36″ Door from Mudroom to attached Garage needs replacement.
Currently swings into Mudroom (away from Garage).
Door Company comes out yesterday to look it over and says it’s “illegal”, that Passage Doors from a Garage to dwelling must swing into the Garage.
Rational is that an “explosion” in the garage would not be able to blow a door open past the jamb it seats against.
Is this really true?
I’ve lived in 7 houses that had inswinging doors from attached garages. Didn’t realize how unsafe I was for these last 47 years.
Replies
Sounds like they have a surplus of doors that swing out.
It may also be a local code. The main reason I have heard for having doors that swing out is for commercial buildings where it is for safety reasons. Such as evacuations where a crowd surges against a door, so you would want it to open.
One of the benefits for a outward swinging door is that it would be a lot harder to kick in. But a friends house was robed when the bad guys popped the trim and cut the nails and screws with a sawzall or something like that. They were pro's.
Finally I would guess that the garage doors & windows would blow out first before a properly installed door.
If a Door were to swing out wouldn't it be an easy matter to pull the Hinge Pins? Doesn't seem like any added security there.
NOT WITH N R P HINGES...
Why would anyone be concerned about the security of a garage to house door.If they get into the garage then a door, no matter which way it opens or where the hinge pins are, is not going to stop them.A few years ago there where some robberies in upscale areas. They used a large box truck with a rollup door. They would backup to the garage and open the truck door. Then used a chain saw to cut through the garage door. Then carried the loot out into the truck.To any passerby's it just looked like another trade truck.No one the wiser until they where done and the truck pulled out.
You can use hinges with fixed pins and/or fit the door edge with security pins that engage the jamb when the door closes.BruceT
The better exterior hinges have a little tab on one leaf and opposing hole that prevent casual removal with the pin popped out. Would not stop determined crook with decent prybar though.
My guess is that if they are in your garage, then they have access to a decent prybar."Kinky for Gov. of Texas"
I've done a little fix on existing hinges for outswings.
With the door open, drill a pilot hole thru one side of the middle knuckle and just far enough to put a small divot in the side of the pin, working from where the hole will be hidden when the door is closed. Drive the pin out, drill out and tap the hole to take a 10-32 setscrew. File a flat about 3/32" deep on the side of the pin where the divot is. Drive the pin back in place, with the flat facing the tapped hole. Lock it in place with an allen head setscrew.
Of course the next thing that happens is a few years later, I've forgotten all about it, and go nuts wondering why I can't get the &^%$& hinge pins out.... ;-)
-- J.S.
John,
Another way to secure out swing doors is back one of the middle screws on the middle hinge out about 3/8" to 1/2" Cut the head off. Remove the opposite screw on the other leaf. When the door is closed you cannot pull it off the hinges.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
just a thought, how about a dead bolt for added shear resistance?"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latini
Check local code (call the local BI). Some places require outswinging, some require inswinging, some don't care.
The door should be fire-rated, though, even if local code doesn't require it. Ask the BI about that too, and how many minutes the rating must be for if required.
In my area, the door to garage can swing either way. Regardless of where your located, it must be a 1 hour rated door and self closing. That requirement means that the door must be at least 20 minute fire rated, usually means a fixed label on it's edge indicating it's fire rated door, and have at least two spring loaded hinges that will cause the door to close on its own.
As was pointed out earlier, an outswing door has it's hinge pins on the outside(garage side) of the door so security could be an issue. Check with local building official or just call building permit dept. on the phone and they will tell you that much regarding swing of the door in question.
Carefull about the spring hinges - in my area they are not allowed, you have to have a mechanical closer mounted.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Be careful with that mechanical closer. If you use one, the hinges MUST be ball-bearing type and UL or Warnock Hersey approved--as would all hardware, door, frame, and any other component used in the doorway."Kinky for Gov. of Texas"
Maybe it's best to just not have a door.
Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principle. --Mahatma Gandhi
what about them beads they used to hang in the opening? are they fire rated? no swing to worry about !"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latini
I like the beads idea. I don't know, but if they were made of the correct composite material, it should pass a fire test.
Would you have to listen to SITAR music all the time?"Kinky for Gov. of Texas"
I would think about ease of use. I would not want to swing the door open toward me while standing on step in the garage, because I would have to step back and down to clear the door. It is much easier to push the door into the room while in the garage. The same when leaving the mudroom for the garage. That's my 2 cents.
Never heard of the can't swing in rationale; Code says door can't swing onto a stair.
I would think about ease of use. I would not want to swing the door open toward me while standing on step in the garage,
That is done all the time if a storm/screen door is installed. Around here, screen doors are somewhat common.
If the door is higher than two risers, it requires a porch. In theory, you'd either be on a porch or standing on the garage floor.
blueOur Skytrak is for sale. It has 500 hrs on it. We want 50k (you pay the freight) and we'll finance it. Drop me an email; it's a good buy.
Any door connecting the dwelling to the garage has to be fire rated and must have a self closing hinge ( spring loaded ).
The swing would only matter to the homeowner .usually, but, if it's an outswing door the drop down ( threshold to floor ) cant be more than one and a half inches.
The swing of a door should also not block any light switches.
I don't recall that any of the new houses we've visited here have self-closing hinges, but then I can't recall that they didn't. I'll try to remember to check that next time we go snooping.Our '76 model year home has a fire-rated steel door, though. Opens inward.
Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principle. --Mahatma Gandhi
Local codes will dictate the legality of the opening--not a door company. If this project is subject to permits and inspection, only the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) has an opinion that matters.
Life Safety issues and Security issues are two different breeds of cat oftentimes.
As far as fire rated-doors are concerned, it doesn't matter at all if the wall itself is not a fire rated wall. If your existing door does not have a fire label attached to it, then it is NOT a fire-rated unit.
"Kinky for Gov. of Texas"
the door swing may be an issue for your locale.. but not likely...
most door swings are done for convience..
also sounds like terror tactic selling..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Check your local code, but my garage door swings into the house. I have two steps down from the house to the garage and I definitely wouldn't want (or put up with) a door swinging over the steps.
guess mine is illegal too. actually never even put the closure pack on. been 6 years now. talk about dangerous living! never heard of that rule but makes sense in a logical way. since all of our building codes are so logical, must be true. (?). don't know man.
J
"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."
Bozini Latini
s other say - likely a local code issue, if true. My house ( finished 10 months ago) has a door to the garage that opens into the house.
" There'll be no living with her now" - Captain Jack Sparrow