Door closer is a mechanical device installed to close the door after someone opens it or it is opened automatically. There should be correct proportion between the size of door, door closer and number of people using that door or the frequency of opening the door every day. Select the best-suited design to have proper result.
The process used by manual door closure is that it store the energy used in opening the door in compression or torsion spring and releases it when it is closed. If you want to change the speed and strength used in opening the door, it can be done by adjusting the strength of the spring. The latest technique used in door closers these days are hydraulic dampers. It helps to reduce the vibration and volume of speed.
Door closers can be divided in two types depending on the traffic they can manage. Type 1 has been designed for main entrances and high traffic areas. It can endure a use of about 400 times a day and requires a replacement after 3 to 7 years. It even has multiple control modes like sweep, latch and back check.
Type 2 closers are designed for interior doors of an office area which have a medium traffic and are used about hundred times a day. These closers have two valves which control the speed of the door. The first part of closing cycle takes about 5 sec giving enough time for the person to move without having any chance of being struck by the door in this closing cycle. The ideal time of quick and safe door closing cycle is kept to about six seconds.
So why should you install closer on your doors? What are advantages of door closers? There are many advantages of having it. It is important to keep the noisy sounds of traffic from the outside, it also have lot of security purpose and even privacy. Mostly kids in the house run in and out of the house very often and it becomes difficult to check every time if the door has been properly closed.
Depending on their fixing place, closers can be of three styles i.e. surface mounted, concealed in frame and concealed in floor. Overhead closers come in surface mounted and concealed designs too. Today even automatic door closer are available in the market. These closers safely open and close the door under the control of a push button or a proximity detector. Closers are available in the market in plated finishes or standard finishes of aluminum, dark brown and flat gold.
Using these closures on fire doors is also very common. They are closed at the time of fire so that spreading of fire is prevented. Besides the closure facility during fire situation, other things that should be kept in mind are health, safety, durability, etc.
It could entail a lot of effort to open and close doors so why not settle for door closers. This keep your doors safe and secure especially if you own establishments that require one. Or you may want to try electric strikes.