A door handle that pushes outward from the inside? Not being critical, but it's unusual to see where I'm from. Is it a European thing, because I imagine opening doors like that all the time must be incredibly awkward?

71TheRoman said:

A door handle that pushes outward from the inside? Not being critical, but it's unusual to see where I'm from. Is it a European thing, because I imagine opening doors like that all the time must be incredibly awkward?

In Finland, all houses have doors that open outwards, or at least all that I've seen. And what do you mean awkward? I'm not really getting how opening a door in a different direction would be weird in any way.

A door opening inward isn't a global security norm?
I could check it but... Maybe later...

Naumahagtos said:

A door opening inward isn't a global security norm?
I could check it but... Maybe later...

A common joke I've heard (well, at least my dad said it many times) is that the door opening outwards is for people's safety while door opening inwards makes it easier for FBI to kick the door in.

71TheRoman said:

A door handle that pushes outward from the inside? Not being critical, but it's unusual to see where I'm from. Is it a European thing, because I imagine opening doors like that all the time must be incredibly awkward?

It used to be functionality matter, when door opens outeward it does not let snow in in case there is lots of it outside. These days we have perches and staris and other stuff buffering the snow out but it has stayed as tradition.

The version I have heard:

There was a fire emergency in some large public building in Finland during the XIX century. The panicking crowd pushed itself against the main entrance door, which opened inwards. Nobody was able to open the door, and this resulted in numerous deaths. Afterwards the regent gave an order that all doors in Finland be built to open outwards.

No idea if there is any truth in this anecdote. Anyways, it did feel pretty weird that apartment and house doors opened in the wrong direction back when I lived abroad for a while.

Katajanmarja said:

The version I have heard:

There was a fire emergency in some large public building in Finland during the XIX century. The panicking crowd pushed itself against the main entrance door, which opened inwards. Nobody was able to open the door, and this resulted in numerous deaths. Afterwards the regent gave an order that all doors in Finland be built to open outwards.

No idea if there is any truth in this anecdote. Anyways, it did feel pretty weird that apartment and house doors opened in the wrong direction back when I lived abroad for a while.

In Europe in general, large buildings are mandated to have their outermost doors open outwards, and if they're electronically locked, to be fitted with a fail-open lock, so that in an emergency, the escape route is unobstructed, and the simple mass of people will hold the door open instead of everyone having to pull it open for themselves.