The most common distributive typology applied in hospitals, in hotel rooms and in bedrooms of old people’s residences is almost always the same, that is access door to the room and nearby, on the right or on the left side, access door to the bathroom. Because of safety reasons both doors should be opened outwards.

For this reason the bathroom door can be a possible obstacle when you leave the room, while the front door represents an obstacle along the corridor. Sliding doors, that are certainly less bulky because of their characteristics could be adopted to solve the first problem but, in addition to the difficult movements handicapped people have to make, they can be really dangerous in panic situations caused by fires or by other emergency situations.

The second problem can be solved by arranging some widenings along the corridor just next to the room exits, but this solution implies a considerable waste of space.

According to safety provisions doors should open on to emergency exits. Even though this requirement is not only a need but also a must, it is often in contradiction with the daily use of rooms based on the comfort.
Double-swing doors could be designed to meet these requirements. In any case the existing “in and out” doors do not seem to be suitable for this purpose because with the spring lock you have to pull the leaf to gently not to be knocked down by this latter. Of course this operation is very easy for people without ambulatory problems, but on the contrary it can be extremely difficult for those people who must use walking aids.