Understanding Commercial Door Closers

Every day, individuals walk into busy office buildings and doors close neatly behind them.  That's not a mistake; it's commercial door closers doing what they do best.  For contractors, business owners, and facility managers, though, ease of use isn't the only consideration when choosing a door closer.   Prioritizing safety, conserving energy, and avoiding future hassles are of utmost importance.

 Using the wrong door closer can lead to frequent repairs, which can be frustrating for your tenants and potentially put you at risk of legal trouble. The right one?  Years of dependable service that you won't even think about.

Commercial door closers are more than just fancy springs.  They are putting in extra hours to:

•  Ensure your doors close securely to maintain the safety of your building.

•  Keep the proper seals in place to save energy.

•  To follow fire safety rules (no debate on it)

•  Handle thousands of open and closed cycles every day

•  Follow the ADA rules for accessibility

An office door usually opens and closes 500 to 1,000 times a day.  That works out to more than 250,000 times a year.  The National Institute of Standards and Technology states that 15% of the energy loss in commercial buildings is attributed to door closers that don't function properly, allowing air to escape.  Your door closer needs to be ready for it.

Surface-mounted door closers are the most common type of door closer.  You may see them on top of the door or frame, and there's a good reason they're so common.

Why Surface-Mounted Works

•  Simple to change:  Want to slow down the closing speed?  Easy screw adjustment

•  Affordable:  Lower costs for installation and upfront payment

•  Able to do many things:  Works with most types and weights of doors

•  Easy to maintain: You can see and access everything.

These closers work well in regions behind the scenes, at secondary entrances, and anywhere function is more important than form.  They are especially suitable for industrial environments where appearance is not as crucial as dependability.

Best suited for: doors with medium traffic, retrofit projects, and applications that require cost savings.

Want a good door closer that works well but doesn't show?  Overhead door closers are often out of view at the top of the door.

The Unseen Benefits

•  Invisible operation: Looks clean and professional

•  Resistant to vandalism:  Not easy to get to or hurt

•  Protection from the weather: kept safe from the elements

•  Able to handle heavy loads:  Can open and close heavy doors and big glass doors

These systems perform exceptionally well in main entrances, executive spaces, and any other area where architects require clear sightlines.  They are the best option for modern office buildings and high-end stores.

Discover our range of commercial door hardware to find options that align with your design vision.

The Door and Hardware Institute states that correctly chosen commercial door closers can last more than 25 years with minimal maintenance, whereas poorly chosen ones typically break down within 3 to 5 years.  What makes them different?  Knowing exactly what you need from the start.

The weight of your door is the most important thing, along with the amount of traffic, which is also essential. The Building Hardware Manufacturers Association suggests heavy-duty criteria for doors that open more than 200 times a day.

When creating a budget, consider more than just the initial expense.  Surface-mounted door closers are initially cheaper to purchase. Still, door closers are often superior long-term investments in high-traffic areas because they last for over 30 years and require minimal maintenance.

The most effective door closer is the one that best suits your needs.  That's when professional help really matters.  Thousands of contractors and facility managers have received guidance from our staff at CDF Distributors on selecting the appropriate commercial door closers for their projects.

We understand the distinction between a short-term repair and a long-term solution.  We'll help you get it right the first time, whether you need surface-mounted door closers for a simple retrofit or a fancy entrance.

Check out all of our commercial door closers and find out why high-quality door hardware works as hard as you do. Are you ready to fix your door closer problems?