My office building requires key cards to get through most doors. Every employee has one, and to get to the restroom from my office, you have to exit through one door and enter another—both requiring a scan. This hallway also leads to the elevators, so it’s a high-traffic zone for awkward encounters.
On my way to the restroom just now, someone got off the elevator and we both approached the door at the same time. Me, being a polite idiot, gesture for her to scan her card while I—trying to be chivalrous—go to open the door for her. I pull. Hard. It’s a large glass door and it clanks. Loudly. Because, of course, the door pushes inward.
She looks at me, says “Thank you,” and walks in like nothing happened. Meanwhile I’m standing there, wondering how I’ve worked here for TWO YEARS and still can’t remember which way the door opens like some kind of corporate raccoon.
TL;DR I tried to be polite and open a door outward for someone that only opens inward. It made a loud clang and was embarrassing because I should know this by now after working here for two years.
Comments
Sounds like a simple design flaw.
Push doors SHOULD NOT have handles. If there’s a handle on it, the natural inclination is to pull it. It doesn’t matter how many “PUSH” signs you put up.
Push doors ahould have a flat plate. People will naturaly push those.