Our front office doors have been bothering me for a long time. And it’s not just me … everyone who walks thru does the same thing: pulls, pauses, looks down at the door handle and if they don’t see the “Push” sign, keeps tugging to pull it open. Persistent types eventually stop tugging long enough to figure out that they need to push.
It’s a simple activity we do hundreds of times a day without thinking so why is this door a poor design?
After looking around at various retail, office, apartment doors that are entranced from the street, I notice they all pull out, while inside doors tend to push in. Apparently there is a fire regulation that states outside doors must pull out.
Still, it leaves me wondering why our instinct is to ‘pull’ on inside doors. My theory is that the visual clue of the glass doors and the fact that we know it’s an office, subconsciously sends a message to our brain that tells us that door is a “pull”.
I’ve mentioned it to some colleagues around the office and they believe the shape of the door handle invites the the ‘pull’. Another visual clue as to how the door works. Usually pull doors have handles that allow you to hook your fingers in for an easier pull. The handles on both sides of our doors require you to push down. This type of handle typically equates with a push motion.
Where does that leave us? If we change the outside door to match people’s natural inclination of pulling without changing the door handles, are we transferring the frustration to the inside where people leaving the office now push instead of pull? The addition of the push and pull signs were a post-implementation effort to eliminate the issue, which obviously it hasn’t.
Of course, it raises other questions like: Who designed this door and why did they do it like they did? Why didn’t it follow standards? When it was installed, didn’t they realize that there was something wrong with it? Did they even bother to test it?
Usually I wouldn’t dwell on the visual and functional design of something so everyday but because I’m in and out the door more frequently (over five times daily!) – it’s really gotten to me.
Personally for me… I associate those style of door handles with “Fire Doors” or the heavy doors they installed in elementary and high schools. The push pad was always the clear indicator you pushed, while the handle was always what you pulled on.
I bet if they were round knobs, more people would push first. Perhaps it’s ingrained in the neural network somewhere that handles are for pulling, and knobs require a second piece of information before the decision to push or pull is made? That second question being, which way was the door is recessed in the wall.
Maybe I will check to see where I look the next time I try opening a door?
My approach to doors has evolved over time. I’ve learned to approach slowly. Start with push, but be in a position to pull just in case. A fast push approach can result in a concussion.
Here’s a couple of things (I think) I know about doors:
1. The handle we use, as displayed in the above photo, takes accessibility into account. Door knobs are difficult to turn for people that have a disability or limited use of their hands.
2. Retail storefronts typically push out, so you can easily exit the store with handful of bags. I don’t think this works when the retail space is close to the sidewalk (will need to investigate).
Maybe the office “push in” is to help out our courier friends deliver packages. More likely, it’s building clearly defining office space from hallway space (keep your doors on your own property, bub).
Whatever the reasons, it’s an interesting topic, Sara.
Good points James and Andrew.
I agree, another visual clue beyond style of door and handle is the frame. I checked out our door and it is neither – sits within the middle of the frame.
I also notice in the photo that it isn’t showing the “Push” sign. It appears there is a disconnect between the handle and the sign. I wonder if the location of the sign slows down the processing or speeds it up as up higher so see sooner and distinct from door?
Andrew, definitely not a building requirement that we keep our doors on our own property. The office opposite us has the same type of doors but their’s is the opposite way around – “push” to enter (rather than “pull”)!
At least now we can find out if matching people’s natural inclination to pull causes problems for those on the inside when leaving. I see a stakeout of their office in the making. They can’t think I’m any wierder as they’re already wondering why I’m so interested in their door.
Sara
Why have a handle at all? If a door is to be pushed, why not a large button instead? Push the button to release the door, and push the door all in one movement. If your hands are full, you can use your elbow. I would think it’s better for accessibility too, since there’s nothing to grasp or twist.
Handles can still be on the opposite side of the door for pulling it open. That part makes sense to me.
Imagine a pull door being a tactile handle and a push door in the shape of a smooth toblerone bar positioned top to bottom that gently springs inward toward the left indicating lock release. If there is no temptation to grab on then there is no consideration for confusion. I had a friend in University who would invent a new word for such moments and he called someone who pulled when they should push a “doork”
S.P.
Great point about accessibility Christina. Maybe we could take it one step further and have some sort of heat detection device that recognizes there’s a visitor and then the door opens automatically.
Sean, thanks for the great new word. Shared it with coworkers and they had a good Monday morning laugh.
Have a good week, Sara