DORMA 8956 Series Surface Clos...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$700.00
$341.26
Dormakaba DORMA 8956 Series Surface Closer, SPA-Super Parallel Arm, Adjustable Size 5-6 DOR-8956-SPA

DORMA 8956 Series Surface Closer, SPA-Super Parallel Arm, Adjustable Size 5-6

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Model: 8956-SPA-FC-SN1-689
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DORMA 8956 Series door closer

Heavy-Duty Surface Applied Door Closer

The 8900 door closer series designed to provide a highly flexible door control system suitable for institutional or high-traffic commercial applications. Its hydraulic control system features a full range spring power adjustment and backcheck, along with a narrow projection full cover and flatform style arm.

Door closer ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified.

  • Long term performance
  • Adjustable spring sizes and power
  • Meets barrier-free requirements
  • Adjustable backcheck
  • Backed by 25 year warranty

Product details

Features

Controlled opening with backcheck feature

The 8900 Series hydraulic backcheck feature protects doors and their adjacent structures. It’s valve adjustment regulates backcheck intensity. In addition, a backcheck positioning adjustment for parallel arm applications provides a consistent range similar to regular and top jamb applications.

Long term performance

The 8900 Series heavy-duty, 10 million cycle closers represent the latest in door control technology, combining over a quarter century of proven performance with its hydraulic control system and modern architecturally styled aesthetics. It results in the perfect combination of durability, reliability, and appearance.

Barrier-free

The 8900 Series, with the fully adjustable spring, also meets barrier-free accessibility requirements.

Product downloads

Architectural documentsInstruction sheetsTechnical BrochureTechnical drawings CAD PDF

Manufacturer Resources

Product Specs

Product Group:
Door Controls
Series:
8900 Series
Grade:
Grade 1
Duty Level:
Heavy Duty
ADA Compliant:
Yes
Warranty:
25 Year
Closer Size:
5 to 6
Product Subgroup:
Door Closers - Surface Mounted
Product Type:
Surface Mounted Door Closers
Subcategory:
Surface Mounted Closers
Door Weight:
180
Endurance Cycles:
10,000,000
Fasteners:
Sex Nuts for 1-3/4" Door
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Product Model:
8956
Product Function:
SPA-Super Parallel Arm
Door Hand Direction:
Non-Handed
Product Size:
48"
Product Category:
Door Controls
Product Substrate:
Aluminum
Department:
Door Hardware

