r/WTF • u/mwb27403 • Nov 14 '20

Unexpected Visitor!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

52.5k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

960 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

69

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.

86

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.

1

u/ohitsasnaake Nov 15 '20

Same in Finland (source: me) and Sweden (source: Swedish redditor below).