Door Industry Journal - Summer 2015

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 94 THE door industry journal summer 2015 building hardware feature Key door closer facts Door closers are an essential legal requirement within any public and private sector building. Here, David Hindle, Head of Door Closer Sales at ASSA ABLOY UK considers the key factors to bear in mind when selecting door closers. Basic door closer selection should take into consideration: • The door being used • The location (whether it is internal or external, or exposed to wind or building pressures) • The width and weight of a door • Associated door components (hinge type, seals, latches) • Cyclic frequency of operation • User types (elderly, infants, those with various disabilities, people carrying things) • Door closer application Once this is established the following standards can help to determine the correct product selection for the usage type and also ensure that the relevant or required legislation is met. 1) BS EN 1154 The first standard to consider for controlled door closing devices is BS EN 1154, which classifies door closers by using a six digit coding system. Each digit refers to a particular feature of the product measured against the standard’s performance requirements. Digit one considers the category of use, in terms of the required degree of opening angle. The second digit confirms that the closer has achieved a 500,000 test cycle pass. The third digit relates to the door closer’s power rating, with a 1 to 7 scale against the potential door’s width and weight. This digit can be displayed in a variety of ways depending on the door closers adjustment type. For example, a single digit would denote a fixed size type, while digits separated by a forward slash denote template adjustable power and where this is a large number above a smaller number, this dictates the upper and lower limits of variable power door closers. The fourth and fifth digits confirm fire rating and safety in use, 0 denotes not present, while 1 indicates present. The final digit relates to its corrosion resistance rating, 0 (no resistance) to 4 (very high resistance). The closer undergoes a salt- water solution spray test for a set number of hours in line with EN1670. 2) BS EN 1634-1: 2000 BS EN 1634-1: 2000 must be considered to determine fire safety and the integrity of doorsets. BS EN 1634-1: 2000 confirms that door closers have been tested on a timber or steel door, with or without intumescent seals and also that the overall door set (door, frame and all the hardware) is suitable for the installation type and required resistance time. 3) CE Marking It is also imperative to ensure that all door closers are CE marked, as this is a manufacturer’s declaration that a product conforms to all of the legal requirements to achieve CE marking and therefore ensures validity for that product to be sold throughout the European Economic Area. 4) BS 8300: 2009 To ease or assist the use of non-powered doorsets, door closers that can demonstrate lower opening forces by meeting