Should The Door Of A Safe Room Swing Inward Or Outward?

A common misconception about safe room doors is that they must swing in a particular direction – inward or outward. According to ICC 500, the pressure testing on a door must be conducted away from the door stop, meaning that the door is pressure-tested in the weakest condition regardless of being in-swinging or out-swinging. Additionally, a door must undergo the missile impact resistance testing in the configuration that will be used for installation.

Beyond code requirements, both inward- and outward-swinging doors have benefits. For example, inward-swinging doors are less likely to be blocked by debris, while outward-swinging doors provide more usable space within the safe room.

In some states or communities, the applicable building code may require that doors swing in a particular direction. For information on code requirements for your jurisdiction, contact a local building official or licensed design professional in your area.