Dormakaba 8956-SPA-FC-SN1-689 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will the DORMA 8956 closer handle a heavy exterior door, and what size doors is it rated for?
The 8956 is an adjustable size 5 to 6 closer, which is the top of the surface closer range, and the spec sheet rates it for doors up to 180 lbs. That is the band you use for wide, heavy exterior entrances and heavy institutional openings. If your door is a standard 3-0 interior office door, a size 5-6 body is more spring than the opening needs.
2) Do I need to order a left hand and a right hand version of the DORMA 8956?
No. The 8956 is non-handed, so one closer covers both left and right hand openings. Order by finish only. That is what makes it practical to stock a couple on the shelf for a building with mixed handing.
3) What is a super parallel arm closer and when should I use it instead of a regular arm?
A parallel arm mounts the closer on the push side of the door with the arm running parallel to the face, so nothing projects into the opening. That is the mounting you want on out-swinging exterior doors, corridors where a regular arm would be a snag hazard, and anywhere the arm needs to stay out of the way. The 8956 is the SPA super parallel arm configuration, with a narrow projection full cover and flatform arm. A regular arm mounts on the pull side and is generally the more efficient use of spring power, so if the door swings toward you and there is room for the arm, regular arm mounting is the simpler choice.
4) Does the DORMA 8956 come with mounting hardware, and what door thickness are the fasteners for?
Sex nuts are supplied, sized for a 1-3/4 inch door. That is the standard commercial door thickness, so on a typical hollow metal or wood commercial leaf you have what you need to through-bolt the shoe. If you are mounting to a door of a different thickness, or to a substrate that needs a different anchor, plan on separate fasteners.
5) Is the DORMA 8956 door closer ADA compliant for a barrier-free opening?
Yes. The 8956 is ADA compliant, and the fully adjustable spring is what gets it there: you can dial the power down to meet barrier-free opening force on an accessible route, then raise it again if the opening turns out to need more closing force. On a size 5-6 body you have plenty of range to work within.
6) What is the closest equivalent to the DORMA 8956 door closer from another manufacturer?
The DORMA 8956 is a heavy duty, ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 surface mounted closer rated for 10,000,000 cycles. The BEST EHD9000 Series is an extra heavy-duty surface mounted door closer, Grade 1, with adjustable spring sizes 1-6, which spans the size 5-6 range the 8956 covers. The Sargent 1431 Powerglide is also a heavy duty Grade 1 surface closer with adjustable spring power, and the Falcon SC71A Series is a heavy-duty Grade 1 surface-mount closer. All three sit in the same heavy duty Grade 1 class for institutional and high-traffic openings.
7) What heavy duty closer can I use if the door needs a slide track arm instead of a parallel arm?
The DORMA 8956 is supplied with an SPA super parallel arm. For an opening that calls for a track, the Corbin Russwin DC5230 is a Grade 1 surface door closer with slide track arm standard for pull side mounting on 1-3/4 inch doors. If a double lever regular arm on the pull side suits the opening better, the Corbin Russwin DC8200 Series is a Grade 1 surface closer built that way, also for 1-3/4 inch doors.
8) Which closers besides the DORMA 8956 meet Grade 1 for a school or hospital standardization spec?
The DORMA 8956 is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified, heavy duty, and meets barrier-free accessibility requirements. Other Grade 1 heavy duty surface closers include the BEST HD8000 Series, the BEST EHD9000 Series, the Sargent 281 Powerglide cast iron closer, and the Falcon SC71A. For a medium duty Grade 1 line on lighter interior openings within the same facility, the Sargent 1131 and the Norton Rixson 1601P are both Grade 1 medium duty.
9) What non-hold-open heavy duty closers compare to the DORMA 8956 for a fire-rated stairwell door?
A fire door must not be held open, so the arm has to be non-hold-open. The DORMA 8956 uses an SPA super parallel arm and is Grade 1 heavy duty at 10,000,000 cycles. Comparable non-hold-open heavy duty units include the Design Hardware 116 Series and the Design Hardware 416 Series, both heavy duty with tri-packed non-hold open arms, and the Accentra 2701 Series architectural closer with tri-pack mounting and a non-hold open arm in adjustable spring sizes 1-6.
10) Is the DORMA 8956 Grade 1, and how many cycles is it tested to?
Grade 1 certified to ANSI/BHMA, and rated at 10,000,000 cycles. For a school entry, a hospital corridor, or a multi-family main door that gets cycled all day, that cycle count is the number that matters more than the grade alone. It is a commercial-duty closer, not a residential one.
11) What does the backcheck on the 8900 Series closer actually do for me?
Backcheck slows the door near the end of the opening swing so it does not slam into the wall or tear the arm loose in a wind gust. On the 8956 the intensity is set with a valve adjustment, and there is a separate backcheck positioning adjustment made specifically for parallel arm mounting so the cushioning starts at a consistent point rather than late. On an exterior door in an exposed location, that adjustment is the difference between a closer that lasts and one you replace.
12) I do not know yet whether the closer will mount regular arm, top jamb, or parallel arm. Is the 8956 the right pick?
Not the easiest pick for that. The 8956 is built as a super parallel arm closer, so you are committing to push side parallel mounting when you order. If the mounting is still undecided, or a single crew is doing a mix of openings, a tri-pack closer that ships with hardware for all three mountings is the safer buy: the Arrow DCN325 covers regular and parallel arm with adjustable spring size 1-6, the Norton Rixson 8501A is a Grade 1 tri-mount with adjustable size 1-6 spring, and the Accentra 2701 Series is a tri-packed arm closer in sizes 1-6. Once the opening is settled and it is a heavy push-side door, come back to the 8956.
13) Is a heavy duty closer like the DORMA 8956 overkill for an interior office door?
