Door Swing Requirements

What are the requirements for a door's swing?

2000 NFPA 101® Life Safety Code®

7.2.1.4.4*

During its swing, any door in a means of egress shall leave not less than one-half of the required width of an aisle, corridor, passageway, or landing unobstructed and shall not project more than 7 in. (17.8 cm) into the required width of an aisle, corridor, passageway, or landing, when fully open. Doors shall not open directly onto a stair without a landing. The landing shall have a width not less than the width of the door. (See 7.2.1.3.)

Exception:  In existing buildings, a door providing access to a stair shall not be required to maintain any minimum unobstructed width during its swing, provided that it meets the requirement that limits projection to not more than 7 in. (17.8 cm) into the required width of a stair or landing when the door is fully open.

A.7.2.1.4.4

The requirement of 7.2.1.4.4 is not intended to apply to the swing of cross-corridor doors such as smoke barrier doors and horizontal exits.