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38 • DOOR CLOSERS & HINGES
An Open and Shut Case
» » ASTRA CONCEALED CLOSERS
are fitted onto scores of projects
every year and we find that many
locksmiths and contractors struggle
to make fire doors work and comply
with the Equality Act and Building
Regs as well as Secured by Design
and PAS 24. No wonder! Few items
of door hardware have as much
jargon attached as door closers.
Here are just some of the more
commonly used terms and what
they mean, starting with what a
door closer actually is!
• Door closer: a door closing
mechanism where the
energy for closing the door is
generated by the user opening
it, when released returning it to
the closed position
• Backcheck: a closer may
moderate the opening action
to prevent damage to the door,
closer or frame if the door
slams open or is blown open.
• Closing Force: the power which
the closer exerts on the door to
close it. Usually measured in
EN sizes from 1 to 7.
• Closing Speed: the speed at
which the door closer allows
the door leaf to close
• EN 1154: EN1634 – 1: Fire
resistance and smoke control
tests for door, shutter and,
openable window assemblies
and elements of building
hardware.
• Floor Spring: A hydraulic unit
fitted into the floor underneath
the door at the hinge edge to
close the door.
• Hold Open: a closer with an
integral electro magnet allows
a fire door to be held open
for convenience. The magnet
is linked into the fire alarm
system and automatically
releases the door when the fire
alarm is activated.
• Latching action: a closer may
accelerate closing during
the final few degrees to
allow the door to overcome
the resistance of the latch.
Ensuring reliable closing.
• Non-handed: the closer can
operate a door hinged on the
right or left side
• Power Size: the power size
of the closer depends on the
width, height, weight and use
of the door it is fitted to. This
may be adjustable or fixed
according to the closer type.
It is important to fit the right
closer taking into account door
width and weight, air pressure,
use and users.
The strength or size (opening
and closing force) of the door
closer is critical to this. The closer
must be strong enough to close the
door and latch it reliably to comply
with fire regulations. But it should
not be so vicious that residents
fight to open it – often getting so
‘The closer
must be
strong
enough
to close
the door
and latch
it reliably
to comply
with fire
regulations’
DOOR CLOSERS & HINGES | MAY/JUN 2017
Sponsored by UNION
fed up with struggling to open their
own front door that they will often
attempt to disable the closer –
leading to the door not complying
with fire requirements. A vicious
circle.
Lots of factors need to be taken
into account when selecting the
size of closer for a door – the
weight of the door, the prevailing
environmental conditions, air
pressure, the use of the door, and,
critically, the width of the door.
Astra says its concealed door
closers are perhaps the easiest
concealed closer to fit on the
market and they are already selling
well in commercial, residential
and local authority projects. It
is particularly suited to retrofit
applications making it an ideal
product for locksmiths to fit
especially on fire doors.