For a light interior door, yes. A size 5-6 heavy duty body is aimed at wide, heavy, high-traffic openings up to 180 lbs. On light interior doors a lighter Grade 1 closer does the job with less spring to fight: the BEST SL6000 Series is a light duty Grade 1 surface closer, the Falcon SC91A is a light duty unit, and the Norton Rixson 160 Series is a light commercial surface closer with adjustable spring. Save the 8956 for the entrances.
14) What heavy duty closer should I look at when the door needs delayed action instead of the DORMA 8956?
The DORMA 8956 provides adjustable backcheck and full range spring power adjustment with its SPA super parallel arm. Where the opening needs the door held back briefly on close, the Orca Hardware BHDC1958 delayed action version uses a regular arm with a parallel bracket for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Orca Hardware BHDC2011 delayed action version is built the same way. Backcheck and delayed action control different parts of the swing, so a closer with backcheck alone will not slow the final closing sweep.
15) Is the Arrow DCN325 a substitute for the DORMA 8956 since both adjust up to size 6?
They are not interchangeable in a heavy-traffic opening. The Arrow DCN325 is a Grade 1 surface closer with regular and parallel arm tri-pack and adjustable spring size 1 to 6, but it is a light duty closer and ships less cover. The DORMA 8956 is a heavy duty Grade 1 closer rated at 10,000,000 cycles with a narrow projection full cover. Matching the top spring size does not match the duty class or the cycle rating.
16) What heavy duty Grade 1 closer gives me regular, parallel and top jamb mounting from one carton?
The DORMA 8956 is configured with an SPA super parallel arm. When a single tri-mount closer is wanted so field crews can mount regular, parallel or top jamb from stock, the Dexter DCH1000 Series is a Grade 1 surface closer with tri mount and full cover, and the Norton Rixson 8501A is a Grade 1 tri-mount surface closer with adjustable size 1-6 spring. The Norton Rixson 1600 Series aluminum storefront closer is a heavy duty Grade 1 unit with tri-style mounting.
17) What sits between the DORMA 8956 and a light duty closer for a moderate-traffic corridor door?
The DORMA 8956 is a heavy duty Grade 1 closer sized 5 to 6. For a step down, the BEST HD7000 Series is a Grade 1 medium duty surface mounted closer with adjustable spring power and backcheck control, and the Sargent 1331 is a Grade 1 medium duty surface closer with a universal aluminum body. The Falcon SC81A is a medium duty Grade 1 cast aluminum surface-mount closer, and the Design Hardware 316 Series is rated medium to heavy duty with a tri-packed non-hold open arm.
18) Is the Arrow DCN500DP drop plate an alternative to the DORMA 8956?
No. The Arrow DCN500DP is a parallel drop plate for the DCN500, a mounting bracket rather than a closer. The DORMA 8956 is a complete surface mounted door closer with an SPA super parallel arm, supplied with sex nuts for a 1-3/4 inch door. A drop plate is an accessory that adapts a closer to a narrow top rail or frame face; it produces no closing force on its own.
19) Is the Cal-Royal 400 Series a direct swap for the DORMA 8956?
The Cal-Royal 400 Series is a Grade 2 commercial hydraulic door closer, while the DORMA 8956 is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified and heavy duty at 10,000,000 cycles. If the opening is specified Grade 1, the Cal-Royal 500S is a Grade 1 barrier free closer with adjustable back-check, and the Cal-Royal 700S Series is a Grade 1 dual valve sized closer with an adjustable tube arm.
20) Which closers match the DORMA 8956 for ADA and barrier-free openings?
The DORMA 8956 is ADA compliant and its fully adjustable spring meets barrier-free accessibility requirements. Comparable ADA-rated options include the Imperial USA TC4300 Series, a Grade 1 heavy duty size 1-6 ADA closer, the Calibre CA9901 tri-pack arm size 2-5 ADA surface mount closer, and the Calibre CA4001 adjustable spring tension ADA hydraulic closer. The Cal-Royal N900PBF is a barrier free Grade 1 hydraulic surface closer.
21) Does the LCN 1460T replace the DORMA 8956 on an exterior entrance?
Both are heavy duty closers for demanding openings. The LCN 1460T is a heavy duty surface-mounted closer in a powder coat finish, Grade 1 commercial. The DORMA 8956 is a heavy duty Grade 1 closer with an aluminum body, adjustable size 5 to 6 spring, and adjustable backcheck to protect the door and adjacent structures on a wind-loaded entrance, offered in 689 aluminum and 695 dark bronze.
22) What finishes does the DORMA 8956 surface closer come in?
Two: 689 aluminum and 695 dark bronze. The 689 is the default match for clear anodized aluminum storefront and most painted frames; 695 is the one to pick against dark bronze anodized entrances so the closer and cover disappear into the frame. If you are standardizing a building, pick the one that matches your existing entrances and stay with it, since the closer body is one of the most visible pieces of hardware on the opening.
23) Can I standardize a whole building on the DORMA 8956?
For the heavy openings, yes, and it is a sensible way to standardize: one non-handed part number covers every handing, and the adjustable 5-6 spring lets you tune each door rather than stock multiple sizes. Two finishes, 689 aluminum and 695 dark bronze, keep the appearance consistent across the entrances. Lighter interior doors are better served by a lower power closer, so expect a second, lighter model in the standard alongside this one.
24) Are the Stanley 327 and 341 pivots an alternative to the DORMA 8956 closer?
No. The Stanley Security 327 is a heavy wardrobe pivot for doors 1-3/8 inch or 1-3/4 inch up to 150 lbs, and the Stanley 341 is a wardrobe pivot for flush recessed or overlay doors 1-1/8 inch to 1-3/8 inch. Pivots carry and swing a door; they do not close it. The DORMA 8956 is a hydraulic surface mounted closer rated for doors up to 180 lbs with adjustable spring power and backcheck.
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Does the Dormakaba 8956-SPA-FC-SN1-689 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The Dormakaba 8956-SPA-FC-SN1-689 is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
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