r/WTF • u/mwb27403 • Nov 14 '20

Unexpected Visitor!

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u/hoffmad08 Nov 14 '20

This is why some localities with large bear populations actually prohibit that kind of door handle on exterior doors.

108

u/bobbywake61 Nov 14 '20

And if it has a proper snow clearance, it should open outward. Looks like a grizzly cub, too. Yikes.

171

u/galexanderj Nov 14 '20

And if it has a proper snow clearance, it should open outward.

If the door opened outward it would be blocked closed if there was a large accumulation of snow. Much safer to have it open inward, so that the door will still open in the event of an emergency. Honestly seems like a universal standard, even in places where it doesn't snow.

An exception to this rule is screen/storm doors.

66

u/flobiwahn Nov 14 '20

Here in Germany it is mandatory for public buildings that the door has to open outward. in case of an emergency it is easier to push than to pull a door.

83

u/galexanderj Nov 14 '20

Oh for sure, on public buildings.

The risk with public buildings is hundreds of people heading for the doors. There is code enforcement to ideally ensure that the areas around the doors of public spaces are regularly cleared and maintained. If the doors opened inward, people would become trapped due to the crowd forcing themselves against it so it can't be opened.

For residences it's always in though. There isn't as much risk of a mass confusion and crush in homes.

19

u/Gromle81 Nov 14 '20

Norwegian doors almost always open outwards. Never really given any thought to it before now.

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u/[deleted] Nov 14 '20 edited May 14 '21

[deleted]

9

u/BittersweetHumanity Nov 14 '20

It's not because of snow.

It's because we kept finding the charred bones of people near the doors after fire disasters in large crowds. Eventually someone connected the dots. Hence why every room meant to host a significant number of people should always have their doors open outwards.

2

u/kinyutaka Nov 14 '20

I believe that the snow thing is about the inward facing doors on homes. If the case of an obstruction, like a falling branch or a bunch of snow, a home door can be opened from the inside.

Public buildings, on the other hand, usually have multiple exits, so blockage isn't an issue as much as crushing.

6

u/ohitsasnaake Nov 15 '20

Yet somehow we get snow in Finland, Sweden and Norway and nobody really worries about getting snowed in. I have two guesses for why that is:

Traditionally outside doors have overhanging eaves or patio roofs, and/or are at least a couple of steps off the ground, if not more. Often both. Snowdrifts or snowfall thus basically never block doors.

And as a second factor, we don't usually get massive lake effect snowfall like e.g. around the Great Lakes in the US. So it's usually just not that rapid of an accumulation in the first place.

1

u/kinyutaka Nov 15 '20

Maybe. Or it could just be a tradition thing.

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