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American National Standard for Door Control-Closers
ANSI/BHMA A156.4-2019 establishes requirements for door closers surface mounted, concealed in the door, overhead concealed and concealed in the floor. Also included are pivots for floor closers. Criteria for conformance include cycle, operational, closing force and finish tests. Optional tests which shall be specified separately are also included. For further information, consult the full standard, ANSI/BHMA A156.4 for Door Control-Closers.
BHMA has created this series of Hardware Highlights to provide useful, accessible information about builders hardware for anyone with an interest in devices that hang, control, secure, and trim the doors. BHMA is the trade association which represents almost all of the North American manufacturers of builders hardware. One of its main activities since 1983 has been the development and maintenance of ANSI-approved standards for 35 separate product categories.
Product Performance: Purchasers of door control-closers certified to A156.4 (http://buildershardware.com/cpd) can be assured products will perform to their expectations.
Below are an explanation and some examples of the evaluations conducted for certification:
The function of a door closer is more involved than simply pulling the door closed. All these features are covered by detailed performance tests: range of checking control, two speeds of closing, adjustable closing speed, cylinder checking, overload abuse, and opening angle.
Building products are expected to last a long time, and builders hardware is no exception. Grade 1 door closers, for example, must pass a rigorous test through two million cycles of opening and closing on a test door of a specified weight.
An additional duty of builders hardware is to be aesthetically attractive, and stay that way. Resistance to corrosion is evaluated through a salt spray test to ASTM B117 providing confidence in the ongoing appearance of the architectural metals and coatings.
The standard also includes performance requirement for pivots, which are often used in conjunction with door closers. Tests are described for cycles (matching the door closer requirement of two million), maximum friction, vertical mismatch, and clearances.
Builders hardware provides several attributes that are essential to building safety and performance, including egress and fire protection. BHMA hinges are designed to comply with all applicable requirements. For example, hinges which are acceptable for fire doors are described in NFPA 80.
Door closers contribute to building sustainability through their verified durability, as well as material characteristics such as recycled content and recyclability. The reliable closing and sealing of openings can also contribute to energy conservation. BHMA has developed Product Category Rules, which will further define sustainability requirements and guide life cycle assessments and environmental performance declarations.
Type Numbers: Another significant contribution of standards for product specification is a numbering system for closer types. Please consult A156.4 for the full list; some examples are provided here:
C01011C01012C01013
Regular mounting:
C01051C01052C01053
Holder arm - regular mounting
C01091C01092C01093
Fusible link holder arm listed by a nationally recognized independent testing laboratory and subject to a follow-up inspection service. Regular mounting.