Concealed? Overhead? Hydraulic? Automatic? Door Closers Explained

DormaSingle vs Double Action

To understand different types of door closers you need to first be familiar with the concept of ‘single action’ or ‘double action’. A typical door would be single action in that it opens in one direction. A double action door is one that swings both ways and can open both inwards and outwards. ALL door closers (at least the spring-loaded ones we work on) are automatic.

Closures & Floor Springs

As a simple rule of thumb, what we would officially refer to as a ‘closure’ means an overhead closer for a single action door.

A ‘floor spring’ – also referred to as a concealed closer – would normally be for a double action door (because an overhead closer can only be fitted to one side of the door). We do occasionally see floor springs fitted to single action doors, but this is usually not necessary.

A door closer is fitted to the top of the door on the hinge side, whereas a floor spring is a box that sits in the floor underneath the door, often concealed from view.

The size of any door closer or floor spring is related to the size and weight of the door.

Cam-driven Closers

A cam-driven closer has gears inside instead of a spring. The gears will turn only so far – that is, up to a certain force in Newtons (which is adjustable) as the door is opened. When the door is no longer pushed or pulled the gears then turn back to close the door.

OverheadOverhead (Transom) Closers & Closures

An overhead closure has a drive arm that pushes the door closed. Depending on the layout of building and the door, there might be a slide rail (for when the arm needs to be recessed).

A ‘transom’ closer is just another way of saying ‘overhead’. It takes the form of a pivot connected to a drive arm: the arm is bolted to the top of the door, with the other end of the closer attached to the top of the door frame. When the door is opened the oil inside the closer is put under pressure, and it is this pressure that slowly pushes the door closed when it is no longer being held open.

Hydraulics

All door closures and door springs are hydraulic and filled with oil. We have come across some pneumatic floor springs which used ‘air checks’ and had a rubber plunger on the check cylinder, but these springs were discontinued in the 1930s so finding one now is very rare indeed!

How Door Closers Work

All door closers and floor springs must first be pushed or pulled open. This opens the coil spring, which wants to close. It is the coil spring that closes the door automatically using hydraulic oil pressure.

On good quality door springs and closers the oil pressure can be adjusted to change the ‘response’ of the door to being opened, and therefore the speed at which it closes again.

Related Products

DormaTop Centre Set

A top centre set is fitted to the top of the door and the top of the door frame, and holds them together via a spindle (a rod or pin that is the axis for the door’s rotation). We’ve always found it amazing that some makes (Modric and Jebron to name two) have a spindle the size of a little finger yet are often specified for big doors with a huge load by architects.

Bottom Shoe / Shoe Strap

As the name suggests, a bottom shoe or shoe strap holds the bottom of the door onto a floor spring pivot. Both are required to close the door.

EMB

An EMB is a floor spring or door closure which has an electric solenoid built into its body to connect it to the fire alarm system and to keep it permanently open as long as electric current flows through the solenoid. Should the fire alarm go off, power to the door is cut, and the closer then operates like any other. The door can still be opened but, if not held open, it will close to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.

Widely Used Door Spring Brands

Axim

We have used Axim floor spring units for many years.

Geze

Geze started in 1863 in Germany, and have an office in the UK. Although the company make both floor springs and overhead closers, we have mainly seen their medium to heavy strength floor springs in use.

We can order for next day delivery if required.

Briton

The brand known today as Briton started life as Newman Tonks. After being bought by Briton the name changed to then Newman Tonks Briton.  The company is today owned by Ingersoll Rand and goes under the name Briton.

After UK fire ratings were upgraded around 1999/2000 the parent company stopped manufacturing vital supporting  products including:

  • top centre sets (both single and double action);
  • bottom shoes (both single and double action);
  • EMBs.

This is a problem as the working life span is now coming to an end and these products have to be replaced with a new make and model.

Briton units can be purchased from any ironmongery stockists with a comprehensive product catalogue. 

Dorma

In our opinion at time of writing (Autumn 2016) Dorma products are the ones we would most recommend. They are the easy to source, the easiest to fit and also the easiest to service and maintain. Their heavy duty units in particular are very good and can handle any door or set of doors.

We keep a good range of Dorma closers and spares in stock – in fact at one time we had more than our supplier who asked us for some back! If we don’t have the product required then we can order for next day delivery as long as the item is in the UK; if not then it can take up to 6 weeks.

Popular Dorma units include:

BTS84

A ‘shallow box’ unit which comes in handy when there are gas or water pipes or electric cables running under the door.

BTS80

A very good unit, and one we would fit to every door we see if possible, but the cost of supply and fitting is high. This is an expensive closer but the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is true here.

BTS75 and BTS75V

The Dorma BTS75 was a simply brilliant floor spring which just lasted and lasted. The new model is the BTS75V which is a nice small unit that can handle a big door if it has to.

Vintage / Antique

We keep a stock of discontinued used products including floor springs, hydraulic and pneumatic coil springs, plus associated products like top centre sets , shoes, rocker bars, and cylinder parts.

Makes of door closers that we have in stock or regularly come across include: James Adams & Son (Slave), Robert Adams, Allgood, Avon, Brittanic, Camberwell, Cartland, Comyn, Coronet, Earl, Gibbon, Peter Jackson, Leggetts, Modric, Monarch, Marquess, Meteor, Newmans, Oxford, Parker Winder & Achurch, Riobi, Septor, Showell, Smiths, Tudor,Ben Turner, Union, Victor and Viscount.

If you’re after a particular make or model – even if it’s not on the list above – give us a call because we might just have it!