Canadian building code question

What are the building code requirements for door swing direction in Canada?

Exit doors serving areas with occupant loads above specified thresholds must swing in the direction of exit travel. The specific occupant load threshold, exceptions for certain occupancy types, and requirements for door hardware are defined in the adopted building code. Provincial adoption can affect the threshold and exceptions.

Door swing direction is a deceptively simple-sounding requirement that frequently generates permit comments and field corrections. The rules are primarily about life safety during emergency egress, and the answer depends on occupant load, door location in the exit path, and specific occupancy type exceptions.

What to check first

  • Doors in the path of exit travel must swing in the direction of travel when the occupant load exceeds the code-specified threshold.
  • The occupant load threshold that triggers the swing direction requirement applies to the area served by the door, not just the room immediately behind it.
  • Door hardware requirements for exit doors include panic hardware and fire-rated hardware that interact with the swing direction requirement.

Jurisdiction notes

National baseline

The NBC specifies when exit doors must swing in the direction of travel based on occupant load thresholds. Use the applicable egress provisions as the baseline.

Provincial adoption

Provincial amendments may modify the occupant load threshold or add exceptions for specific conditions. Confirm the adopted code edition.

Fire code interaction

Provincial fire codes may have additional requirements for exit door operation, panic hardware, and door hold-open devices that interact with swing direction.

Work through it in this order

  1. Calculate the occupant load served by each exit door to determine whether swing direction requirements apply.
  2. Confirm the required swing direction for each exit door based on the adopted code provisions.
  3. Verify that door hardware, panic hardware, and fire-rated hardware are compatible with the required swing direction.
  4. Check that the door swing does not obstruct the required exit width or the exit path when open.

Common questions

Do all exit doors need to swing outward in Canada?

No. Only exit doors serving occupant loads above the code-specified threshold must swing in the direction of exit travel. Doors serving smaller occupant loads may swing in either direction.

What occupant load triggers the outward swing requirement?

The threshold is specified in the adopted code and can vary by provincial adoption. Check the applicable egress provisions for the specific threshold.

Can an exit door swing into the corridor?

Generally, exit doors should not swing into the required corridor width when open. The door swing must not obstruct the exit path or reduce the corridor below the minimum required width.