Concealed fire door closers

Concealed fire door closers

Concealed fire door closers are preferred by many specifiers as an alternative to traditional, overhead fire door closers.

Concealed fire door closers make doors close automatically when not in use to prevent the spread of smoke and flames in the event of a fire.

Instead of unsightly mechanical arms above doors, which are the traditional type of automatic fire door closer, concealed fire door closers are located out of sight in the door and door frame.

Overhead fire door closers present facilities managers and residents of social housing, mental health facilities and healthcare sites with a ligature risk. The height and structure of an overhead door closer makes it an obvious ligature point.

Vandalism is another issue presented by overhead fire door closers. Some residents are opposed to their door automatically closing behind them so deliberately damage the overhead door closer. This presents a fire safety risk. Often, when a fire door closer is damaged, the functionality of the fire door itself is compromised, so the entire door has to be replaced. This is costly and also dangerous while waiting for a replacement to be installed.

Being positioned out of sight, concealed fire door closers don’t pose the same risks. They are also easier to inspect and clean, and don’t represent the institutionalised environment that is associated with overhead fire door closers. Instead they facilitate a more homely and cosy aesthetic which is known to accelerate recovery in healthcare environments.

Driven by the motivation to make fire doors and closers safer, Samuel Heath has been manufacturing concealed fire door closers for over fifty years.

Important factors when specifying concealed fire door closers

Here are some important factors when specifying concealed fire door closers.

• Does the concealed fire door closer meet fire safety standards, substantiated through independent certification?
  • BS EN 1154 (500,000 opening and closing cycles without loss of performance or significant wear, and other criteria)
  • BS EN 1634-1 (fire testing for one-hour and half-hour latched and unlatched fire doors)
  • EN 1634 (Europe-wide standard for fire resistance testing)
  • Certifire certification (independent, industry recognised third party fire safety certification)
• Does the concealed fire door closer meet manufacturing processes and systems standard BS EN ISO 9001?
• Does the concealed fire door closer create the required aesthetics, particularly in healthcare settings?

More information on choosing a concealed fire door closer can be found here.

Benefits of hidden fire door closers

The benefits of hidden fire door closers include:

• Anti-ligature – overhead door closers present a ligature risk which is an ongoing concern for facilities managers. Hidden away, concealed fire door closers don’t present the same risk
• Vandalism – overhead fire door closers are often subjected to vandalism by residents who don’t want their doors to automatically close and troublemakers who just want to cause damage. Concealed door closers cannot be damaged so easily, and being out of sight puts them out of mind
• Aesthetics – overhead door closers are considered ugly and impact the aesthetics of a room, while concealed door closers are invisible when the door is closed. Concealed door closers are also ideal for the likes of hotel rooms and small spaces where door clearance is restricted
• Less institutional – overhead door closers are synonymous with institutional settings. Concealed door closers help interior designers to create more homely, comfortable rooms which enhance wellbeing. In healthcare facilities, this is known to expedite recovery
• Hygiene – concealed door closers don’t attract the same levels of dirt and bacteria as the exposed mechanical arms of overhead door closers. Being much nearer the ground, they are also easier to inspect and clean.