What is a transom door closer?

Many commercial or residential buildings have a need for aesthetic appearance, and this is a high priority when it comes to interior design. But at the same time, the building has to comply with essential regulatory controls and has to function effectively from a practical point of view. For this reason, door closers are an important element of a building’s interior design and the type of door closer chosen has to suit the traffic flow and how the building functions, as well as matching the overall interior design scheme.

Door closers are an essential part of a building’s fabric because they support compliance with health and safety, security, energy management and noise control. There are various different types of door closer, including the overhead door closer, concealed door closer, spring door closer and finally the transom door closer. In this guide we are looking at the transom door closer and studying what it is and how it works as one of the most popular types of door closer on the market.

Explaining the transom door closer and how it works

The transom door closer is a type of overhead door closer. However, it is different to the common rack and pinion overhead door closer in that it is not surface mounted, and instead it is concealed within the header section of the door frame, also known as the transom. There are different types of transom door closer, such as variable spring models and pivot arm assemblies.

Transom door closers can work like most door closers in that they can be adjusted to control the speed of the door closing and have a backcheck mechanism which takes control of the door closing process and ensures a soft close and effective latching. This is important for ensuring the door closer suits the type and frequency of traffic and also that latching is effective in terms of security and keeping a door closed once it reaches the ‘closed’ position.  

Where would you use a transom door closer?

The concealed design of the transom door closer lends itself to being used in locations where appearance is important. The transom door closer is sleek and unobtrusive, and its concealed location means it is discreet and barely visible. For this reason, transom door closers are used in buildings where aesthetics are prioritised, such as modern residential complexes and commercial offices, and also high-end retail stores, boutiques and salons. Transom door closers are also popular in hospitality settings and you will often see them used in bars, restaurants and hotels.

You can use transom concealed door closers for both single and double doors, and they are effective in controlling doors of varying weight and size. This makes the transom door closer one of the most popular types of door closer because it can be used throughout a building, on doors of varying usage and traffic flow.

What are the benefits of the transom door closer?

- Consistency – Transom door closers are strong and robust and are able to perform consistently over a long period, which is exactly what you need from an installed door closer.

- Durable – The internal springs and the overall manufacture of the transom door closer is high quality, meaning they are long-lasting and effective, while also providing effortless functionality.  

- Appearance – Although surface mounted overhead door closers are very effective, they are very visible and can be considered unsightly in some settings, and not in keeping with their surroundings. This is why transom door closers are more likely to fit in with your internal schemes by providing a discreet and seamless appearance, without compromising on the essential functionality needs.

- Protection – Because transom door closers are largely concealed within the door frame, they can’t become damaged and are less susceptible to tampering or nuisance. This helps with their long-term consistency but also ensures your compliance needs are met.

- Compliance – Transom door closers can be used on fire doors to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.

- Versatility – Transom door closers can be used for both single and double doors and for light and heavyweight doors. This means you can set-up the same closing speeds and closing force for all your internal doors, and people can move freely within a building experiencing the same needs in terms of traffic flow and how easy it is to open and close doors. This helps with practical functions, but also in building harmony and satisfaction.

At MB Direct we can supply complete assemblies of various designs of transom door closer from popular brands on the market and we also supply individual parts such as body only, brackets, pivot assemblies and arm assemblies. So check out our range of transom door closers today.