What is a concealed door closer?

Door closers are an essential feature of a building without being a primary feature that many people would consider important. Door closers are essential for building function and practicality. They support the practical flow of a building in terms of automatically closing doors once they have been opened, and they can be adjusted to meet the needs of the building with respects to traffic flow and the frequency of use of certain doors. Door closers meet the needs of a building in terms of managing health and safety, energy management, security and noise control.

There are many different types of door closer, such as overhead door closers, transom door closers and spring door closers, but the concealed door closer is a specialist type of door closer that is very popular in commercial and residential buildings.

Concealed door closers - understanding what they are and how they work

A concealed door closer is a simple, practical and discreet type of door closer that can be installed into a floor or, more commonly, into the door itself. The concealed door closer consists of two main elements, linked together by a chain. A metal plate is fixed to a secure and stable surface, usually the inside of the door frame, while the main body of the door closer, including the chain, is inserted into the door edge and secured to the door edge by a second plate. The chain within this main body is attached to the first plate, to create a link between the main body and the door frame. This linked chain is what provides the tension to close the door, and this tension can be adjusted to control how fast the door closes and latches.

Concealed door closers can be supplied in a range of finishes so that you can match it to other elements of your interior design, such as handles, switches and hinges. The door closer can be supplied in satin chrome, brass or gold and can also be used for fire doors and non-fire doors.

Where would you use a concealed door closer?

The concealed door closer is a practical and discreet design which is almost invisible because the main body of the door closer is inserted into a morticed hole in the door itself. For this reason, concealed door closers are popular in settings where aesthetics and visual appearance are important, because they provide a cleaner appearance that is more pleasing on the eye, compared to surface-mounted door closers which are more visible. So you would see concealed door closers in new-build residential complexes, modern office buildings and in other commercial settings where contemporary style is prioritised, such as high-end retail stores, health and beauty salons and hospitality settings such as hotels, bars and restaurants.  

Concealed door closers are designed specifically to be hidden from view, and even though they provide a very important practical function, and therefore satisfy compliance requirements first and foremost, they also fit into the visual scheme of a modern building, ie. clean, stylish and uncluttered.

How are concealed door closers installed?

There is a level of craftsmanship required to install a concealed door closer, but it can still be achieved successfully by most people.

• Choose which location will be your fixed location, usually the floor or the door frame.
• Attach one plate to the fixed location.
• Create a morticed hole in the door - This would be in the bottom of the door for a floor-mounted door closer, or in the side of the door for a door-mounted door closer. You should choose a location close to the hinges so that the door closer has more control. The further away from the hinges the door closer is, the harder it will be to retain control. Also, you need to ensure the chain in the door closer can still reach the bracket when the door is opened and the chain is fully extended.
• Secure the second bracket – Insert the main body of the door closer in the morticed hole and secure it to the door with the second bracket. This should create the link between the door and the fixed point, via the chain.  

What are the benefits of the concealed door closer?

• Aesthetics – The visual appearance of the concealed door closer is small and discreet so it is ideal for buildings where appearance is important.
• Protected – Because most of the assembly is inside the door, it is free from damage or tampering.
• Fire safety – Concealed door closers can be used on internal fire doors to ensure the building complies with regulations by automatically closing fire doors.
• Reliable – Concealed door closers are robust and durable and hence provide long term consistent performance.
• Control – The tension of the chain can be adjusted to provide control over closing speed and latching speed, and to allow for the weight of the door and how frequently it is used.

You can choose from our range of concealed door closers at MB Direct.