Why Is My Commercial Door Slamming?

Why Is My Commercial Door Slamming or Closing Too Slowly?

A commercial door that suddenly starts slamming, drifting shut too slowly or failing to close consistently is more than an annoyance. The closer controls how the door moves through most of its closing cycle, so a problem can affect accessibility, security and the ability of the door to latch correctly.

For Arizona property managers, the useful question is not simply whether the closer still moves the door. It is whether the entire opening is operating as it should.

What Does a Commercial Door Closer Do?

A door closer controls the speed and force of a door as it returns to the closed position. Many commercial closers have separate adjustments for the main sweep of the door, the final few degrees before latching and backcheck, which helps control a door if it is opened forcefully or caught by wind.

A properly operating closer should allow the door to move smoothly and then close firmly enough for the latch to engage. Allegion notes that a closer should maintain a controlled closing speed without allowing the door to slam.

Why Does a Commercial Door Start Slamming?

Incorrect closer adjustment is one possible cause. Hydraulic fluid inside many closers regulates the speed of movement through different parts of the closing cycle. If settings are wrong, the door may move too quickly. Allegion lists incorrect adjustment among the possible reasons a closer can allow a door to slam.

A damaged or worn closer can create similar symptoms. Oil leaking from the closer body is an obvious warning sign. Loose mounting screws, a bent arm, damaged hinges or a door that has shifted in the frame can also change how the closer behaves.

Wind and pressure differences can matter as well. An exterior door may behave differently from an interior office door, particularly when HVAC pressure or strong air movement affects the opening. Backcheck is designed in part to control excessive opening movement caused by forces such as wind.

Why Can a Door Close Too Slowly?

A door that moves very slowly may have been adjusted that way deliberately, but excessive delay can keep an exterior or secured door open longer than intended. It may also fail to build enough momentum to latch.

The closer is only one part of the opening. Binding hinges, frame contact, weather seals or misalignment can add resistance. If the door is difficult to move by hand, adjusting the closer without correcting the underlying problem may make matters worse.

Accessibility Rules Matter

Closing speed is not simply a matter of preference on accessible doors. The 2010 ADA Standards state that a door closer must take at least five seconds to move a door from 90 degrees open to 12 degrees from the latch.

Opening force also has accessibility requirements for many interior hinged doors. That means increasing closer power merely to make a troublesome door latch can create another problem.

A technician should look at the complete door assembly rather than treating closing speed as an isolated setting.

When Should the Closer Be Repaired or Replaced?

Minor adjustment may solve a door that is otherwise in good condition. Replacement becomes more likely when the closer leaks, has physical damage, no longer responds properly to adjustment or is unsuitable for the size and traffic level of the door.

C&I Show Hardware supplies LCN commercial door closers and states that its LCN range includes 35 series of closers and related hardware. The company also installs and services commercial doors, locks, door closers, access control systems and related hardware throughout the Phoenix area and Northern Arizona.

Get Commercial Door Closer Service in Arizona

A commercial door should close predictably without slamming, dragging or remaining partly open. If the problem keeps returning, the closer, hinges, frame, latch and other hardware should be checked together. C&I Show Hardware and Security Systems, Inc. provides commercial door hardware, repair and security services from Tempe and Prescott. For help with a troublesome commercial door or closer, call the Tempe office at 480 967 8568 or toll free at 800 678 8568 for a free quote.