Door hardware By Antoh Decor Enterprises 3 min read
Key points
- Choose a door closer by the door’s width and weight, how often it is used, and whether wind catches it.
- Closers are rated in power sizes (EN 1154 uses sizes 1 to 7); wider, heavier doors need higher sizes.
- Standard closers suit most home and office doors; heavy-duty closers suit wide, heavy, external or very busy doors.
- Antoh Decor stocks Union, Akkpes and LAPO closers in standard and heavy-duty models.
All hydraulic door closers do the same job: they store energy in a spring when you open the door and use oil to release it slowly as the door closes. The difference between models is how much force they have. Pick the right force and the door closes reliably and is still easy to open.
Four questions to ask
- How wide is the door? Wider doors need more closing force.
- How heavy is it? Solid timber and steel doors are much heavier than hollow-core doors.
- Does wind catch it? External doors and doors in corridors with through-draughts need extra force.
- How busy is it? Shop, office and apartment entrance doors open hundreds of times a day.
Power sizes
Many closers are rated using the European standard EN 1154, which gives power sizes from 1 (lightest) to 7 (strongest). The box shows the sizes a closer covers. As a rough guide from that standard:
| EN 1154 size | Door width up to | Typical door |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 850 mm | Light internal doors |
| 3 | 950 mm | Standard internal and office doors |
| 4 | 1100 mm | Heavier and external doors |
| 5 – 6 | 1250 – 1400 mm | Wide, heavy or windy entrance doors |
Not every closer is marked with EN sizes; if yours is not, ask us and we will match it to your door.
Standard vs heavy duty
- Standard closers (for example the Union 7770 and Akkpes) suit most bedroom, office, corridor and flat doors.
- Heavy-duty closers (including heavy-duty LAPO models) suit wide main entrances, steel security doors, external doors exposed to wind and very busy commercial doors.
Mounting options
Closers can usually be fitted on the pull side (arm and body visible inside) or the push side using a parallel arm or bracket. Steel doors need through-bolts or rivet nuts. Aluminium doors may need a backing plate.
Features worth knowing
- Adjustable power: some closers let you set the spring force within a range, so one model covers several door sizes.
- Two speed valves: closing (sweep) speed and latching speed, set separately.
- Backcheck: on some models, slows the door if it is flung open, protecting walls and the closer itself.
- Hold-open arm: keeps the door open at a set angle. Not suitable for fire doors.
Common mistakes
- One closer size for every door in a building: light internal doors become hard to open, heavy entrance doors do not close.
- Ignoring wind: external doors on windy sides of a building need extra power.
- Weak fixing: wood screws in thin steel or aluminium pull out. Use the right fixings.
- Over-tightening the valves: they can be damaged. Small turns only.
Our stock
We stock Union, Akkpes and LAPO closers in standard and heavy-duty models. Tell us the door type, width and use, and we will recommend one. See the hydraulic door closers page for a price.
Products & services in this guide
Door Closers, Hinges & Door Hardware
Hydraulic Door Closers – Standard & Heavy Duty
Professional hydraulic door closers in standard and heavy-duty models, including LAPO, for every type of door.
Price on request · wholesale & retail
Door Closers, Hinges & Door Hardware
Union Door Closer 7770
Union 7770 hydraulic overhead door closer for residential and commercial doors — closes doors smoothly and quietly every time.
Price on request · wholesale & retail
Door Closers, Hinges & Door Hardware
Akkpes Door Closer
Akkpes high-quality hydraulic door closer for everyday residential and commercial doors.
Price on request · wholesale & retail
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what size door closer I need?
Match the closer to the door’s width and weight, and allow more force for external, windy or very busy doors. Check the power sizes on the box or ask us.
What is a heavy-duty door closer?
A closer with more closing force and a stronger body, made for wide, heavy, external or very busy doors.
What is EN 1154?
A European standard for door closers that rates them in power sizes 1 to 7 by door width and weight.
Do you sell LAPO door closers?
Yes, alongside Union and Akkpes, in standard and heavy-duty models.
