Door closers are mechanical devices whose purpose is to automatically smoothly return open doors to a closed position. Installing them on the door significantly extends the life of the door hardware, especially the hinges. With the help of a closer, it is ensured not only that the doors are closed, but that they are pressed against the seal installed along the door contour. Providing reliable closing of doors, the mechanism is installed on the entrance doors of residential premises and fire exits intended for evacuation in emergency cases.
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Entrance metal door with closer
Features of door closers for access doors
An entrance door with a closer operates with minimal noise, does not let out heat, and always remains closed, which means there will be no outside visitors or drafts in the entrance. Operating conditions are associated with a large number of visitors and exposure to weather factors, so increased demands are placed on the door closer.
- Durability and ability to withstand significant weight of the front door.
- Resistance of the housing and individual elements to mechanical damage.
- Frost resistance so that it works flawlessly regardless of the season.
- Possibility to leave the door open, for example, to bring in furniture.
- High shock-absorbing qualities to smooth out impacts.
The optimal solution for a door at the entrance is considered to be a top-mounted overhead door closer with a pneumatic and hydraulic mechanism adapted to negative temperatures.
Pneumatics are successfully used at the entrance to multi-storey buildings. It is able to function in severe frosts and heat. The working chambers are filled with compressed air, which, when opening and closing, is pumped from one cavity to another. The sash is returned to its original position by an elastic spring, and is braked by air compressed by the piston. By increasing or decreasing the flow of supplied air, the closing speed is adjusted. It is worth noting that pneumatic closers on an iron door allow you to keep the door open and even help when closing it without consequences.
Only hydraulic frost-resistant closers are suitable for installation on the door in the entrance. Their peculiarity is that there is a special oil inside that does not thicken in temperatures down to −45°. Hydraulically operated doors operate smoothly and silently. Suitable for all climate zones.
Instructions for self-adjustment of the device
After installing the door leaf, it is necessary to install a closer. It must be located inside the building so as not to become contaminated by street dust and dirt. For installation you will need a ruler, a simple pencil, a drill and a screwdriver. And also a stool if the box is too big.
The fastening device is located in the same set with the door closer. The kit also includes instructions for easy DIY installation. When mounting, first fix the housing, then attach the lever rod.
Self-adjustment of the door closer begins with finding two adjusting screws. One sets the main door movement from 180 to 15 degrees, and the other the final stages.
Interesting! In modern devices, a third adjustment screw is installed to adjust the total force.
Device installation steps:
- The cover is removed, the valve for regulation is found and checked with the instructions from the kit.
- The first screw is turned clockwise to increase the closing rate, and in the opposite direction to decrease it.
- If necessary, the “hold open” function installs a locking lever when the doors are open 90 degrees.
- Check whether the structure is installed correctly.
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You cannot make more than two turns from the original location, so as not to break the device.
Closers for fire doors
The door closer is an important element of fire protection. He must quickly close the door to become a barrier and prevent further spread of fire and combustion products into adjacent rooms. Installation of the device is a mandatory condition for the operation of fire doors. It is mounted on the doors of emergency exits and staircases. The provisions of SNiP and fire safety rules of the Russian Federation do not regulate the fire resistance of the closer and do not establish special requirements.
Despite the fact that a certificate confirming fire-resistant properties is not issued, materials that can withstand high temperatures are used in production. Most often it is high-strength metal with a fireproof coating or covered with a thermosetting seal.
In terms of design, mechanical door closers for fire protection structures are mainly manufactured with a lever rod. The mechanisms are simple and reliable. The installation method is the same as for conventional devices. Factory door models are equipped with overhead-type closers with an upper lever rod.
The door closer is installed on the hinge side. On double-leaf doors, a closing order coordinator is additionally mounted on each leaf.
Installation
There is nothing complicated in installing the overhead door closer. Usually, the product comes with installation instructions, following which you will spend a minimum of effort and get everything done in a maximum of half an hour. Manufacturers often take care of their customers by supplementing the instructions with a diagram where everything is clearly shown. You just need to stick the diagram on the door where the mechanism will be installed and perform a few simple steps.
To install all other types of products, it is recommended to contact specialists, since the complexity of their installation will be much higher.
Electric closers
Electric closers are designed for automatic doors. They can be installed on single- and double-leaf swing structures with external and internal opening.
The devices are distinguished by their attractive appearance, reliability and comfort of use thanks to many built-in functions: four operating modes, opening assistance, adjustable swing angles and pause time, and the ability to connect to a fire alarm.
The electric closer consists of an ergonomic body with a sliding rod (for internal opening) or a folding one (for external opening). The electric drive includes an asynchronous electric motor, a controller, an electronics module with sensors, a control unit with a remote control, an operating mode switch, and connectors for connecting additional devices. Emergency power supply from batteries is provided. For some models, software has been developed for control from mobile devices.
The electric closer easily adapts to openings and doors of all types. The mounting plate simplifies installation, which is the same as for mechanical devices.
What to do if nothing works out?
There are several reasons why the setup may not produce results:
- An inappropriate mechanism has been selected, the door is too heavy, and heavy objects are frequently hung on the door leaf.
- Incorrect fastening of the iron angle, misalignment of parts.
- Displacement of the holes for the screws on which the device is attached, unscrewing.
If one of the above points applies, then there are only two options - change the door, install a different closer. There is a third option - try to fix it yourself, but lack of experience can lead to worsening.
The lever must be positioned strictly perpendicular to the canvas, otherwise one of the parts must be moved.
Closers for heavy metal doors
Closers for solid steel doors must have greater power to provide sufficient force to press the closing leaf. In addition, it is necessary to keep the door from impact, which, in addition to noise, causes additional vibration and premature wear of the door mechanisms.
