48 • DOORCLOSERS&HINGES
Moving into the spotlight
» » BARRY TOPHAM, HAS 40 YEARS IN
the Architectural Ironmongery industry.
He has a DIP GAI and has been an area
sales manager for GEZE UK for more
than 20 years. Here he explains that even
when considering entrances, automatic
solutions may align themselves to the
dramatic aesthetic desired by architects
and developers, but any presumed demise
of the manual “is greatly exaggerated” to
paraphrase Mark Twain.
In a world fuelled by technology
and captivated by gadgets, it’s not
surprising that the ‘all things manual
and mechanical’ may appear to be
overshadowed by a ‘digital dynamic’.
Manual door closers are probably now
more widely used than ever before: they
deliver fundamental requirements; such
as critical components to fire doors or
for security, are affordable and easy to
maintain and furthermore, variations in
the type of closers available mean that
they are not only suitable for a range of
doors but can be selected for a specific
purpose or finish.
They are also a real enabler in making
a commercial or public building easier to
use and more accommodating. The fact
that we probably fail to notice them means
that they are doing their job: closing
off busy kitchens, providing privacy to
washrooms, preventing the doors of hotel
rooms from banging and waking guests
and facilitating harmonious living within
student halls of residence.
Most will pass through these entrances
without a thought as to how the doors
close (they just do!) but finding the right
solution for the right purpose and the
right place needs careful consideration.
For architects, aesthetics maybe of
primary importance, specifiers look for
function and quality, but as with all things,
there is usually the ideal product that will
combine both – sometimes with a little
compromise.
There are five main types of manual
door controls:
• Surface mounted V arm
• Surface mounted guide rail (slide
arm)
• Concealed in the door – also known
as an integrated closer
• Concealed in transom, for example,
aluminium shop front type doors
• Floor springs
When choosing an appropriate product,
it’s important to consider who will be
using the door and where it is located.
Older people or those with disability will
struggle to manage a door that is difficult
to hold open or provide sufficient time to
close. The door type, size, location, footfall,
capability of the product and certification
must all be deliberated. Quality and
longevity are as important as budget.
FEATURES OF DOOR
CLOSERS CAN INCLUDE:
• Adjustable closing force – this
enables the spring tension to be
increased/decreased to suit the door
width and weight
• Backcheck – an hydraulic or
mechanical setting which slows/
buffers the door on the opening cycle
and is especially useful where door
stops may be a trip hazard or for
external doors
• Latch action – adjustable speed (not
strength) for the final few degrees of
the closing cycle which assists the
door to overcome latches or seals.
• Delayed action – time adjustable
delay on the closing cycle (around
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120⁰- 80⁰) that allows the door to
creep slowly through this range – then
close normally. This is particularly
useful for disabled users or where
wheeled traffic is prevalent.
• ISM – Integrated Door Selector. This
ensures that the rebated leaves of
a pair of doors close in the correct
sequence to maintain integrity.
• EHO – Electro Hold Open. This allows
a fire door to be held open, but close
safely upon fire alarm activation.
• EFS – Electro Free Swing. This feature
is of huge benefit for disabled and
elderly users. It allows a door to be
used freely with minimum effort – as
if no closer is fitted - but will close
safely from any position upon fire
alarm activation.
When used on fire and smoke doors
– all features should be tested to ensure
that the selected product complies to its
intended use.
Fire doors must have tested and
approved products fitted. A door closer
should be fire tested and have certification
for the door size to which it is fitted and
for its fitting configuration. If a supplier
says that a particular product is fire tested
– don’t assume that it’s suitable for use
on push and pull sides of a door. To be
certain – check the products Declaration
of Performance, which must be made
available by the provider. This will state