Case Result: Failed Door Closure Installation & Successful Repair

Failed door closer installation by a third party repaired and upgraded to specs.

This job began after a high wind gust pulled open a storefront door and violently stressed the LCN 1450 door closer arm.

Apparently, this had happened before. This time, the wind bent all the mounting brackets on both the closer arm and the screen door chain.

We found the door “repaired” using a light-duty screen door chain and spring, commonly found in hardware stores. This fix is wholly inadequate for a door that weighs close to 200 pounds.

Case Results Failed door closer installation – The Problem, Colorado Springs Commercial Locksmith

The door is a four-foot-wide ADA-compliant door, and the LCN closer is designed for the application. However, the wrong closer arm was specified for the job.

I also found the screws that hold the arm to the top door frame were stripped. Only one screw hole had any threads left. The assembly was basically holding on with friction.

Failed Door Closure Fix: Many Problems

Case Results Failed door closer installation – What the third party considered a fix, Colorado Springs Commercial Locksmith

After determining the closer model number, a much stronger closer arm was ordered in. It took about 10 days to arrive, and three more days before we could schedule time to return to the job.

Failed Door Closure Fix: A Professional Repair Will Last For Years

The arm was replaced and accurately located on the frame. Larger machine screws were installed in new tapped holes.

The closer was then properly adjusted for both ADA opening requirements (I reduced the pressure required to open the door, and then slowed the closing action by increasing the swing and latch speeds) The closer also has what is called a back-check adjustment.

Back-check is what is used to prevent the door from slamming against the outside of the building. It creates a hydraulic resistance and slows the door down as it reaches the maximum distance the door can pivot on its hinges. The adjustment was set to slow the door prior to reaching the “stop” position on the Cush-Stop arm.

All in all, this professional fix by a professional Colorado Springs Commercial Locksmith to a second-grade repair attempt should last for years to come.

Completed Repair – Case Results: Failed door closer installation, Colorado Springs Commercial Locksmith