Door Closer Types

Oct 16, 2024

Door closers are essential devices for ensuring that doors close automatically after being opened, but how do you choose the right one for your project? The choices can seem overwhelming at first, but we've put together this handy guide to help you make the right choice.

What Is a Door Closer?

First things frst - simply put, a door closer is a mechanical device that automatically closes a door after someone opens it. They are most commonly used in commercial buildings, public facilities, and residential properties to ensure doors close properly and are essential in reducing the spread of fire, maintaining temperature, and enhancing security.

Door Closer Types

There’s a few different types of door closer, but the three main types of door closers are:

1. Surface-Mounted Door Closers

Also known as overhead door closers, these are the most common type and are mounted on the surface of the door or frame. They are versatile and come in different configurations, including:

2. Cam Action Door Closers

Cam action closers work with a slide arm which can be surface mounted or concealed.

Since they can be concealed they’re a popular choice for high-end buildings and offices as they blend in with the door.

They’re also ideal for buildings where a protruding arm could be subject to misuse or vandalism, such as schools and prisons.

It’s important to note, however, that the maximum opening angle for cam closers is 120 degrees.

3. Concealed Door Closers

Concealed door closers are hidden within the door or frame, providing an unobtrusive appearance. They’re commonly used in design-led buildings where aesthetics are important as there’s no protruding arm. For this reason they’re also popular in schools and prisons where an overhead closer is likely to be vandalised. There's a few different types of concealed door closers:

4. Floor Spring Door Closers

These are mounted in the floor beneath the door and are often used for corridors and entrance doors, high traffic or heavy doors.

Floor spring closers are ideal for using with glass doors as they don’t need to be drilled into the glass door for fitting.

They offer precise control over the door's movement and are concealed for a clean look.

floor spring door closer fitted to glass door

5. Electromagnetic Door Closers

Technically classed as overhead door closers, electromagnetic door closers also provide hold-open functionality linked to the fire alarm system, ensuring the door closes automatically in an emergency. They come in two options so you can choose which is best for your environment: