Sound sense behind Scandinavian doors
SIR – Tim Bochenski (Letters, November 25) asks why Scandinavian outside doors open outwards.
The answer is simple: necessity. It snows a lot, and it does not take much wind to pile a fair amount of snow up against your front door.
If it opens inwards you get a white – and, pretty soon, a wet – hall. If the door opens outwards, you keep the snow where it belongs. Tore Fauske
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
SIR – As a retired housebuilder I am aware of the Scandinavian obsession with airtight houses, and would suggest that in high winds the outward-opening door will be pushed against the seal at the door frame, minimising the risk of cold air entering the house. Simple but logical. Donald Lewis
Gifford, East Lothian
SIR – Doors that open outwards are more difficult to kick in. Hannele Marttila
Stamford, Lincolnshire
SIR – Derick Faulkner’s hot tap goes clockwise and his cold tap anticlockwise (Letters, November 25) because they have rotating valves in them rather than the usual type, which uses a rubber washer.
These valves are found on medical sinks, allowing the taps to be operated using one’s elbows rather than one’s just-cleaned hands. Richard Statham
Langport, Somerset