Tradefit

October 2024

Door Closers Types - How To Choose the Right Closer

Need some guidance on choosing the right door closer? Read on...

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:

• Regular Arm (Standard Arm): Mounted on the pull side of the door (known as Application 1)
• Parallel Arm: Mounted on the push side, providing a more streamlined appearance (known as Application 66)
• Top Jamb: Mounted on the top jamb when there is insufficient space on the door itself (known as Application 61)

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:

• Concealed Overhead: Installed in the door header and frame. They offer controlled closing and latching so are suitable for fire doors 
• Floor Spring: Installed in the floor beneath the door, commonly used for glass doors.
• Numatic Chain Closers: These use a piston method of closing the door and are morticed into the door frame. These aren’t fitted as widely these days, as concealed door closers are the more popular option.
• Chain Door Closer: A lower cost method of concealing a door closer, these are fitted into the door and frame and powered by a spring and chain. Be aware though that there is no controlled closing on these closers and they are not generally recommended for use on fire doors.

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.

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:

• Hold Open: Holds the door in the open position so is ideal for busy traffic environments such as hospitals and schools
• Free swing: Generally used in care homes as this allows the door to operate as if no closer is fitted, so minimal force is needed to open or close the door

Door Closer Mounting Options

• Regular arm: Mounted on the pull side of the door
• Top jamb: Mounted on the push side of the door frame
• Parallel Arm: Mounted on the push side, with the arm parallel to the door frame

Still need more help? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Door Closers or call us and we'll be happy to help with any questions you may have.