Many buildings have exterior doors that open outward for comfort, fire and escape safety reasons. When these doors are thrown open or ripped open by gusts of wind or careless use, serious damage can occur. From displaced hinges to faulty door closers, broken windows, damaged facades, et cetera. In the worst cases, people can even be injured by the opening door! With door opening limiters from Dictator Production, these risks are cleverly and effectively overcome.
Founded in 1932, Dictator Production, part of the international Dictator group since the late 1980s, is constantly working to take door closing technologies to the next level. One product group that symbolizes the innovative nature of the company is the door opening limiters of the TB series. Products that, thanks to their preset damping force, can be used in many areas and always guarantee effective operation. Especially when outward-opening doors and windows are involved.
"Everyone recognizes the situation in which a door or window opens too far as a result of uncontrolled use, draughts or a strong gust of wind and causes damage to, for example, a wall, window pane or drainpipe," says technical consultant and commercial employee Richard Kikkert. "The door opening limiters within our TB series put an end to this situation and guarantee optimum security and safety."
Popular within the TB series are the standard 10-23 and 14-18 door opening limiters with linear damping. "These standard door opening limiters ensure that a door or window is automatically slowed in its opening movement in the event of a storm or a sudden gust of wind, and that its opening angle is limited. Without having to install an unsightly storm chain on the door or a door stopper on the floor over which employees, residents and visitors can trip. This prevents nasty falls, damage to the door or window and/or damage to the building. Moreover, you increase the aesthetic and safety. Even when a door or window is deliberately opened with considerable force."
New to Dictator's range is the 10-29 door opening restrictor, which was specially developed for public buildings where exterior doors are used frequently and by a variety of users. "Characteristic of the 10-29 door opening restrictor is its progressive damping, which cleverly overcomes resistance when opening," said Kikkert. "The door opening limiter only starts at a door opening of approximately 55°, allowing visitors to move comfortably and quickly through the doorway. Only from the 55° opening is the damping resistance built up incrementally, so the door reaches its end point quietly. Even if it is thrown open with great force or blown open. This brings comfort and safety together nicely."
Both the 10-23, 14-18 and new 10-29 door opening limiters are optionally available with a mechanical hold-open mechanism. This allows users to maintain control even once a door ís opened. Various fastening components complete the range. "This allows us to offer a suitable solution for every door situation," Kikkert emphasizes. "Also for those who wish to combine the opening restrictor with a door closer. In that case, we have various mounting brackets available that can be mounted quickly and easily."
Dictator's new 10-29 door opening restrictor has been used, among other things, at an entrance door to a day care center and kindergarten, where the opening of the door due to wind caused costly damage. "Right across from the daycare center and kindergarten is an open field," Kikkert says. "The wind can have free play there, and unfortunately the entrance door was damaged as a result. The wind snatched the entrance door from the hands of visitors, after which it slammed into the facade with full force. As a result, the facade was damaged and the housing of the door closer was bent. In addition, the door hinges were deformed and even the door frame was partially torn out of the wall!"
The management of the nursery and kindergarten asked Dictator for a solution. But that was not so easy, Kikkert says: "There is virtually no space above the door. Moreover, a door closer was already mounted on the outside. Because the entrance door is an aluminum door with glass, the attachment to the door could only be realized on the top side. On our recommendation, a mounting plate was made for attachment to the interior lintel, to which the mounting console for the door opening restrictor could then be securely attached. The opening restrictor now runs directly under the door frame and could be screwed to the door at a reinforcement point in the profile. This also minimizes the restriction of the door's clearance height (2 m high, 1 m wide). In addition, the position of the door closer could remain unchanged. It works perfectly in combination with our new 10-29 door opening restrictor."