individual hotel or motel units shall operate similarly except that when the bolt and unlatching operation is key operated from corridor or exterior side of the unit door large bow keys 2 inch full bow or 1 1 4 inch half bow shall be provided in lieu of lever type hardware on the corridor side.
This allowance provides some design flexibility.
There are those who recommend that an outswing door is more secure from breakins and is safer during hurricane season.
For instance codes in hurricane prone areas may require exterior doors to swing in rather than out.
Local codes typically don t enforce directional exterior door swing but be sure to check the codes before installation.
For all non egress exterior doors the 2003 code update allows a 7 3 4 in.
Outswing doors are more secure airtight and durable than inswing style doors.
There are exceptions but these doors must not only pass a forced entry test but also a water infiltration.
2018 irc section r311 3 1 restricts threshold height a required exit door in residences to 1 inches from the top of the the threshold to the floor or landing on each side of the door.
Any other exterior door has a threshold height limited to 7 inches.
This code outlines door construction requirements the different types of hardware that should.
In south florida it is the norm for all exterior doors to swing outward.
Step down on the interior and up to two steps down to the landing on the exterior regardless of which way the door swings it can only swing over one step.
It is also code that these doors swing outward.