How is the hand of the door determined?

The hand of a door is determined from the outside of the door or the point of entry into the room. This means that when standing outside the door and facing it, the way the door opens—whether it swings to your left or to your right—defines its hand. For instance, if the door swings open towards the right when you are standing outside, it is considered a right-hand door. This method of determining the hand is critical for proper installation and functionality as it influences the door's operation in relation to other architectural elements.

The other options do not provide accurate ways to determine the hand of a door. The inner perspective can lead to confusion in identifying how the door swings when viewed from the outside. Material and color have no bearing on the hand of the door, as they do not influence the mechanical action or positioning of the door in the frame. Understanding how to assess the hand correctly is essential for construction and installation processes, ensuring that doors function as intended in alignment with other elements in the structure.