Which closer your door has
Which closer a storefront door has is the first thing to settle, because the type decides where the closer adjusts and, for concealed closers, which pivots the door hangs on. BHMA's A156.4 closer standard covers closers surface mounted, concealed in the door, overhead concealed and concealed in the floor.
One closer maker sells the surface closer, the one with a visible arm, in three mountings: a regular arm on the pull side, which it calls the most power-efficient; a top jamb mounting, its best alternative for efficiency; and a parallel arm on the push side, about 25 percent less power-efficient than a regular arm but beneficial in vandalism-prone areas. A second maker places concealed closers in the head frame or the door's top rail.
The National Glass Association (NGA) calls all-glass doors heavy glass doors and says their closer is typically concealed: overhead in a header tube, working with bottom pivots on light to medium doors, or in a cement case grouted into the floor or set before the pour, working with top pivots and typically handling heavier and wider doors where the slab allows.
What each valve does
Each valve on a closer governs one stretch of the door's travel. Closer makers describe a main, or sweep, speed valve for most of the closing, down to about 10 degrees in one maker's figures, and a latch speed valve for the last few degrees. Backcheck cushions the opening swing, from about 75 degrees on one maker's closer and near 90 degrees on another's, and is not a door stop; delayed action, where fitted, adds a third range that on one maker's closer engages past 70 degrees so slow-moving traffic clears the opening first.
One maker's instructions say a valve turned clockwise slows the door and counterclockwise speeds it, with main and latch speed adjusted together, and cap each valve at three turns from seated, in quarter-turn steps, or the closer will leak oil. One maker also says a door that will not latch calls for adjusting the spring force, not the latch speed.
The five-second rule and a maker's typical setting
The 2010 ADA Standards set a minimum closing time for a closer on a manual door that is part of an accessible route: from an open position of 90 degrees, "the time required to move the door to a position of 12 degrees from the latch is 5 seconds minimum." The rule is written for new construction and altered work; for an existing, unaltered door at a place of public accommodation, DOJ's readily achievable barrier-removal rule governs whether it must comply, with a safe harbor for elements that comply with the 1991 Standards. Spring hinges get 1.5 seconds minimum from 70 degrees open to closed.
One closer maker gives 5 to 7 seconds from 90 degrees as a typical closing time, split evenly between main and latch speed. The Standards stop the clock 12 degrees short of the latch, while the maker's figure runs to the latch with half its time in the latch stretch, so a door inside the maker's range has not, by that alone, met the Standards' minimum. Two closer makers warn a closer set for ADA or other reduced opening force may not close and latch the door reliably, depending on site conditions.
Opening force on manual doors has rules of its own: the Standards set "5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum" for interior hinged doors and sliding or folding doors, the U.S. Access Board says "a maximum opening force is not specified for exterior hinged doors," and any other figure on a New Jersey door is the construction official's call.
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design; U.S. Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 4; U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Title III regulations (28 CFR part 36); U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business
Adjust or replace
Adjustment comes first: NGA says all closers should be adjusted in the field for proper sweep and latch speeds, and concealed overhead and floor closers can be adjusted to center the door. One maker's multi-size closer adjusts through sizes 1 through 6 as outlined in ANSI/BHMA A156.4, and NGA says a heavy glass door's closer must be sized to support the weight of the glass.
Replacement starts where adjustment ends: one closer maker's UK product sheet calls for replacing a closer once its reliable function can no longer be ensured. Oil on the closer or the floor below is its own signal, which one maker ties to over-opened valves and another to a broken closer. At Accurate Glass & Mirror the call is made at the measure, with closers adjusted or replaced as the door needs.
What we check on the closer at the measure
At the free on-site measure, Accurate Glass & Mirror looks at the closer alongside the hardware the door hangs on: one maker's UK sheet wants the door hung plumb and moving easily before a closer can operate efficiently. A fire-rated door changes the question: two closer makers say hold-open arms must not be installed on fire-rated doors, and New Jersey's ordinary maintenance rule excludes "Any work affecting structural or fire safety," so closer work on a fire door goes to the construction official and the fire official.
A photo texted to Jessica shows the closer type before the visit; the firm, itemized quote comes in writing after the measure. Our own crew does the work, never a subcontractor. Tell us your hours at the measure. When the closer is only part of the trouble, commercial door repair reaches the glass and the hinges as well.
Source: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, N.J.A.C. 5:23 Uniform Construction Code