How does a door closer work?
A door closer is a mechanical device that closes a door, once it’s been opened, in a controlled way. They stop doors from slamming shut and limit the spread of fire and draught throughout a building. When selecting a door closer, it’s important to ask the following questions…
Is it for a fire door?
When choosing a door closer for any door, you want to be sure to get it right, but it’s especially important if it’s a fire door. First of all, fire doors must be fitted with an appropriately CE tested door closer. There are two CE standards that you need to be aware of:
· EN 1154 – the CE standard for mechanical door closers
· EN 1155 – the CE standard for electromagnetic door closers
Second, you must make sure you have chosen a door closer that has been appropriately fire rated. For example, a 60-minute timber fire door must be tested to FD60. You don’t want to be held accountable for an incident should a fire ever break out, so it’s critical that you get this right.
What power size is needed?
This will depend on the width and weight of the door. Here’s a quick, at-a-glance guide to power sizes.
It’s important to note that for a fire door, EN3 is the minimum requirement.
| Power size | Maximum door width | Maximum door weight |
| EN1 | 750mm | 20kg |
| EN2 | 850mm | 40kg |
| EN3 | 950mm | 60kg |
| EN4 | 1100mm | 80kg |
| EN5 | 1250mm | 100kg |
| EN6 | 1400mm | 120kg |
| EN7 | 1600mm | 160kg |
What fixing position is needed?
With three different fixing positions available, this will depend on where the door closer is being installed.
What type of door closer do you need?
This final question will come down to the key demands that you need the product to be able to meet and overcome. With a wide range of different types to choose from, you can be sure to find a product that meets your exact needs.
Overhead door closers
An overhead door closer is surface mounted, designed to fit on the face of a door or frame. When choosing an overhead door closer, it’s recommended to check that products are fully CE marked and fire door tested in all three fitting positions, whether it’s regular (commonly called figure 1), transom (figure 61) or parallel (figure 66). So, no matter what fitting position is needed for your installation, you can be sure a door closer will perform as expected.
Concealed door closers
For some buildings, the design and look of a space is the top priority. Fitting within the leaf of the door and hidden from view, a concealed door closer helps make sure doors look clean and smart. These are a fantastic option if you’re working on a residential project or if there’s a big chance that a door closer is being installed in a space that might be vandalised or tampered with. As the product can’t be seen, a concealed door closer helps reduce this issue from becoming a problem.
As these are morticed into the door, an intumescent kit would generally be required to maintain the fire integrity of the door.
Electromagnetic door closers
An electromagnetic door closer is linked to a fire alarm system, which means they close automatically if a fire alarm sounds. When the alarm is triggered, the closer immediately shuts the door to help maintain the integrity of a fire door.
An electromagnetic door closer is available in two options, so you can choose the one that’s best suited to meet your needs.
- Hold-open: Holds the door in the open position. This is perfect for circulation routes, or busy environments where lots of people are passing through every day. These include routes that would benefit from fewer touchpoints.
- Free-swing: Operates almost as if no closer is fitted. This is ideal for a space such as a care home bedroom, where minimal force might be needed to open or close a door.
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Cam and roller
Our cam and roller mechanisms provide optimum latching control features when the door is near to the frame. The rapidly falling opening force makes the door easier to open, whilst the increasing closing force in the final stages of the closing cycle ensures safe, secure closing.
Cam-motion
When opening a door, our Cam-Motion products are designed to do the heavy-lifting for you. Anyone can easily open a door, with the door closer making sure the force needed to open the door falls quickly. Featuring independent valves, Cam-Motion door closers also allow you to set the latch and closing speeds.
Concealed cam-motion
Fitting within either the leaf of a door, or the frame for a transom fixed installation, concealed door closers are perfect for environments where the look of a space is important. By concealing the door closer, the result is a cleaner, tidier and more design-led look.Typically installed in highly aesthetic building environments or on residential doors, concealed door closers can also benefit areas where vandalism or tampering is more likely.
Doorsense
DoorSense provides a safe, easy and legal way to hold fire doors open. With DoorSense, fire doors can be held open to allow people to easily move about a building. Should a fire alarm sound, however, the device will automatically release, allowing the fire door to close.Incredibly easy to install, DoorSense is a standalone, battery-operated unit that can be fixed to a door in seconds.
Electromagnetic
Because electromagnetic door closers are linked to a building’s fire alarm system, these will automatically close a door when the alarm is triggered, keeping people and property safe. There are two operation modes of electromagnetic door closers available. Hold-open models are ideal for high traffic areas or spaces where reduced touchpoints are a benefit, holding doors open so people can easily move about a site. Alternatively, there’s free-swing solutions, which operate as though no door closer is fitted. These are perfect for environments such as care homes, where minimal force might be needed to open or close a door. High end electromagnetic closers can switch between both modes.
Floor springs
Hidden from view, our floor springs allow doors to open and close in a controlled and secure manner.Whether it’s a large or heavy door, single or double action, metal or glass – we have a wide range of floor spring solutions to choose from.Ideal for any application where both pull and push movement is required, environments such as retail centres, business parks and hospitals are well suited to floor springs.
Rack and pinion
Rack and pinion door closers are a traditional, tried and trusted type of door closer. An overhead, surface mounted solution, these operate with projecting, scissor type arms. Designed for use on interior and exterior doors, rack and pinion door closers are easily mounted and can be adjusted to suit most demands.
Transom
Morticed into the transom frame, Transom closers utilise cam motion technology. Ranges include mechanical hold open solutions, great for easing traffic flow around buildings but avoid fire doors Side loading or end loading arm sets enable quick door to frame assembly on site
Uncontrolled closers
Uncontrolled door closers are ideal for residential internal doors helping to reduce heat loss and drafts. Surface mounted or concealed in the jamb, they are quick and easy to install.