January 4, 2011

Push Pull Door Dilemma: A sticker solution.

This post got me thinking about those hundred of doors I have opened and closed in my life with the sticker of either "PUSH" or "PULL" even if they could open either by pushing or pulling.

So, for the fun of it this sticker can be used for doors that open both ways.



It takes me at least a second to decide if I should push the door or pull it if I have clearly seen it possible to do so either ways. Some store doors open both ways, where in some places, it's really uncomfortable to follow the sticker blindly and this is where we loose time.

Door swing directions are mildly regulated for safety reasons. For example, a public building or a housing complex should have outward swinging doors. This is so that in case of a fire, people should not huddle together at the exit, trying to swing the door towards themselves! It should open outwards for easy escape.

Home doors should be inward swinging doors. In case of fire, or an emergency it would be easy to barge the door, without the frame coming in the way. The flip side could be an unwanted person easily kicking in the the door if it opened inwards.

Interestingly, toilet doors have always got me thinking. Why do toilet doors swing inward, if their isn't enough space to stand comfortably inside? Some say no one likes to get locked in without being able to be rescued by a kick from the outside, well, that is one reason for the door to swing inward. However, a negative aspect of this system is the comfort of the person who has to 'visit' inside the small space. Recently, I had been to a portable 'restroom' where the only way to use it was to get in through the inward swinging door, stand on the throne, close the door ...did not do any of this, I kept the door open and... In the end it's all about common sense and usability.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Brilliant sign Varun! very creative in deed.

But on a serious note, if the door was designed well to begin with, the user would know whether to pull or push. So the door handles should afford pulling or pushing.
And i totally agree with you on the restroom door problems. It must be impossible for a larger person to get in and close the door, when smaller people can't.
I just don't think they have been designed with use in mind. Probably just trying to cut costs.

Speaking of signs, here is another one i came across recently:

http://infoarch.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/sign-designed-to-confuse-you/