The good news…I’m on my way to Las Vegas for CoNEXTions 2012! The bad news…our flight lost a hydraulic system and we had to land in Denver. There’s a replacement plane but it is larger and requires an extra flight attendant, who had to be called in from home. I’m sure he’s not a happy camper right now. I will get there eventually, but while I’m waiting, here’s another photo that left me Wordless.
This one is for the hard core hardware people…I’ll attempt to explain the situation below for everyone else, but at some point it becomes more trouble than it’s worth to try to figure it out. The issue came to light in a “my closer’s not working right” service call.
For anyone who’s wondering “what’s wrong with this picture?”…what you’re looking at is a parallel arm door closer shoe, with a coordinator mounted on it. A coordinator is used on pairs of doors to coordinate the door leaves so the correct door closes first. This is a common application when automatic flush bolts are used, because the inactive leaf must be closed first, so the active leaf can close and project the automatic flush bolts.
The bar-type coordinator mounts under the frame head, and there are special mounting brackets for use with parallel arm closers, so the closer can be mounted after the coordinator without interfering with its function. These were installed improperly, and it’s obvious why the closer isn’t working right.
I told you it might not be that funny by the time I finished the long explanation! It’s kind of like “you had to be there.” But I know that some of my hardware peeps are giggling like schoolgirls right now. 😀
Thanks to Andy Lindenberg of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies for knowing this would make my day!
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Not giggling, just shaking my head…WOW.
What happened to the preinstallation meeting?
I guess all of us AHC’s need to start putting notes on our schedules telling these installers exactly what piece of hardware is to be installed first. Typically do that with certain weatherstripping, but never thought to add a note on a door with a coordinator. All I can say about this one is: “Wow!!! Really?”
Hello Lori,
it seems many people don’t realize that the coordinator is suppose to be mounted more towards the lock jamb side, not near or ON the door closer when the door’s closed,
possible reason why this one is installed right under the closer(non-IR product) arm, maybe there’s a magnetic lock at the lock jamb side of this door and figures, hey, why not make the closer more useful by triggering the coordinator switch when it’s closed (trigger switch rest on closer body/cover when closed)
the way this is also mounted too, can effect the geometry of the closer arm when it reaches the jamb or close to latching, as the elbow joint of the arm would contact the coordinator bar and impede movement (stop the swing of door) and thus make that high security lock these may be installed with not worth a thing since the door is not closing correctly
as for the “my closer’s not working right” for me, it’s mostly either people wanting to know how to adjust an old traditional/potbelly closer or asking the value of how much one’s worth after they got it from eBay or an estate sale or they have what I call the “pre-install jitters”
once while watching a local TV station’s board of education channel (i always take note of hardware in backround of school scenes) i took notice of something relating to this in a way, them door security magnet contact alarm things (like ADT has for windows and doors, the magnets separate, alarm sounds) one of the contacts was attached to the CLOSER’S ARM the other on the frame, so i do give some credit to the guy who did this, made the closer do more then one task at a time, but if the closer’s arm breaks or bolts holding body fall out (and leave the forearm in same position) it could be a security hazard, as the security system will think the door’s closed when the door is open.
but now i think about it, maybe it was someone’s ingenious way to monitoring any arm problems.
-Jess the door closer doctor
If the issue was the coordination between a closer and an overhead stop then I would say “Again?- of course!” but a Coordinator??! Bet they use gyp board screws.
When our schedulers are preparing the shop drawing for a project, we actually do put notes in for the coordinator and mounting brackets to be mounted prior to the closer. Amazing that is necessary.
Can always hang your dry cleaning on it
As an installer, I see this stuff on a regular basis here in Texas. For some reason, GC’s are giving the installation to drywall companies rather than people such as myself who have 30 years of experience. Guess its a money thing.
ITS CALLED SPECIAL TEMPLATES PEOPLE COMMON, Im only 22 jeez