Architects put a lot of design and intent into specifying door closers for new build projects, particularly where fire doors are fitted.
Now known as the ‘Principal Designer’ in the Building Safety Act, Architects will want to design High Risk Buildings (HRB) with a fully signed off compliant specification. HRB’s may include schools, hospitals, care homes, social housing, apartments, and student accommodation to name a few.
This means it’s more important to check compliance requirements for the doors you have before choosing a closer. Changing the specification can lead to serious compliance problems, so it’s best to take advice.
But what about those of us who just need to buy a closer to replace a damaged one on a fire-resisting door, or add functionality to an internal, non-fire door?
Value engineering door closers presents itself as a tempting opportunity to claw back profit on a project going wrong. With costs spiralling out of all proportion, sometimes main contractors look for alternative closers.
However, like architects, main contractors are advised to remember their new responsibilities as ‘principal contractor’ under the new Building Safety Act and the Fire Safety Act. This is especially when working on HRB’s. If you change door closer specification from what the architect signed off as ‘compliant’ spec, you effectively become the ‘principal designer’. In effect, this means you will be required by the Accountable Person to prove compliance of your new ‘value engineered’ choice.
You’ve fitted some new doors in an office refurb, but they haven’t been supplied with door-closing devices and the main contractor has left it with you to sort by the end of the week.
A door closer has been damaged, meaning the fire safety of the building is potentially compromised. Knowing you need to fit a like-for-like closer, to keep the fire-rated door compliant, you study the numbers on the one you’ve taken off. But matching this to the options at your local retail store isn’t looking easy.
In either case, you need to get your hands on a suitable door closer and fit it – fast.
Heading off to the local Screwfix store, or searching online for ‘door closers near me’ and you realise that choosing the right one isn’t straightforward; there are many options to choose from and you need to get the best value available, plus fit and adjust it correctly!
Hence your search…
Panic not…
Our handy checklist is here to point you in the right direction;
If you are replacing a compliant closer like-for-like, find the EN 1154 rating grade on the mechanism (a 6-digit number) and UKCA certificate, check the 3rd and 6th digits. You might need to slide the cover off to access this info.
The 3rd digit is the power rating. You can buy a closer that matches that exactly, or any power-adjustable model which covers that number.
If you don’t have this info, go by the door type, as follows:
For estimating timber fire door weight, you can use the Rutland ‘density formula’ at https://www.rutlanduk.co.uk/how-much-does-my-fire-door-weigh to work out a fairly accurate weight in kg. Then use the below chart to see what options you have; -
Power rating | Door weight (Max) | Door Width (Max) | Rutland code options |
3 | 40kg to 60kg | 850 to 950mm | TS.3204, TS.5204, TS.9205, TS.11204, TS.11205, TS.24 |
4 | 80kg | 1,100mm | All above |
5 | 110kg | 1,250mm | TS.9205, TS.11205 |
6 | 120kg | 1,400mm | TS 9206 |
The 6th digit identifies the corrosion resistance. Grade 0 has no resistance, with Grade 3 for internal use and grade 4 recommended for external use (such as the Rutland TS 9205 Marine-grade option).
If you don’t have access to the above rating info, working through the following should help you choose the right closer device:
Is it for a fire door? If so, the closer MUST be a CE or UKCA marked controlled door closing device (to meet Doc B), and for accessibility needs (to assist Doc M). All Rutland closers are 3rd-party certificated, some by Certifire, some by IFCC, or some certified by both schemes. Choose one that matches the door size/weight and follow the manufacturer’s fitting instructions. If you are unsure about fire door closers, reach out to a competent person for help.
It is advisable to choose power-adjustable variants. They should also be rated as Grade 1 (the 4th digit of their EN 1154 rating), having passed a BS EN 1634 fire test. Grade 0 in the EN 1154 classification box 4 are not suitable for fire-doors.
Can the door be opened beyond 105o? If so, choose a closer with a suitable maximum opening angle, or add a door stop to restrict the opening to match the closer capability.
How much use (and misuse) is likely? Closers in publicly accessible buildings, workplaces and rental properties may benefit from having a back-check function to protect the door and wall décor. All EN 1154 closers are tested to 500,000 cycles, a robust one will last for years - a Rutland TS 9205 has exceeded 1.48 million cycles and counting!
Most Rutland door closers are power-adjustable, so one closer model will fit a range of door sizes and weights. For example, the TS 9205 Rutland Closer is suitable for the vast majority of timber or composite internal and external doors:
From 575mm to 1250mm door leaf width
From 15kg – 110kg door weight
For non-fire door situations, your choice of closer comes down to quality, aesthetics and functionality. Whilst Rutland’s mission is enhancing life-safety at every fire door, closers are often chosen for their non-fire functionalities; control of opening speed, self-closure, acoustics, pest control and soft-close latching of doors. Non-fire doors can also have a mechanical hold-open function.
Doc M contracts need the door closer adjusted so that the opening action is not restrictive to those with accessibility needs, and the closing and latching force doesn’t present a hazard. The actual forces are not given in Doc M, as this depends on factors in the building’s environment, such as localised air-pressures. The trick is choose a door closer tested to BS 8300, and adjust for the minimum power setting required to fully close the door against the jamb.
A quick look on a site like Screwfix shows door closers range from £30 up to £300 – so what’s the difference?
Essentially; Durability, aesthetics, functionality and grade rating.
Entry-level controlled door closer devices tend to be only suitable for a limited range of (lighter) door weights, with less fine-tuning available. You can adjust the power on some lower-cost closers when you fit them (to a template), whilst the better models allow for quick fine-tuning post-fitting. Choosing a power-adjustable closer will enable you to compensate for the building’s air pressure difference to ensure the optimal closing force. This might be a purchasing consideration for the avoidance of additional site visits to re-fix for things like changes in air pressures, or user needs.
Where design and functionality needs are less important than budget, there are some good basic closers available. The Rutland TS.3204.SLFB is a fixed power size 3 or 4 overhead closer, for push or pull side fitting, and comes with a ten-year guarantee. For a compliant closer on a budget fire door, choose it without the optional cover TS.3204.FB.SE
Higher-end projects will benefit from colour-matched closers and more features. Popular finishes from the choice of 15 metallic finishes on the TS 9205 include brass, nickel, black, bronze and polished chrome.
You can even buy door closers for sub £30 - but check that it is a ‘controlled closing device’ for the purposes of fire regs and Doc B requirements; some basic spring-type closers are not classified for fire doors. An approved controlled closing device requires separate adjustments for opening, closing, and latching speed and power.
Unless you’re fitting closers in a specialist setting, overhead closers such as the TS.5204 are a great all-rounder, whilst the TS.11204 slide arm closer offers a refined look, and also has multiple finish options.
Fitting is important for any door closer, and critical for fire-doors. Correct fitting is the responsibility of the fitter, as the main contractor is now deemed a duty holder under the Building Safety Act. Don’t be put off by that though, as the manufacturer will provide fitting instructions. Rutland closers are the favourite of many fitters as they are designed to be simple to install and come with full-colour fitting templates.
Most door closers can be fitted on the pull or push side, although this may affect their maximum power size.
If you require further support in fitting a Rutland door closer, use the website search facility at the top of this page (product code) to find videos, templates and guides, or subscribe to the Rutland YouTube channel to get regular updates.
For advice on fitting closers where the door frame has an architrave, see our article “Fitting Closer Arms”.
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