To ensure operability, heavy doors are equipped with closers designed for loads of up to 600 kg. By design, these can be open-mounted devices and floor-standing models. The mechanism allows you to separately regulate the force and speed when closing and slamming the door. The opening angle is limited to 180°, and the closer operates at 160°. The products provide a partial opening function and the ability to fix the position. An anti-vandal valve is installed to prevent damage in case of manual closing.
With wide folds and a large area of the canvas, additional windage is created, so the closers are equipped with a “wind brake” that protects against impacts and involuntary movement.
How to increase service life
There are a few simple tips that, when followed, eliminate the possibility of mechanical breakdowns and extend the life of the devices.
- Always take into account the conditions for using the door closer. If it is installed on the doors of public buildings, the frequency of opening/closing increases sharply. In addition, not all visitors handle doors carefully; strong mechanical stress may occur. For such needs, you need to choose the most reliable door closers. Attention is drawn secondarily to the number of adjustments; the main factor is mechanical stability.
When choosing a model, it is necessary to take into account the loads to which the closer will be subjected
- Make sure that the door is used for its intended purpose and does not serve as a barrier for animals, a toy for children, etc. There is no need to increase the weight of the door leaf. We have already mentioned that the greater the weight of the doors, the higher the inertia indicators, and they have an extremely negative effect on the mechanism.
Closers for heavy doors
- Never undertake installation or adjustment of the device without reading the instructions, without understanding the principle of operation of the closer elements, and without foreseeing the possible consequences of your interventions.
You can start adjusting the closer yourself only after studying the instructions
- Do not buy mechanisms from unknown companies. The fact is that they have many connections that require high precision machining of the surfaces of the parts. At the slightest deviation in technology, oil leaks appear. It is impossible to correct the problem by simply adding oil; complex repairs must be made. This requires a lot of time and money, and the result is still unknown. It is much more profitable to immediately buy expensive but high-quality goods from well-known European class=”aligncenter” width=”737″ height=”590″[/img]
Door closers from well-known brands are of high quality and have a long service life.
Find out how to repair the door handle of a metal door with your own hands in a special article on our portal.
Features of choice
- The choice of door closer is made based on the dimensions and weight of the door. The larger of these parameters is taken as the basis. There are 7 classes of closers. For massive and wide canvases, a powerful, high-class device is required. The simplest mechanisms can withstand a weight of 20 kg and are suitable for sashes up to 750 mm wide. Class 7 products are designed for doors weighing 160 kg.
- An important factor is the operating temperature. Hydraulic and hydromechanical devices are used for indoor installation. A special frost-resistant mechanism is required for street and entrance doors.
- If the door height is up to 2.5 m and there is additional load, for example, from strong wind, you should choose closers for a metal door of a larger size and power.
- The manufacturer's marking on the box indicates the maximum loads, but the closer can also be installed on lighter door structures.
- It is worth paying attention to the presence of additional functions that will make operation comfortable. These include braking and closing delay, range of slamming speed control, the ability to fix an open door, maximum swing angle of the leaf, wind brake, coordination of the operation of the leaves for double doors.
- Each product has its own resource, which is calculated by the number of complete closing-opening cycles. This parameter is related to the intensity of use of the door and the level of traffic in the room. For a public institution and a private home, the load is noticeably different.
- A vandalism-resistant model should be installed on external doors, for example, at the entrance or at the gate.
- The operating temperature range depends on the category of oil used. Moreover, one model can be produced with different oils depending on the country of delivery.
- The selected door closer size must comply with the manufacturer's recommendations.
The main reasons for adjustments during use
Sometimes, during long-term operation, it may be necessary to adjust the door closer, because the oil solution changes properties at different temperatures and affects the compression of the springs. Typically a summer change is required for hot weather and a winter change. They are adjusted in the same way as the initial installation - by moving the screws clockwise, as described in the schematic instructions.
In order to prevent the mechanism, a check is arranged once every six months when there is a strong change in temperature. Additionally, you can check the operation of the device in case of failures. Inspect and repair damage if necessary.
Loosen the closer spring
More often than not, during operation, opening the entrance becomes very difficult. Many people are interested in how to loosen the mechanism for convenient operation. To loosen, you need to turn the screw clockwise, but no more than 2 turns, so as not to break the mechanism.
Repair
If the mechanism is overloaded, which leads to wear, some parts are replaced. Spare parts for the closer are selected taking into account its type. If there is an oil leak, the condition of the housing is assessed; if the defect is small, the gap is closed with sealant. If there is severe deformation, the part is replaced. When the metal of the rod breaks, a welding machine is used. Corrosion is eliminated by cleaning. The bend of the rod is corrected manually, and the shape of this element is restored. The door closer on a glass door, metal or wooden door is repaired in the same way.
Famous manufacturers
Among the most popular manufacturers that you should pay attention to when choosing are:
- Dorma;
- Cisa;
- KDS;
- O&O;
- Ryobi;
- Abloy;
- Diplomat;
- Boda.
The most popular accessories of this type are German, Japanese and Italian manufacturers. They offer an extremely wide selection of high quality products. Each product corresponds to the classification, has a reliable design and durability.
Principle of operation
The door closer starts working the moment the door closes to the first latch of the car lock. The door position sensor allows you to determine whether the car is closed or not. If there is a gap between the door and the body, an electrically driven sensor will operate, after which the closer, using a special cable, will pull the door until it is completely closed.
If problems arise in the operation of the door closing mechanism, reliable operation of the door closers cannot be fully ensured.
