Door closure

Description

Door closure refers to a mechanical device that Automatic door closer a door after it has been opened. These devices are essential for various reasons, including Access control door closer, security, fire safety, energy efficiency and convenience.

How Door Closers Work:

Most door closers operate on a spring and hydraulic (oil-filled) or pneumatic (air-filled) damping system.

1. Opening the Door: When you open a door with a closer, you compress a spring inside the closer body. This action also moves a piston, forcing hydraulic fluid through a series of valves.
2. Storing Energy: The energy used to open the door is stored in the compressed spring.
3. Controlled Closing: When the door is released, the spring expands, pushing the door back towards the frame. The hydraulic fluid, controlled by adjustable valves, regulates the speed of this closing action.
   • Sweep Speed: Controls the main closing speed of the door.
   • Latching Speed: Controls the final few degrees of closing, allowing the door to gently latch without slamming.
   • Backcheck (Optional): Provides hydraulic resistance if the door is opened too forcefully, preventing it from swinging open too wide and damaging the door, frame, or adjacent walls.
   • Delayed Action (Optional): Holds the door open for a set period before it starts to close, useful for high-traffic areas or for people with disabilities.

Types of Door Clousure:

Door closers come in various configurations, each suited for different door types, traffic levels, and aesthetic preferences:

1. Surface-Mounted Door clousure:
   • Regular Arm (Standard Arm): The closer body is mounted on the pull side of the door, with one arm attached to the closer and the other to the frame. It’s power-efficient but the arm projects from the door.
   • Parallel Arm: The closer body is mounted on the push side of the door, and the arms run parallel to the door frame when closed. More aesthetically pleasing and less prone to vandalism, though slightly less power-efficient than regular arm.
   • Top Jamb Mounted: The closer body is mounted on the frame above the door (on the push side). Often used for aluminum or glass doors with narrow top rails.
   • Slide Arm (Slide Channel): Uses a sliding channel instead of projecting arms, providing a more discreet look and often easier opening force (cam action). Ideal for aesthetically sensitive areas or for accessibility.
2. Concealed Door closure :
   • Concealed in Door: The closer mechanism is recessed entirely within the door leaf, making it invisible when the door is closed.
   • Concealed in Frame (Transom Mounted): The closer is hidden within the door frame or header.
   • Concealed in Floor (Floor Springs): The closer mechanism is installed in the floor beneath the door pivot point. Ideal for heavy or high-traffic doors, especially glass storefront doors, providing a very clean look.
3. Other Types:
   • Spring Hinges: Combine the function of a hinge and a closer, typically for lightweight interior doors.
   • Jamb Mounted Door Closers: Recessed into the door jamb, usually for lightweight interior doors.
   • Electromagnetic Door Closers: Often linked to fire alarm systems. They hold doors open normally but automatically close them when the alarm sounds, crucial for fire containment.

Benefits of Door Closers:

• Security: Ensures doors are not left ajar, maintaining building security.
• Fire Safety: Crucial for fire-rated doors to automatically close and prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
• Energy Efficiency: Helps maintain indoor temperatures by ensuring doors close properly, reducing heat/cooling loss.
• Convenience: Automatically closes doors, especially useful in commercial or public buildings.
• Noise Reduction: Prevents doors from slamming, reducing noise and wear and tear.
• Accessibility: Properly adjusted closers can meet accessibility standards (e.g., ADA in some regions) by controlling opening and closing forces, making doors easier for everyone to use.

Regulations in Kenya (General Guidance):

While specific detailed regulations for door closers in Kenya might be embedded within broader building codes and fire safety standards, here’s what’s generally expected:

• Fire Exits/Fire Doors: Any door designated as a fire exit or a fire-rated door must be equipped with a self-closing device (door closer). This is paramount for life safety and fire containment. These closers should be robust enough to close and latch the fire door effectively.
• Public Buildings: Doors in public Access control door closer buildings (hospitals, schools, commercial centers) are generally expected to have closers for security, energy efficiency, and to manage traffic flow.
• Accessibility: While specific local accessibility standards are still evolving, international best practices (like those derived from ADA) suggest that door closers should allow for easy opening (low force) and controlled, non-slamming closing to accommodate people with disabilities.
• Building Codes: The Kenya Building Code and relevant fire safety regulations would dictate the requirements for door closures in different building types and occupancies. It’s always best to consult with a qualified architect, fire safety engineer, or local building authority for exact compliance requirements for a specific project.

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