Can we use spring hinges as closing device on fire-resisting doors?

What is spring hinge?

Single action spring hinge:

A spring hinge has a spring in its “knuckle”, which is larger than usual. The spring is linked to one flap at the top and the other flap at the bottom. Therefore, when the door opens, the spring is wound up, as the two flaps rotate apart.

When the door is released, the spring re-asserts itself, pushing the two hinge flaps back together, and that in turn rotates the door back into the frame.

Facts about single action spring hinges:

* Spring hinges will usually open to 180° as long as the frame detail doesn't obstruct this.

* There are different sizes for different door widths, thicknesses and weights. All three factors can influence the final choice. Some are designed specially for domestic doors.

* To increase or decrease the speed of door closing, a capstan at the head of the barrel is rotated with a Tommy bar or Allen key supplied. After cranking the capstan round, a peg or grub screw is inserted to stop the spring unwinding again.

*They are available in a variety of metal and paint finishes.

Note that the hinge flap with two knuckles is fixed to the frame

Double action spring hinge:

You can see that this hinge has two knuckles, and therefore two springs - one for each direction of closing. If the hinge is opened out in plan view, it forms a “Z” shape, The springs are housed at the corners of the “Z”.

Facts about double action spring hinges:

*Double action spring hinges will usually open to 180° in each direction.

*There are different sizes for different door widths, thicknesses and weights. All three factors can influence the final choice.

* To increase or decrease the speed of door closing, a capstan at the head of the barrel is rotated with a Tommy bar or Allen key supplied. After cranking the capstan round, a peg or grub screw is inserted to stop the spring unwinding again. Each barrel controls one direction of closing. In below picture, the right hand barrel controls the clockwise closing sweep.

*A hanging strip is needed on the frame to fix to. The barrels get in the way if you try to fix the hinge flap directly to the frame.

*They are available in a variety of metal and paint finishes.

Can we use spring hinges as closing device on fire-resisting doors?

In European Standard:

Spring hinge, whether single or double action, embody a spring for the storage of energy but do not have a system for controlling and regulating the closing function. They provide their lowest closing power at, or near, the door closed position and, therefore, on latched doors, are unlikely to overcome latch resistance.

On unlatched doors they are unlikely to hold the door leaf closed against the pressures known to exist in fire situations until any heat activated sealing system has operated.

They do not contain a damped , or controlled closing mechanism and they are unlikely to achieve the minimum power size 3 for use on fire-resisting doors or to comply with the performance requirements of BS EN 1154.

They are NOT recommended for fire doors which require a self-closing device according to Approved Document B 2006

But in American Standard, certain models of spring hinges have been tested and approved for use on fire-rated openings. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publication #80 -’Standard for Fire Doors and Windows’ permits the use of listed spring hinges on fire-rated openings, provided that two spring hinges are used in conjunction with one listed anti- friction or ball-bearing hinge.

When do you use a Spring hinge?

Spring hinges contain a spring, which can be wound, creating closing tension, Unlike door closers, spring hinges can’t control the closing speed of a door. Doors hung on spring hinges typically close very rapidly.

Approved Document B of the Building Regulations no longer requires door closers to be fitted to internal doors in dwelling houses and flats. However, simple door closers will still be needed for dwellings built before April 2007. There are other places where these closers can be used. Non-fire doors which require a light closing force, might be an example.

In North America, frequently used on dwelling unit(apartment, hotel and motel unit) entrances, spring hinges are used, in lieu of door closers, to ensure the doors are kept in the closed position.

D&D's stainless steel hinges are used for rigorous safety testing (including BS EN, CE, UL, ANSI and BHMA) for education, health-care, hospitality, residential and commercial applications.

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