Door Closers

HELPFUL TERMS

 

Arm:  The closer part that connects the body to the door or frame. 

 

Backcheck:  Slows a door during the opening cycle, by providing cushioned resistance to a forceful opening.  Designed to protect people and objects behind the door and to prevent damage to the closer, hardware and wall.  Intensity can be increased or decreased.  Not intended to act as a stop. 

 

Closing Speed:  The speed at which a door swings from the open position to within a few degrees of latching.  See latching speed.

 

Door Stop:  A device to stop the swing of a door.

 

Hold-Open:  Maintains door at a particular degree of opening.  A mechanical hold-open may not be used on labeled fire doors, which must be self-closing.

 

Latching Speed:  The speed of the door during the last few degrees of closing.  Allows latching and prevents slamming.

 

Non-Sized Closer:  A closer whose spring tube design allows full adjustment of the spring power size from 1 through 6.

 

Pressure Relief Backcheck Intensity Valve:  A valve which reduces internal pressure when the closer is subjected to forceful opening.  Helps extend closer life. 

 

Sex Nuts and Bolts (SNBs):  Throughbolts required for non-steel reinforced fire doors, and recommended for non-reinforced wood and mineral core doors.

 

Sized Closer:  A closer whose spring design allows for a fixed spring power size 1 through 5.

 

Spring Power:  The ability to overcome draft, air pressure, weight or other resistance to door closing.

 

SIZING CHART

 

Interior:

 

Maximum                                 Maximum                                 Maximum         PA, Corn.

Door Size         RA                   Door Size         TJ                    Door Size         Bracket           

2’8” (.80)

52

2’8” (.80)

52*, TJ52*

2’6” (.75)

52

3’2” (.95)

53

3’2” (.95)

53*, TJ53*

3’0” (.90)

53

3’8” (1.10)

54

3’8” (1.10)

54*, TJ54*

3’6” (1.05)

54

4’0” (1.20)

55

4’0” (1.20)

55*, TJ55*

4’0” (1.20)

55

 

Exterior:

 

Maximum                                 Maximum                                 Maximum         PA, Corn.

Door Size         RA                   Door Size         TJ                    Door Size         Bracket

2’6” (.75)

53

2’8” (.80)

53*, TJ53*

2’6” (.75)

53

3’0” (.90)

54

3’2” (.95)

54*, TJ54*

3’0” (.90)

54

3’6” (1.05)

55

3’8” (1.10)

55*, TJ55*

3’6” (1.05)

55

4’0” (1.20)

56

4’0” (1.20)

56*, TJ56*

4’0” (1.20)

56

 

 

            (TJ—Top Jamb),        (PA—Parallel Arm),               (RA—Regular Arm)

 

*   The standard Yale 50 Series Tri-Pack Door Closer can be installed top jamb with reveals 0”-3” (0mm-76mm).  For frame reveals 3”-7” (76mm-178mm) order TJ150 Series Door Closers.

 

**  Chart courtesy of Yale Security Inc.

 

KNOW YOUR CLOSERS?

 

 

1)

All closers are created equal?

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2)

“BF” means back force?

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3)

A regular arm closer is mounted on the hinge or pull side of the door?

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4)

A top jamb closer is mounted on the hinge or pull side of the door?

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5)

A parallel arm closer is mounted on the push side of the door?

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6)

Door closers cannot be ordered multi-sized?

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7)

Power size (i.e. #4) is equal to the power size on a #3 closer?

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8)

Fire codes do not regulate closer types?

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9)

Spring hinges are an excellent substitute for door closers?

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10)

Consider the customers request only when installing or replacing a closer?

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