Heavy Duty Exterior Door Closers
for Wind, Cold and Heat

What Makes an Exterior Door Closer Different

Interior doors live in still air. Exterior doors fight wind pressure, gusts, temperature swings and moisture every day. A closer that works perfectly on an interior door may leave an exterior door standing open on a windy afternoon or let it slam into the wall when a gust catches it. For exterior openings, specify a Grade 1 closer with backcheck, a high power range and a protective finish, and mount it where it is shielded from the weather when possible.

• Wind: size up one level for exposed doors and set backcheck firmly.
• Cold: hydraulic fluid thickens and doors close more slowly; check closing speed before winter.
• Heat: warm fluid thins and doors close faster; check again before summer.
• Weatherstripping: seals add closing resistance at the latch; increase latch speed or size.
• Moisture and salt: choose a corrosion-resistant finish and inspect exposed closers twice a year.

Inside or Outside: Where to Mount an Exterior Door Closer

Whenever possible, mount the closer on the interior face of the door. On an out-swinging door, a parallel arm on the inside (push side) keeps the closer protected; on an in-swinging door, a regular arm on the inside (pull side) does the same. Mounting outside exposes the body and arm to rain, ice and vandalism. Our mounting types guide explains each option.

Exterior Doors and Accessibility

The 2010 ADA Standards set a 5 lbf maximum opening force for interior hinged doors but do not set a federal limit for exterior doors; some state and local codes do. The closing speed rule (at least 5 seconds from 90° to 12°) applies to all doors with closers. Where a heavy, wind-exposed entrance cannot be made easy to open with a closer alone, a low-energy automatic operator at the accessible entrance is the common solution.

Specifying Exterior Door Closers

1. Note exposure: prevailing wind, vestibule or not, coastal or de-icing salt.
2. Record door weight and width; exterior doors are usually heavier.
3. Choose an interior mounting position and arm type.
4. Set backcheck, latch speed and power, then verify closing time.
5. Schedule seasonal re-adjustment before winter and summer.

See also our heavy door closer page, our door closer size chart and the industries where exterior doors work hardest: parking garages, stadiums and retail stores.

DRIWON DN-9500 Specifications

Need the lighter-duty option for interior doors? See the DRIWON DN-8220 Grade 1 door closer. Full details on the DN-9500 product page.