Door Closers Explained: EN Power Sizes, Fire Ratings and Picking the Right One

A door closer may be a relatively small piece of hardware, but it has a major influence on how a door feels, performs and protects a building. The right closer allows a door to open comfortably, close at a controlled speed and engage the latch reliably. The wrong closer can make a door difficult to open, cause it to slam or leave it sitting partly open.

Door closers are used on apartment entries, office doors, fire doors, public buildings, schools, hospitals, shops and many other residential and commercial applications. They can help reduce impact damage, improve security, limit unwanted airflow and ensure doors return to the closed position after use. On fire doors, reliable self-closing and latching are essential parts of the door’s safety function.

This guide provides a general introduction to closers for hinged pedestrian doors. Transom closers, Floor Springs and Screen door closers are separate product categories and are not covered here.

What Does a Door Closer Do?

Most commercial door closers use a spring combined with hydraulic control.

When the door is opened, energy is stored in the spring. When the person releases the door, the spring provides the force needed to close it. Hydraulic valves regulate how quickly that energy is released, allowing the door to close in a controlled manner rather than slamming shut.

This distinction is important:

• Closing power is the force that returns the door to the closed position.
• Closing speed is how quickly the door travels as it closes.

Increasing the power does not simply make the door close faster. It increases the spring force available to overcome the door’s width, weight, seals, latch resistance, wind and air pressure. Speed is normally adjusted separately through hydraulic valves.

Door Closer Size Guide: Understanding EN1 to EN6

Door closer specifications commonly refer to an EN power size, such as EN3, EN4 or EN2–5.

These power sizes come from EN 1154, the European performance standard commonly used to classify controlled door-closing devices. The EN number indicates the closing force of the unit. A higher number provides more closing force for a wider or more demanding door.

The following table is a useful starting guide:

EN power size	Recommended maximum door width	EN test-door mass
EN1	750 mm	20 kg
EN2	850 mm	40 kg
EN3	950 mm	60 kg
EN4	1100 mm	80 kg
EN5	1250 mm	100 kg
EN6	1400 mm	120 kg

These figures should not be treated as a universal maximum-weight chart. Under EN 1154, the listed masses relate to the standard test procedure rather than defining the maximum real-world door weight. The standard also recommends selecting a larger power size for unusually tall or heavy doors, windy or draughty locations and special installation conditions.

Start With the Door Width

Door width is normally the first measurement used when choosing an EN power size.

For example:

• A standard 820 mm-wide internal door will usually fall within the EN2 range.
• A 920 mm-wide door will normally start in the EN3 range.
• A 1000 mm-wide door will generally require EN4.
• A 1200 mm-wide door will normally require EN5.

Width is not the only consideration. The closer may need more power where the door is particularly tall or heavy, exposed to wind, fitted with strong perimeter seals or required to close against air-conditioning pressure.

The mounting method also matters. Regular-arm, parallel-arm, top-jamb and slide-track installations can produce different effective closing forces. Always check the manufacturer’s data and use the correct mounting template.

Fixed and Adjustable Power Closers

A fixed-power EN3 closer is designed to operate at approximately EN3 and cannot simply be adjusted into an EN4 closer.

An adjustable closer marked EN2–4 can be set within that range. It may suit several different door sizes, but it must still be adjusted correctly for the particular installation. An EN2–4 closer fitted to a 1050 mm door would generally need to be set towards EN4 rather than left at its lowest setting.

Adjustable-power models are particularly useful for maintenance teams, strata properties and commercial projects where door conditions may vary.

Overhead, Concealed and Cam-Action Closers

“Overhead”, “concealed” and “cam-action” are sometimes treated as competing types, but they do not all describe the same thing.

Overhead and concealed describe where the closer is installed.

Cam-action describes the mechanism inside the closer.

Cam-action Closers
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Surface-Mounted Overhead Closers

A surface-mounted overhead closer has a visible body fitted near the top of the door or frame. It normally uses either a projecting standard arm or a slide-track arm.

These closers are widely used because they are:

• Relatively straightforward to install
• Accessible for adjustment and servicing
• Available in a broad range of power sizes
• Suitable for many internal, external and fire-door applications
• Available with numerous arm, cover and mounting options

A standard projecting arm normally provides excellent mechanical efficiency and is often selected for demanding or high-traffic doors.

A slide-track arm offers a cleaner, lower-profile appearance. However, the approved power range may change according to the closer, track and mounting position, so the complete specification must be checked.

Concealed Door Closers

A concealed closer hides most or all of the mechanism within the door and frame.

Their main advantage is appearance. With less visible hardware, they are popular in architectural interiors, frameless glass entries and other design-focused projects.

The trade-off is that concealed closers usually require more accurate preparation. Door thickness, frame dimensions, pivot positions and access for future servicing all need to be considered before installation. Fire-door approval must also cover the concealed preparation and exact closer configuration.

