ALL ABOUT THE DOOR
What to know when retrofitting a door closer
Locksmiths are often asked to supply replacement door closers for existing buildings – but what are the key things to bear in mind to deliver a long-lasting , fit-for-purpose and legally compliant solution ? David Hindle , Head of Door Closer Sales at UNION , explains .
» WHEN RETROFITTING DOOR closers , there are a number of crucial factors to take into account . From the safety-critical importance of ensuring the correct certification for fire doors , to the need to make sure the door closer is tested in the configuration it will be installed in , there ’ s much more to it than simply supplying whichever product comes to hand from existing stock .
Here are the key questions locksmiths should ask themselves when supplying a replacement door closer .
1 . “ Is it for a fire door ?” Basically , it ’ s about fully closing the door from any angle every time , so first of all , it ’ s vital to get the door closer right when working with fire doors , as this can save lives . Regulations state that fire doors must be fitted with a fully compliant and certified door closer , and that the door closer must be CE marked to EN 1154 for mechanical and EN 1155 for electro-magnetic devices . It ’ s important to add that from 1 January 2022 , the CE mark will no longer be recognised in Great Britain . Instead , products must bear the UKCA mark .
Not only this , but the fire testing must match the requirements of the door and the building . For example , if the doorway offers 60 minutes of fire resistance , then a door tested to 60 minutes and a compatible 60 minutetested door closer must also be fitted . Equally important , the door closer must be tested for the specific material that the door is made from . So , if a timber door has been fitted , the door closer must have been tested for timber and for the relevant test time , FD60 for example .
2 . “ What size of door is it being fitted on ?”
It ’ s also crucial to consider the size of door in question , as this dictates the size and power of the door closer required .
For example , EN 1154 covers the specific requirements for controlled closing devices for swing doors . Depending on the width of the door , the maximum mass that a door closer needs to meet is given , as well as the door closer ’ s power size . For a door with a width of 950mm , the maximum mass should be 60kg , and the door closer power size should be EN 3 .
Crucially , for any fire door fitted with a door closer , EN 3 is the minimum power size requirement , no matter what the door width is .
Today , many door closers provide excellent flexibility across different weights and widths of doors . These highly adjustable units can help locksmiths reduce stock levels by relying on fewer door closers to meet a wider range of needs , but care needs to be taken to ensure that the correct power strength is applied .
For example , the CE26V door closer from UNION is a rack and pinion solution that can be adjusted between power sizes 2 and 6 , delivering increased flexibility for most door types .
CE26V
The CE26V is also tested in all three fitting configurations , offering complete peace of mind in terms of flexibility and certification . This wide-ranging power flexibility coupled with backcheck ( see point 4 ), gives a perfect internal or external door solution .
Other retrofitting solutions include UNION ’ s CE3F fixed size 3 door closer – the only product in its class to be CE marked and fire rated for timber and metal fire doors in all three fixing configurations . There ’ s also the high-performance RetroV door closer , which offers identical fixing dimensions and the same footprint as some of the most popular door closers in the UK , providing an easy and hassle-free retrofit solution .
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MAY / JUN 2021
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