Sign Up Today For Our Newsletter for your chance to win a Cooling Towel - Company with the most subscribers wins a DCUSA Cooler!

Common Types of Door Closers

The first door closer was created by Mr. L. C. Norton for the Boston Trinity Church in 1877 when the rector of the church lost his patience with a slamming door interrupting services. Today door closers are used in majority of commercial buildings. Door closers are required for fire-rated doors to help prevent the spread of smoke by keeping the door closed. In this article we will cover the basic mounting options and the most common types of closers in the industry.

3 basic types of mounting:


Regular Mount closer

Regular arm mount: This type of device is mounted on the pull side of door and the arm is mounted to the header.

Top Jamb Mount Closer

Top Jamb Mount: The device is mounted on the header and on the push side of the opening.

Parallel arm mount closer


Parallel arm mount: This device is mounted on the push side of the door and the arm is mounted on either the rabbet or soffit of the frame.

*12ga. Closer reinforcement are required for both the door and frame.

Surface mount closer

Surface mount closers are the most popular closers in the industry. They are mounted on the surface of the door or frame. Two popular surface mount closers we carry are the DCUSA Surface 4000 & 6000 Series because of the versatile and its quick installation.

DCM 4000 Series Door Closer


Door control USA surface 4000 series – These are the most our popular closers. These closers mirror some of the most popular closers in the field. The 4000 series is a hole for hole replacement for the LCN 4040 XP closer. This closer is great when you need to replace a 4040 XP closer and need to replace it in one visit. This door closer is a one through six spring power closer with several adjustments. There are 4 controls range adjustments.

DCM 6000 Series Door Closer

Door Controls USA Premium 6000 series – These closers are used in majority of your aluminum storefront top doors. These closers are great for retail applications and any kind of normal 307-0 door that you have out there. These closers can be use with or without covers. Just like the 4000 series these closers are a hole for hole replacement. The 6000 series is great to keep in stock in your van for any future door repairs so that you don’t have to order extra parts to replace the bad closer or drill extra holes.

Both of these closers come tri-packed meaning you don’t have to order anything extra do a different mounting situation. It will come with all the tools available to mount it in any of the three common mounting types. There are also drop plates available to make it an easier application as well as different arm options for example if you want to hold open arm as opposed to a non-hold open arm.

Overhead concealed closer

The overhead concealed closers are a great option when you want the mechanism to be unnoticed. The concealed door closers below are a common closer that is durable and versatile. A concealed closers we offer is the:

DCM 50 Series overhead door closer

Door Controls USA Signature 50 series – These closers are concealed, and you don’t see them like the surface mount closers. These closers will be mounted in the top of the frame and the arm is going to be mounted in the door. These can be seen a lot in architectural specifications where they want to make that a cleaner look or the door is going to be a double lacking door. A double lacking door is a door that is going to open both ways and it is not going to hit a stop on the frame it’s going to open inside and outside. These closers come in 105 or 90 degree opening which is basically where you want the door to stop. They can come in hold open or non-hold open options.

Code requirements for door closers

A couple code requirements to point out is your closing speed and opening force. These are driven by your ADA requirements. You must make sure you adhere to these things so that everyone is able to get in the doors correctly. When adjusting your closer you must make sure you adhere to the code requirements.

Closing Speed – Door Closers must be adjusted so that It takes at least five seconds for the door to move from an open position of 90 degrees to 12 degrees from the latch.

Opening Force – The accessibility standards require interior hinged, sliding, or folding doors, other than fire doors, to be opened with five pounds of force, maximum.

Floor concealed Closer

These types of closers are common in historical building or arch doors where there isn’t a way to mount a standard overhead closer. These closers are mounted on the floor and are going to be basically invisible to you and the door is going to pivot on the spindle of that closer and close the door like any regular surface mount or overhead concealed door closer.

Whether you choose a concealed door closer or a surface mount closer Door Controls USA has your back! We carry a variety of products to meet your needs.