Toss up question.
Should recessed floor closers for exterior doors be avoided for cold climates.
It gets to -30C or lower for a week at a time or longer at project location. Will the closers recessed into the floor freeze solid? If not freeze, be adversely affected by the cold and compromise operation for ambulatory and handicapped persons?
Thanks in advance.
Sounds like a good idea to avoid them under the circumstances you cite.
Also consider exiting difficulty as well as entry impairment.
I agree with Ralph. Avoid them.
If the Project is located in a cold climate, you may also be subject to snow and ice which will also affect the operation.
Concealed overhead is a better option.
Just think what could happen if snow seeps in…here in Wisconsin, we have our little “winter dance” when we step inside a door and stomp our feet to get the snow and ice off our boots. And that snow and ice has to go somewhere. (Oops, I’m sorry, I used the “S” word - I should have typed s***)
Anyway, I agree, you’d be asking for trouble. Oh, and don’t forget the road/sidewalk salt they insist on spreading, even at minus temperatures.
When I worked at the U of MN many years ago, a number of projects included replacing recessed bottom closers. Also replaced a lot of narrow-style aluminum doors with wide-style.
I would be interested in what the building function is to determine if there is an asthetic justification (or some other reason) for recessed closers.
Our work is primarly public schools and we try to spec hardware that is easy to service and/or swap-out. Surface mounted closers, surface mounted vertical rods for panic devices (or even better, rim device where possible).
If this is a project that requires a higher level of finish then it may be possible to use floor closers as long as the end user knows that the expected life is going to be reduced. There are several hundred floor closers in the Chicago market and they function fairly well. I personally would never spec one but our work does not have the same level of finish that some work requires
Unless I’m using Ellison Bronze balanced doors, I’d avoid concealed floor closers. I’ve used Ellison at dozens of projects with uniformly great results. Some others, not so much.
When we renovated DAR Constitution Hall back in the 80’s, Ellison came out and rebuilt the original floor closers which at the time were about 60 years old. My expectations are that they’ll get another 60.
One of those items that you either go top shelf or you go with something else. Not a VE option.
If temperature is of concern, floor vs. overhead will not matter. I would prefer overhead closers in environments where snow, salt, and sand get tracked in.
If you live in a snowy area, you would immediately understand this sign that I have seen posted in a local business during the winter: “Please stomp outside.”
Rixson has an option (as do most closer mfrs)for cold weather installations that reduces the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid. You may want to contact them or your preferred closer manufacturer for more information.