Electromagnetic Door Controls

Fire doors being completely free of any control and yet fully safe and compliant is a concept even experienced fire safety people seem to find hard to grasp at times.

Especially fitters and contractors who haven’t heard of 'swing-free' closers before.?

What is Swing-free [or free-swing*]?

I find swing-free closers best demonstrated on a normal non-fire door. A door with no door closer fitted. When you open this door, or let go, open it fully, or open it partially, the door has no resistance and no control. It stays where you leave it. This is exactly how swing-free mode acts during normal day-to-day use. Even with a swing-free closer fitted.

That's before the electro-magnet is released, and allows the self closing mechanism to engage and close the door fully from any angle.

In Swing-free [or free-swing*], a fire door stays where you leave it – no self closing. No resistance.

Once power is cut to the e-mag swing-free closer, such as activated by smoke or fire alarm, the door automatically self closes in a controlled way.

Where do I use Swing-free [or free-swing*] door closers?

There's nothing wrong with e-mag hold open closers, but not in every situation. Sometimes Swing-free mode is best.

One problem with e-mag ‘hold-open’ is with bedroom and living room fire doors. E-mags usually come with ability for switch on/off, or by physically closing the door by physically pulling the door off the magnet. This is known as ‘breakout’ in the EN 1155 test where 50,000 breakouts are performed in the test lab.

Breakout off magnets can be noisy and disturbing. Especially in end of life care facilities or multiple use occupancy's where shift workers are sleeping.

Switches can be used but they are sometimes too high to reach or not accessible behind open doors.??For example the nurse can’t reach the switch and close the ‘hold-open’ door physically when the resident is asleep – the loud breakout of a valve or magnet can wake the resident up.

Rutland Door Controls make a Responder24 swing-free closer designed to allow the carer to close all the bedroom doors quietly, whilst all the time connected to the fire alarm and perfectly safe.

Where to use electromagnetic hold-open door closers?

Where doors don’t require regular closing such as corridors, an electromagnetic door closer such as the Responder24 can be set up in ‘hold-open’ mode.

This is to allow free flow of pedestrians, trolleys and stretchers in high traffic areas where unhindered access is required without limiting people or damaging fire doors.?

Damage to fire doors could limit their effectiveness and impact life safety.

Why choose a closer with both Swing-free and hold-open option?

A truly universal electromagnetic door closer means for any decision maker or responsible person you don’t waste time deciding what closer to buy. Closers with both Swing-free and Hold-open function in the same unit like the Rutland make a Responder24 which gives you both in one box.?

Whats special about swing-free closers?

I recommend Swing-free fire doors on living rooms because loneliness is a big issue and the government has set on a loneliness minister. Allowing bedroom doors to be open or partially open in care homes during the day is one way you can create a more inclusive environment for residents – and without noise of magnets releasing through physical break-out and waking residents at night. Doors can be closed quietly if required.

Are battery operated electromagnetic door closers reliable?

Edit: Battery E-mags can be completely reliable. Doors will close from external triggers such as noise or WIFI trigger, or when power cuts from battery failure or WIFI dips out.

Some of my top clients say, In high traffic areas or care homes we only want fire doors to close if needed - and that's if smoke or fire triggers the close.

Often the cost of installing WIFI e-mags can outweigh the benefit of hardwired power supply units connected to electromagnetic door closers. Why are you using e-mags in the first place? If you're the sort to do it properly, do it properly is my advice. Same principle as hardwired smoke detectors.

A final word for life safety. If a fire door doesn't self close fully it won't be effective in protecting against smoke or fire risk.

*free-swing is a term regularly used with e-mag closers (when not set in the hold-open setting)

This is my own personal views and experience and not to be take as legal advice. I advise you take independent professional advice for your own specific situation.