A couple of days ago, one of our specwriters asked about a closer on a door with rescue hardware, and another specwriter advised him to use a double-acting closer. I was shocked to learn that they weren’t aware of my FAVORITE LCN special template – ST-1895.
In order to explain this special template, I will first describe the use of rescue hardware. If you are already familiar with rescue hardware, skip the next two paragraphs.
Rescue hardware is used on inswinging bathroom doors in facilities where there’s a higher likelihood that someone might fall against the door inside the bathroom, preventing it from being opened to aid the person inside. These facilities include hospitals, nursing homes, and sometimes doctors’ offices. Under normal operation, the door opens into the bathroom, but if someone falls against the door and blocks it, rescue hardware allows the door to swing out of the bathroom.
Rescue hardware consists of double-acting pivots, a spring-loaded emergency stop that can be depressed to allow the door to swing out, and a double-lipped strike plate that extends all the way across the jamb depth of the frame. In some cases, the strike and emergency stop are combined into one product. A door with rescue hardware must be hung in a cased opening frame (a frame without a stop), and should have gasketing at the door edges to seal the gaps for privacy. You can find more information about rescue hardware here.
Since the door is typically inswinging but must become outswinging on occasion, a standard closer won’t work unless you do something funky like mount the closer on the corridor side and disconnect the arm every time you want to open the door in the emergency mode. Not a great idea but I’ve learned to never say “never.” You could use a double-acting concealed closer, but the 4020T x ST-1895 offers another option. The closer is mounted inside the bathroom, and the track has a small “window” cutout at the resting position of the roller. Under normal operation, the roller rolls back and forth on the inside face of the track closest to the door face. When the door needs to be opened out, the cutout allows the roller to disconnect from the track. When the door is closed again, the roller re-engages automatically.
What a concept!! What will those LCN engineers think of next?!
November 12th, 2009 8:14 am
But can it be used when a rated door is required???????
November 12th, 2009 12:16 pm
Rescue hardware wouldn’t be used on a door that needs to be fire-rated because the cased opening frame provides no barrier for the smoke.
November 12th, 2009 8:15 am
So cool! Thanks, I never knew about that application before.
November 12th, 2009 10:48 am
hey lori, pretty cool idea done by LCN engineers, to have track style closer with a cutout so people can be rescued when door has to be opened the opposite way. ill keep my eyes peeled for any of these rescue hardware closers from LCN now whats next???? hey, why not a closer that you can adjust by using a computer network or PLC’s on the valves or something of the like (so its easier to adjust the closer after installing, no need to be confused with what valve does what, or be really confused about that evil backcheck selector valve on LCN 4040′s also with this way, adjusting a closer is down to earth and to the point and installer knows what does what and no trips up and down a ladder between adjustments. (Norton door controls already makes something similar called the Norton TRINITY, but during initial setup I think it does involve manual adjusting with an allen wrench) I have had this idea in my head since I was about 12(when my interest in door closers started), but never made one self adjusting or computerized adjusting.
this way all they do is go onto a computer, type in some IP address of the network its connected on or maybe on an electrical port on the closer then adjust that way, when done disconnect.
hey, I never knew you had a FAVORITE template!! my favorite are those that use the EDA arm or H-CUSH parallel arm mounting on push side (both used on 4000 series closers) or the pocket closers that are in a wall recess when door is open (mounted on pull side with closer body on wall and track on door, usually seen in hospitals)
another great interesting post, I love reading about door hardware!
November 13th, 2009 9:59 pm
I need to study up on the ST templates a bit more. There are only about 4000 or so I’m not familiar with. This is one I’ll try to remember. I’ve had a time or two when I could have used it.
February 4th, 2010 10:37 pm
Lori…..I really needed this recently..too late… I will have to come to your site more often!
October 31st, 2011 6:25 pm
Is there an upcharge for this? If so what is it?
Thanks,
November 8th, 2011 10:54 pm
Hi Mike -
The list add is currently $150 to the price of the closer.