Cam-Action Closers

Cam-action refers to the closer’s internal operating mechanism. Cam-action closers are usually combined with a slide channel and are designed to reduce opening resistance as the door moves through its opening arc.

This can make the door feel noticeably easier to open while still providing enough closing force to shut and latch it. Cam-action models are often considered for public buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, accessible entrances and other doors used by a wide range of people.

Cam-action and slide-track are not interchangeable terms. Some rack-and-pinion closers also use slide arms, so check the closer’s stated mechanism rather than assuming every slide-track unit is cam-action.

Rack-and-Pinion Closers

Rack-and-pinion is the traditional mechanism used in many commercial overhead closers. These units are generally robust, versatile and available across broad power ranges. They can be paired with standard arms or, on selected models, slide-track arms.

They remain a common choice for commercial doors, external entries and other applications requiring dependable closing power.

Important Door Closer Functions

Specifications often contain terms such as closing speed, latching speed, backcheck and delayed action. Each function controls a different part of the door’s movement.

Closing Speed

Closing speed, sometimes called sweep speed, controls most of the closing cycle. It should allow people to pass through safely without leaving the door open for an unnecessarily long time.

A door should close smoothly and predictably. It should not race through the opening or take so long that it is regularly left unsecured.

Latching Speed or Latching Action

The latching stage controls the final section of travel, usually the last 10 to 15 degrees.

This final movement must provide enough energy to overcome seals and engage the latch. If it is too fast, the door may bang. If it is too slow or weak, the door may stop against the latch without closing fully.

Backcheck

Backcheck adds hydraulic resistance as the door approaches the end of its opening movement. It helps cushion a door that is pushed or caught by a gust of wind, reducing the impact on the closer, hinges, wall and surrounding hardware.

Backcheck is not normally intended to act as a permanent door stop. A correctly positioned physical door stop is always recommended to prevent the door or closer arm from contacting a wall or exceeding its permitted opening angle.

Delayed Action

Delayed action slows the early part of the closing cycle after the door has been opened widely.

It can provide additional time for people using wheelchairs, walking aids, hospital beds, trolleys or bulky deliveries to move through the doorway. The door then continues closing at its normal controlled speed.

Delayed action is not the same as hold-open. The door will still close automatically.

Where delayed action is proposed on a fire door, confirm that the function and settings are permitted by the closer’s fire approval and the project’s fire-safety documentation.

Hold-Open

A hold-open function keeps the door at a selected open position.

Mechanical hold-open arms and tracks can be convenient on ordinary internal doors. However, they must not be selected without considering fire-door, egress and accessibility requirements.

Hold-open requirements for fire doors are explained below.

Fire-Rated Door Closer Requirements in Australia

AS 1905.1 is the key Australian Standard covering the construction and installation of fire-resistant doorsets. Standards Australia currently lists AS 1905.1:2015, together with its amendment, as the current publication.

The most important principle is that a fire door is a complete doorset. It includes the door leaf, frame, hinges, latch, closer, seals, fixings and other approved hardware.

A closer does not give an ordinary door a fire rating simply because the closer is marketed as “fire rated”. The closer must have appropriate evidence of suitability for the particular fire-door assembly and must be installed in an approved configuration.

Fire-test approvals may place conditions on:

• Door leaf and frame construction
• Fire-resistance level
• Maximum door dimensions
• Closer power setting
• Mounting position
• Arm or slide-track type
• Fixing method
• Required mounting plates or protection plates
• Whether optional functions are permitted

Manufacturers may describe a closer as having been tested for a certain duration “depending on the type of doorset”. This is an important qualification: the rating applies to the tested or approved assembly, not to the closer in isolation.

An EN 1154 classification can also indicate whether a closer is considered suitable for fire and smoke door assemblies under that standard. However, an EN fire-suitability classification is not a substitute for the Australian doorset evidence required for a particular project.

The Door Must Close and Latch

A required fire door must be able to return to the closed position and engage its latch when released.

The closer therefore needs sufficient power to overcome:

• The door’s size and mass
• Fire and smoke seals
• Latch resistance
• Air pressure
• Hinge friction
• Wind, where relevant

Reducing the spring power simply to make the door easier to open can prevent it from latching and compromise the doorset’s operation.

Fire and Rescue NSW advises that fire-stair doors and external apartment fire doors are designed to self-close and should never be chocked or propped open. It also warns that alterations to an apartment fire door can make it unsafe.

Before replacing or adding a closer to a fire door, check the doorset identification, approved hardware schedule and relevant fire documentation. Installation, alteration and certification requirements can vary by state or territory, building type and project.

Can Hold-Open Be Used on a Fire Door?

A normal mechanical hold-open arm, wedge, hook or door stop should not be used to prevent a required fire door from closing.

A fire door may sometimes be held open during normal building use, but only through a purpose-designed, approved system that releases automatically when required.

This commonly involves an electromagnetic or electrohydraulic hold-open system connected to the building’s fire alarm or smoke-detection arrangement. When smoke is detected, the alarm operates or power is removed, the hold-open releases and the closer shuts the door.

