Door Closer Buying Guide
Choosing a door closer goes beyond convenience; it's a choice that will impact safety, efficiency, and overall functionality of a workplace, shopping centre, or anywhere else that uses one. Door closers are installed to pull doors closed in a controlled way and to prevent the door from slamming shut.
A good door closer should smoothly close the door with each use and offer adjustment so that it closes at an appropriate speed.
Door closers, despite their simple mechanism, can improve the safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency of a room.
Types of Door Closers
Slide Arm Door Closers
Slide arm door closers are a classic and durable choice, perfect for environments with high foot traffic, such as busy workplaces or schools where doors are used a lot throughout the day. The robust design and steel or aluminium structure ensures they’re long-lasting and reliable in demanding settings. There are a range of sizes available depending on the size and weight of the door.
Slide arm door closers feature parallel arm brackets which mean they can be installed for both push and pull doors. As well as being suited to regularly-used doors, they’re also ideal for heavy doors. Some slide arm door closers, namely adjustable models, can control how quickly they swing closed.
Used For
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Heavy doors
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High traffic doors
Concealed Door Closers
Concealed door closers are a discreet and aesthetically pleasing solution to door control. You’ll find these closers can be cleverly hidden in the door itself and are then secured to the door frame. Concealed door closers use a spring-loaded chain to pull the door closed, or a fire-rated concealed closer if the door is a fire door.
They’re an excellent choice if you’re looking for a seamless and unobtrusive appearance, such as in a modern office building. You’ll find concealed door closers at Toolstation are adjustable and reversible, making them versatile for a range of door configurations.
Used For
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Moderate weighted doors between 30kg and 50kg
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Low-to-medium traffic doors
Overhead Door Closers
Overhead door closers are a user-friendly and easy-to-install option, making them particularly suitable for DIYers and those looking for cost-effective door control for internal doors. This type of door closer is fitted on the hinge, offering a different look and functional approach.
Overhead closers are surface-mounted and come in a variety of different sizes making them suitable for a range of door weights and dimensions.
Used For
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Low-to-moderately heavy doors – up to 68kg
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Low-to-medium traffic doors
Surface-Mounted Door Closers
Surface-mounted door closers are a great cost-effective option and are simple and quick to install with just some basic tools making them a good choice for DIY enthusiasts. Popular in low-to-medium traffic areas, they also require very little maintenance.
Surface-mounted closers feature adjustable tension, allowing you to alter the closing speed to your preference. These type of door closers are also versatile being suitable for a range of door weights and styles.
Used for
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Low-to-medium traffic doorways
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Light-to-moderate door weights of upto 68kg
Key Door Closer Considerations
Adjustable Closing Speed
Being able to adjust the closing speed of a door closer allows for greater flexibility. Offices that prioritise privacy may need a door to close faster, while a shopping centre would want the door to close much more slowly to improve accessibility for people with mobility issues, children, and the elderly.
Material, Finish & Colour
Gone are the days where a door closer is an unattractive addition and doesn’t complement the space – choose from a range of colours, including grey, white, black and gold. Materials such as steel, nickel, brass, and electro-brass, along with polished or satin finishes, offer a number of choices that are visually appealing.
Door Closer Size
Door closers need to be strong enough to control the door it’s paired with and you’ll find sizes, ranging from 1 to 6, which correlate with the door weight and width. Size 1 door closers are for lightweight doors with a maximum weight of 20kg and a maximum width of 750mm. Meanwhile, size 6 door closers can be used with doors up to 120kg and 1400mm wide. Adhering to the sizes is especially important for fire doors in order to keep you safe and stop fire spreading – fire door closers must have a minimum size of 2 to conform with EN1154 standards.
Fire Safe Door Closers
Fire doors are designed to keep fire and smoke from spreading around the building, so fire door closers are essential to the job. Fire door closers should be CE/UKCA marked to ensure they’re suitable for use on fire doors and should be fire safe for at least 30 minutes. The minimum expected fire door closer size is 2 and should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure the fire door is regularly checked and maintained to ensure it’s safe in the event of an emergency.
Backcheck and Delayed Action Features
Door closers with a backcheck feature prevents doors from being flung open violently and damaging walls. It slows or stops the door during its opening cycle, typically before reaching a 90-degree opening. For extra protection, door stops can prevent damage further. A delayed action feature, on the other hand, prevents the door from closing immediately once released, meaning groups or bulky objects can pass through easily. This delayed action feature can provide a long delay if necessary, but the delay shouldn’t exceed 25 seconds if the door is a fire door, and some additional legislation may decrease this further.
