Mechanical Door Closers: Type, Style, Grade & Applications

There are many options when choosing a door closer. The first choice is whether you intend to install mechanical or automatic closers. This article is focused on the mechanical options. Automatic will be covered in a later post. Today we will look at options and their applications to help you choose the door closer that is right in terms of type, style, grade, and application. While it seems simple at first glance, the wrong choice can cause hardware failure and damage. This article can help you get the right look while retaining both the functionality and longevity you need.

Grade:

Selecting the right grade is dictated by the door and its function. The grade of a closer is determined by its ability to sustain wear and tear from a variety of sources, including the weight of the door, area wind speeds, friction from door sweeps and other sources, and the number of hinges present.

Grade	Door Type	Location	Application	Use Cycles
Grade 1	Heavy Duty	Exterior/Interior	Public Building Entrances, heavy use	2 Million
Grade 2	Medium Duty	Exterior/Interior	Restrooms, Offices, Halls	1 Million
Grade 3	Lightweight	Interior	Storage rooms	500,000

Style:

Pneumatic and Hydraulic commercial door closers come in both surface mount and concealed.

Surface Mount Door Closers:

Surface mount door closers are the most common. The hardware and labor costs for surface mount closers is lower when compared to concealed as they are less labor intensive to install and replace. There are 3 main types of surface mount door closers:

Concealed Door Closers:

Concealed closers are more expensive as far as hardware and labor are concerned, but the finished product is functional and beautiful with a much lower profile. They are available in both overhead and floor styles, though many designs use a combination of floor and overhead as pictured below. Concealed closers can handle heavy-duty workloads well and provide a clean, professional look for the finished product. Overhead closers are installed in the header above the door, and floor closers are embedded directly into the floor below. It is an ideal solution for heavy glass doors and installations that need to preserve visual integrity for both sleek modern construction and historical buildings.