D
oor closers are a vital component
when it comes to the specification
of door hardware for any
architectural project. Choose the correct
closer and it can enhance the visual impact
of a building as well as its functionality,
accessibility and safety.
In order to achieve the best result, it is
important to understand the many different
types of door closer available on the
market, and the individual benefits that
they each have to offer.
Consider the door
The first step in selecting a door closer is
making sure that it is correctly matched to
the door.
Door closers are available with either
fixed or adjustable strengths to cater for the
size and weight variation of different doors.
The wider and heavier the door is, the
greater the force required to control it.
A closer with an adjustable strength is
convenient where the size required is
uncertain and facilitates a greater range of
adjustment at the time of fitting. You may
also require a stronger power size to
overcome air pressure in a small room.
Size and space
It’s also important to consider the location
and usage of the door. If the door needs to
withstand frequent traffic such as in an
office or corridor, you will need to make
sure you plan accordingly to meet these
requirements. There are usually three
different levels of usage (level 1, 2 and 3),
and door closers will specify which level
they are most suited for.
High traffic doors in places such as
shopping centres, hospitals, and schools or
universities should be fitted with closers
that have been tested to perform to the
highest number of cycles.
Buildings such as care homes may
require specialist fittings for less
physically able users. A closer with
delayed action for instance would be an
ideal solution as it will allow the door to
remain open for a specified period of time,
allowing extra time for users to pass
through safely before closing at an
adjustable speed. It should be noted that
the delay function should not be used on
fire doors, and most closers allow the
function to be disabled for this purpose.Aesthetics
While door closers have been seen as
clunky and institutional in the past, new
ranges have been developed to complement
interior design, and seamlessly blend in
with the decor. These are generally much
slimmer and more compact, and often
incorporate architectural finishes to
improve their aesthetic qualities. A variety
of different finishes such as polished brass;
antique brass or satin nickel makes them
much more visually appealing.With many different types of door closers on offer, David Saxby
of IronmongeryDirect advises on the key features to consider in
order to make an informed choice for your project
Open the door to closers
In commercial buildings
such as offices, door
closers are a key part of
building security. While
keypads or other devices
can be added to lock doors,
a closer will make sure
that only people entering
the building have accessINTERIORS 71ADF JUNE 2019 WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK