The Ontario Building Code | Direction of Door Swing
3.4.6.12. Direction of door Swing
(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and (3) and Article 3.4.6.14., every exit door shall,
(a) open in the direction of exit travel, and
(b) swing on its vertical axis.
(2) A door serving a single dwelling unitshall swing on its vertical axis.
(3) Except in a high hazard industrial occupancy, an exit door need not swing in the direction of exit travel where it serves,
(a) a room, suiteor floor area having an occupant load of not more than 60 persons, or
(b) as part of a means of egress from more than one floor area and the floor areas so served have a total occupant load of not more than 60 persons.
In Plain Language
Exit doors generally must open in the direction of exit travel and swing on a vertical axis, though doors serving a single dwelling unit and certain low-hazard-industrial exceptions follow somewhat different rules.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.