Originally Posted By: Todd Patrick This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Vince, Joe said there were no stairs.
Joe I have never seen a code anywhere stating swing direction requirements for a fire door. I would think a fire door is a fire door and it shouldn’t matter one way or another.
If it were me, and its not. I would just write it up as not a typical installation of a fire door. Doors are normally installed to swing inward toward the living space.
Originally Posted By: phinman This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe H,
I spoke with a fire official about the door situation. He said because it is not a "required means of egress" by the code BOCA or otherwise that the swing of the door is not an issue swinging in or out.
As you know you should not swing a door out over a stair.
Phillip R. Hinman
VP Tri-County Construction Code Association
NJ NACHI
Originally Posted By: jpeck This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
And that the garage is not conditioned space, so the door, which ever way it swings, needs to be solid core and weatherstripped, just like any door to the exterior (because that is what it is).
Originally Posted By: rcloyd This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe:
If there are stairs from the garage floor up to the 1st floor of the house (very common) the IRC requires a landing at the top and bottom of that stair except the top landing may be omitted if the door does not swing over the stair.
There are several advantages to having the door swing inward to the house:
1) You don't have to build a 3'x3' landing within your garage space.
2) Security. Your hinges are not exposed to the garage area leaving them
vulnerable to removal and providing easy access to the interior once
the door is removed.
3) It is much easier to unlock the garage door and push it out of the way
when your arms are full of packages or groceries.
4) Oh yeah, if the door swings out into the garage into a vehicular path
death or serious injury can occur.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Doors (including garage doors) can not swing out over steps. Even though there may not be stairs, I usually see at least one step down from the house to the garage … in which case model codes would not permit the door to swing out into the garage without a platform/landing. That is for personal safety, and not fire safety.
Another consideration is that if the door swings out into the garage (with a platform at the door), the hinges will be on the exterior, which could allow easy entry by removing the hinge pins (those doors very rarely have NRP or stud hinges). People concerned about home security are usually pretty good about locking standard doors, but will often leave overhead garage doors open or unlocked.
Just my opinion and 2-nickels ... 
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
I would just write it up as not a typical installation of a fire door. Doors are normally installed to swing inward toward the living space.