HARDWARE
How To Select The Right Door Closer
» YOUR CHOICE OF DOOR
closer can hinge on everything
from safety elements to user
requirements, not to mention
building specifications. In this
helpful guide, Karen Trigg of
Allegion UK provides a short
step by step manual on the key
features that must be considered
when selecting the right door
closer.
1
First, you must establish
whether your door is a
fire or non-fire door.
For fire doors, it’s required that
the door closer is CE marked and
fire rated. It’s also key to ensure
you are making your selection
based on the needs of your
application.
If the door is a non-fire door,
any closer can be selected.
However, it’s still important to
ensure the operation of the door
is controlled and not slamming,
as this will prevent future damage
to the door and frame.
2
Determine the size of
door closer that you need
based on the height and
weight of the door.
Large and heavy doors will
require a closer with a higher
power size. If you’re unsure
about sizing, it’s best to choose a
unit that can be adjusted during
installation. It’s also key to
remember that fire doors must
have a minimum Power Size
EN 3 to conform to EN 1154
standard.
3
Decide whether you
need a surface-mounted
or concealed unit.
Surface mounted closers are
installed on the surface of the
door and frame and are highly
visible. Surface mounted units
are also the easiest to install.
Concealed closers on the other
hand, are mounted within the
door itself and are not visible
when the door is closed. If the
door frame is narrow, a concealed
unit may be the best option.
4
Review the mounting
requirements. You can
mount your closer on
either side of the door,
but you must select a
unit that is designed for
that type of mounting.
The four most common ways in
which to mount a door closer are:
• On the pull face (where you
pull the door toward you to
open it)
• On the push face (where you
push the door away from
you to open it)
• Mounted on the transom of
the push side of the door
• Mounted on the transom
on the pull side side of the
door
When looking to mount the
unit on the push side, look for
a closer with a parallel armmountin
option.
5
Look for the fire rating.
This is a vital step in the
process. If you’re installing a unit
on a fire-rated door (typically
found in commercial buildings)
the closer must also be fire-rated.
Look for a door closer that’s CE
marked. This shows the product is
fit for purpose and meets all of the
legal fire safety requirements.
6
Evaluate whether
backcheck is needed.
Backcheck is a feature that’s
supplied on only certain door
closer models. Essentially, it limits
the swing of the door in order
to prevent damage to adjacent
walls and frames when a door is
being opened at speed or with
force. Some door closers offer
this feature as standard, however,
make sure that they have also
passed EN 1154 CE requirements
by checking the Declaration of
Performance (DOPs).
7
Decide whether your closer
should have delayed action.
A delayed action closer offers
a period of delay (which can
be set for a maximum of 25
seconds) from when the door
is opened to when it begins to
close. This makes them ideal for
environments that require easy
passage, such as doors used by
children, the elderly or wheelchair
users.
Again, always check the DOPs
to make sure that they have
passed CE Standard EN 1154.
8
And finally, compare
finish options.
Look for a closer that matches
or complements the rest of your
hardware. By matching your
hardware selections you can add
to the visual aesthetics of the
room and the building.
Follow the steps from this
helpful guide and you should be
well equipped when it comes to
selecting the right door closer.
However, should you need
further support on selecting or
installing Briton door closers,
email technicalsupportuk@
allegion.com.
54 » AUG 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM