Door Industry Journal - Spring 2017

performance standards governing these areas, the type of door closer used will materially affect how well these requirements are met. Great looking interiors Aesthetics are a key concern for hotel projects. Interior designers will be keen to ensure that their designs and decorative schemes are not spoiled by the appearance of fittings and hotels will wish to create a comfortable environment for their clients, particularly in guest rooms. The natural choice for the designer has always been the concealed door closer, which facilitates a clean, unhindered appearance to the door and the entire room. For many years, Samuel Heath has been at the forefront of the selection process with its Powermatic controlled, concealed door closers. British designed and manufactured, Powermatic door closers are available in standard and Swing Free versions, providing the specifier with options to suit different situations. In addition to satisfying the critical performance requirements in areas of fire resistance and accessibility, Powermatic door closers offer a host of benefits that make them suitable for a wide variety of applications in hotels. The jamb-mounted closers fit neatly between the door and frame, which means that they are totally concealed when the door is closed. They are also barely noticeable when the door is opened, presenting little more visible surfaces than a hinge. Avoiding the unsightly control arms and boxes that are inevitable with surface-mounted door closers, and which can spoil the appearance of both door and interior, enables the designer to retain the desired aesthetics of the room. Creating an attractive interior also results in a more homely, less functional, or institutionalised, ambience within the room, enhancing comfort and improving the guest experience. Practical benefits Beyond the assurance of great-looking interiors, Powermatic door closers also deliver a number of practical benefits relevant to hotels. Many hotel rooms have doors fitted in 90-degree reveals or have restricted head room above the door. A jamb-mounted door closer such as Powermatic, can provide a useful solution for automatic door closing in such situations, ensuring that there are minimal fittings protruding from the door which might restrict door opening, or damage décor. It can also ensure that the door closer is easily accessible for inspection, cleaning and adjustment as the door closer is mounted at a lower point in the door. The total concealment afforded by Powermatic door closers, together with minimal visible components, can also help to reduce the risk of the door closer being damaged through tampering. A damaged door closer can prevent a fire door working properly. Therefore, using a door closer which is less susceptible to damage will enhance reliability of the door and safety of guests. Tests undertaken by architects on one particularly prestigious hotel project also showed that Powermatic door closers assured better sound insulation properties for guestroom doors. Together, these benefits have seen Powermatic door closers specified by the world’s leading designers on an enormous variety of prestigious hotel and leisure projects across the globe, including the Savoy, Café Royal, Brown’s Hotel, Hilton and Wyndham Grand in the UK, Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Crowne Plaza in China, Sarova Hotels in Kenya and Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai. Samuel Heath offers a dedicated CPD presentation on door closers that is specifically designed for architects, designers and specifiers. The presentation covers all aspects of door closer selection, including product application and the relevant legislation, guidelines and performance standards which apply. Details can be obtained by calling 0121 766 4216, emailing sales@samuel-heath.com or visiting www.concealeddoorclosers.com . 111 THE door industry journal spring 2017 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk building hardware feature