When must doors in a means of egress swing in the direction of egress travel?

The requirement for doors in a means of egress to swing in the direction of egress travel is particularly important when the occupant load exceeds a certain threshold, typically set at 50 people. This design consideration ensures that, in emergency situations, individuals can easily and quickly exit the building without being impeded by the door's operation. When a door swings against the direction of egress in a high-occupancy situation, it can create a bottleneck, potentially leading to dangerous delays and hindering the safe evacuation of occupants.

In contrast, other considerations such as doors leading to a stairway might have their own specific requirements, but they do not generally stipulate that the door must swing in the egress direction based purely on that factor. Additionally, a door being locked does raise certain safety concerns, often requiring additional measures for emergency access, but it doesn't directly dictate the swing direction as a primary design criterion. Lastly, the determination that a door is the only means of egress does impose unique requirements on that door, yet the general rule regarding swinging direction based on occupant load remains paramount in ensuring safety during an evacuation.