32 | AUGUST 2020
Hardware & Security
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT DOOR
CLOSER WITH ALLEGION UK
For installers and key decision makers everywhere, choosing a door closer can be a tricky
decision – but one that has to be made carefully. With so many choices being offered
and different factors to consider, selecting the right one can be extremely confusing.
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
3
Look for the fire rating.
5 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.
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
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.
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
6
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.
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
arm-mountin option.
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
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.
In general, there are plenty of areas to
consider when selecting a door closer.
Aside from the points above, your
decision should factor in the building’s
volume of traffic and flow of movement
and also the location of the door.
Not only should your choice be suitable
for your application, but it also needs to
be fitted correctly and well maintained.
The safety and security of the building,
as well as its occupants, could be
jeopardised should the doors not operate
effectively.
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.