Darkroom door: open in or out?

[MartinP]

I have worked in darkrooms with revolving doors, double doors (one inwards, a frame between them with light=proofing, one outwards) and a labyrinth (no doors, but two right-angle corners and plenty of blackout material).

The most compact was the double door, the most convenient was the labyrinth. The rotating door was awkward to use while carrying anything and not very practical in any way. Carrying exposed materials out of the dark is probably best done by placing it in a light-trap in the wall, rather than through a doorway - certainly a rotating one.

If there is an emergency regulation in place, there will perhaps have to be a separate, outwards-opening doorway that isn't used when the darkroom is 'dark'. A more convenient second doorway in place of a rotating-door would also help when shifting trays, furniture or machinery. There may still be a sort of rotating-door that can open in a frame when the darkroom is not 'dark' - a former colleague had one at home, but it could have been self-made.

 

[frobozz]

There may still be a sort of rotating-door that can open in a frame when the darkroom is not 'dark' - a former colleague had one at home, but it could have been self-made.

Eseco makes rotating doors that "pop out" of a gasketed channel for the rare occasion of moving big things in and out, and they make ones that also have a hinge on one side to have the whole thing swing out of the way if your need to have the doorway clear is more frequent. I didn't suggest those, because you aren't likely to find them for $10 on Craigslist! And they're like $3000 new.

I have no problem carrying things (like a tray with prints that need normal-light inspection) through a rotating door, by just bumping the hand rail with my hip. They spin quite easily, it's not like the rotating doors on the outside of big office buildings where you really have to give them a big shove.

Duncan

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Wow, thanks for all of the great feedback. Based on the advice here and some time experimenting with some cardboard we have chosen (drumroll) open out. Once I thought about having the door in the way of either the sink or the enlarger every time I entered the room the choice became pretty clear.

Thanks again, all. Give yourselves a hug.

 

[grahamp]

One of the reasons I did not mind using a pocket door is that I have a second exit (a window that will open). Living in an earthquake zone means a chance that the main door could get jammed (whatever type).