I am purchasing a new apartment entry door and need help with choosing in which direction should it swing. The layout of the common area is quite tight:
My concerns:
- my own apartment is not too big. Any space savings from the door swinging outwards will be significant.
- avoid damage from crashing with the elevator door (and unsafe situations)
- avoid causing discomfort to neighbors
- I commute with a bicycle – it should be easily un/loaded into the elevator
- N1 uses only the stairs and is a single persons; N2 and N3 are families and use mostly the elevator.
- it can't be seen from the "drawing", but it my door swings towards N1 it's gonna block them in – the space was drawn disproportionately long.
Too all the comments: we checked with the door company, the swing IS arbitrary and up to our choice.
Best Answer
Inertia is the most powerful force in the universe
In other words, install the new door the exact same way as the old door. That should make installation a little easier (lock & hinges in same places as before) and, more importantly, will avoid complaints from neighbors or building management of "why did you change it?" You can't be accused of violating either local building code or the building's own rules if you closely mimic the previous configuration.
Since you are replacing the door yourself (or with help, but you and not the building management), I presume this is a condominium or similar "you own it" situation and not a rental apartment. If it is a rental, you should not be doing this at all. But assuming you own the apartment, there are often rules, for good reason, about anything that affects the common areas in any way - whether physically (like door swing) or even aesthetically (like door color). So your first step is to talk to the management company, condominium board of directors or whatever the equivalent is in your building. Ask them about: