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IS 4043:1969 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for recommendations for symbolic designation of direction of closing and faces of doors, windows and shutters. This standard provides uniform guidelines for the symbolic designation of the direction of closing and faces of doors, windows, and shutters. It aims to eliminate ambiguity in architectural drawings and schedules regarding door swing, handing, and opening directions.
Recommendations for Symbolic Designation of Direction of Closing and Faces of Doors, Windows and Shutters
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Ensure door handing (left vs right) on architectural schedules exactly matches the visual symbolic representation to avoid hardware and frame installation errors on site.
! Highly applicable when defining standard parameters for door and window families in BIM software to ensure consistent scheduling.
BS EN 12519:2018BSI (British Standards Institution) / CEN (European Committee for Standardization), UK/Europe
HighCurrent
Windows and pedestrian doors - Terminology
Covers terminology for doors, including direction of opening (handing), but within a much broader terminological scope.
DIN 107:2021-08DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung), Germany
HighCurrent
Identification of the position of the hinges of doors and windows
Very specific to handing designation, similar to IS 4043's core purpose, and forms the basis for European conventions.
DHI-HAG-01 / ANSI/DHI A115.IGDHI (Door and Hardware Institute), USA
MediumCurrent
Handing of Doors (Industry Guideline)
Defines the widely used North American system for door handing, although the methodology is fundamentally different from the IS code.
BS 4787-1:1980BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
MediumWithdrawn
Internal and external wood doorsets, door leaves and frames - Part 1: Specification for dimensional requirements
Contained older British conventions for door handing that had similarities to the Commonwealth-based Indian Standard.
Key Differences
≠The primary determinant for handing in IS 4043 is the 'closing face' (the side the door closes towards). In contrast, the US (DHI) system uses the 'secure side' or exterior as the reference point, while the European (DIN) system uses the side where the hinge knuckles are visible.
≠The US system explicitly accounts for swing direction (inward/outward) by using terms like 'Right Hand Reverse Bevel' for an out-swinging door. IS 4043's designation is independent of whether the door swings in or out.
≠IS 4043 is a concise recommendation focused solely on symbolic designation. Modern equivalents like BS EN 12519 are much broader, covering a vast range of terminology for window and door performance, materials, and hardware, with handing being just one section.
≠The concept of a 'closing face', which is central to IS 4043 (especially for rebated doors), is not a primary concept in US or modern European standards, which favor more location-based (exterior/interior) or component-based (visible hinge) definitions.
Key Similarities
≈All standards share the fundamental objective of creating an unambiguous, standardized system to specify door and window handing, preventing errors in manufacturing, ordering, and installation.
≈The basic terminology of 'Left-Hand' (LH) and 'Right-Hand' (RH) is a common foundation across all the compared standards, even though the method to arrive at the designation differs.
≈All systems utilize a similar graphical convention on architectural floor plans—a quarter-circle arc—to indicate the path of the door swing.
≈For pairs of doors, the principle of identifying the 'active leaf' (the one with the primary lockset that opens first) to determine the overall handing of the unit is a common practice in IS 4043 and international standards.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Primary Handing Viewpoint
From the 'closing face' - the side towards which the door closes.
From the 'secure side' (exterior) of the door, facing the door.
DHI-HAG-01 (USA)
Handing Determination Rule
If hinges are on the left when viewed from the closing face, it is a Left-Hand door.
If hinges are visible on the left, it is a Left-Hand (DIN Links) door.
DIN 107
Designation for Out-Swinging Door
Handing designation is not affected by swing direction (in/out).
Designated with a 'Reverse Bevel' suffix (e.g., Left-Hand Reverse).
DHI-HAG-01 (USA)
Door Handing Symbol
Quadrant arc from hinge stile to closing edge, with a line for the open door.
Largely identical graphical representation (quadrant arc and line), though line styles may vary.
BS EN 12519 / General architectural practice
Scope of Standard
Recommendations for symbolic designation of direction and faces.
Comprehensive terminology for windows and pedestrian doors.
BS EN 12519:2018
Example Designation: Right Hand
Right-hand (or RH)
DIN Rechts (or DIN R)
DIN 107
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use