The entire arrangement must be suitable for the fire doorset and building design. Installing a stand-alone magnet or adding an electric device to an existing closer does not automatically create a compliant system.

This is why manufacturer documentation may state that a standard mechanical hold-open option is not approved for fire-door use while separately offering a tested electromechanical fire-door hold-open system.

For a non-fire-rated door, mechanical hold-open may be acceptable where it does not obstruct an exit path or create another safety or accessibility issue.

How to Adjust a Door Closer

Before adjusting a closer, identify the manufacturer and model and obtain the correct instructions. Valve locations, adjustment ranges and turning directions are not identical across every product.

1. Inspect the Door First

Open the door slowly with the closer disconnected only where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Check for:

• Binding hinges
• A twisted or dropped door
• Frame misalignment
• A latch that does not line up
• Excessive seal resistance
• Loose closer or arm fixings
• Incorrect arm geometry
• Damage to the door stop

*A closer cannot compensate properly for a door that is binding or badly aligned.

2. Identify the Adjustments

Depending on the model, the closer may have controls for:

• Spring power
• Main closing or sweep speed
• Latching speed
• Backcheck
• Delayed action

Do not confuse the spring-power adjuster with a hydraulic speed valve.

3. Make Small Adjustments

Adjust one control at a time, generally in increments of approximately one-eighth of a turn, and test the door after every change.

Many closers slow down when a speed valve is turned clockwise, but this should never be assumed. Follow the markings and manufacturer’s instructions for the exact model.

Never completely remove a hydraulic valve. This may release oil, damage the closer and make the unit unusable.

4. Set the Main Closing Speed

Adjust the door so that it travels through most of its closing arc at a safe, controlled speed.

The door should not slam, but it must not move so slowly that it regularly remains open or fails to reach the latching stage.

5. Set the Latching Stage

Adjust the final stage so the door has enough movement to engage the latch without banging into the frame.

When a door reaches the frame but does not latch, first check alignment, seals and latch resistance. Increasing latching speed may help, but it should not be used to mask a mechanical fault.

6. Adjust Backcheck Carefully

Use only enough backcheck to cushion the door near the end of its opening movement.

Excessive backcheck can make the door feel unexpectedly heavy or place unnecessary stress on the closer and fixings. Backcheck should not be used as a substitute for a door stop.

7. Test the Complete Door

Release the door from several opening positions and confirm that it closes smoothly and latches consistently.

For a fire door, reliable closing and latching are essential. Do not leave the door with a setting that makes it easier to open but prevents it from completing its required closing cycle. Closers with separate closing, latching, backcheck and delayed-action controls are intended to let these stages be tuned independently.

A closer that is leaking oil, has a bent arm, damaged adjustment valve or badly worn mechanism normally requires replacement rather than further adjustment.

How to Pick the Right Door Closer

Before ordering, gather the following information:

1. Door status: Is it a fire door, smoke door, exit door or part of an accessible path?
2. Door dimensions: Measure the leaf width, height and thickness.
3. Door weight and material: Timber, metal and glazed doors can behave very differently.
4. Location: Is it internal, external, exposed to wind or affected by air pressure?
5. Usage: Consider the number of daily cycles and the likelihood of abuse.
6. Opening configuration: Check the handing, opening direction, available mounting space and required opening angle.
7. Closer style: Decide between a standard arm, slide track, concealed closer, transom closer or floor spring.
8. Required functions: Closing speed, latching control, backcheck, delayed action or an approved hold-open system.
9. Accessibility: Consider how much force users will need to apply when opening the door.
10. Compliance: Confirm fire approvals, doorset documentation and any project-specific requirements.

For pairs of fire or smoke doors, a door coordinator or sequence selector may also be needed so the leaves close in the correct order.

Use Keeler Hardware’s “Help Me Choose” Guide

There are many variables involved in selecting a closer, and product descriptions alone do not always make the decision clear.

Keeler Hardware’s Help Me Choose section provides a guided journey through the selection process. By answering questions about the door and how it will be used, customers can narrow the range and identify closers that are better suited to their requirements. Keeler’s broader range includes surface-mounted, concealed, hydraulic and heavy-duty closers, along with floor springs, transom closers and related door-control hardware.

For the best result, have the door width, approximate weight, opening direction, internal or external location and fire-door status available before starting.

Final Advice

The best door closer is not automatically the strongest, most expensive or most heavily featured model.

It is the closer that provides enough power to close and latch the particular door, remains comfortable for users, suits the mounting conditions and carries the correct approvals for the application.

Start with the door width and EN power size, then account for weight, height, wind, air pressure, seals, traffic, accessibility and fire-door requirements. Most importantly, follow the product instructions and treat every fire door as a complete certified doorset rather than a collection of interchangeable components.

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This article provides general guidance only. Fire-door, access, egress and building-compliance requirements should be confirmed against the applicable project documentation, current standards and requirements in the relevant Australian jurisdiction.