A door closer looks like a small part, but it carries a lot of responsibility. It controls how a door swings shut, how fast it latches and, on fire-rated doors, whether the door can do its job at all. Pick the wrong one and you’ll hear about it from building managers, occupants and inspectors.
Here’s a practical look at door closers for commercial work and what to check before you order.
What a door closer does
A door closer uses a spring and a hydraulic damper to pull a door closed after it’s been opened, then control the speed so it doesn’t slam. Most closers let you adjust the sweep speed (the main closing arc) and the latching speed (the final few degrees where the latch engages). Many also have a backcheck, which slows the door near full opening to protect walls and hinges.
Common types of door closers
Surface-mounted closers. These are fixed to the face of the door or frame and are the most common type in commercial buildings. They’re easy to see, easy to adjust and easy to replace.
Concealed closers. These sit inside the door leaf or frame for a cleaner look. They suit projects where appearance matters, but they need to be planned at the manufacturing stage because the door or frame has to be machined to suit.
Floor springs. These are installed in the floor under the door and are often used on glass doors or heavy doors.
Each type has its place. The right choice depends on door weight and width, traffic levels, appearance requirements and whether the door is fire rated.
Match the closer to the door
Closers are sized by power, and the correct size depends on the width and weight of the door and where it’s installed. A closer that’s too light won’t close the door reliably. One that’s too strong makes the door hard to open, which causes problems in schools, aged-care facilities, healthcare buildings and anywhere accessibility matters.
Accessibility requirements, including AS 1428.1, apply to door hardware and circulation spaces in many commercial settings, so it’s worth checking opening force and hardware suitability for the building type. Door closers are often adjustable, but adjustment has limits, so start with the right size.
Check these before choosing:
- Door width, weight and thickness
- Whether the door is internal or external
- Whether wind or air pressure acts on the door
- Mounting position and frame type
- Whether the door is fire rated
- Accessibility and traffic requirements
Closers on fire-rated doors
On a fire door, the closer isn’t optional. Fire-rated doors need to close and latch reliably so they can hold back fire and smoke. That means the closer must suit the tested door-set system and the required fire-resistance level.
Don’t assume any closer that fits the door will be suitable. Check the test evidence and installation instructions for the fire door system you’re using. If a closer needs to be fitted, make sure the door leaf and frame are prepared for it correctly, because poor preparation can affect how the system performs.
It’s also worth being clear about who is responsible for what. A supplier can provide product information and supporting documentation, but assessment of an installed fire-safety measure must be done by an appropriately qualified person where required.
Common installation mistakes
Most closer problems come down to a handful of causes:
- Wrong size for the door. Check the manufacturer’s sizing guidance.
- Incorrect mounting position. Parallel arm, regular arm and top-jamb fixings all behave differently.
- Poor hinge alignment. A closer can’t fix a door that’s hanging badly.
- Overtightened adjustment valves. Make small changes and test after each one.
- Missing prep. If the door isn’t machined or reinforced for the closer, you’ll be fixing it on site.
Getting the door prepared properly in the factory takes a lot of that risk out. Pre-drilled and machined preparations also save installers time and reduce rework.
Maintenance
Closers wear. Oil can leak, springs lose power and fixings come loose. Doors that start slamming, drifting open or failing to latch need attention. In fire-rated openings, regular inspection and maintenance matter even more, and the maintenance requirements for your building will usually be set out in your Fire Safety Schedule and applicable standards such as AS 1851.
What to tell your supplier
When you order closers with doors, give your supplier:
- The door size, weight and type
- Handing and swing direction
- Frame details
- Required fire rating, if any
- Your hardware schedule
- Any accessibility requirements
That lets the door be prepared to suit the closer before it leaves the factory.
Need doors and hardware that work together?
Closers, frames, seals and doors all need to work as a set. If you’d like help pulling the information together, send your plans, door schedule or hardware list through our website, email info@australianprofileddoors.com or call 02 8014 4400.
Australian Profiled Doors is an Australian commercial door manufacturer, profiling specialist and trade supplier based in Miranda, NSW. We make installation-ready doors with hardware preparations machined in the factory, and we supply a range of architectural hardware, including door closers, through our online store. Some hardware products are supplied by third-party manufacturers and distributors.
