DORMA 8956 Surface-Mounted, Ho...
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$717.00
$581.17
Dormakaba DORMA 8956 Surface-Mounted, Hold Open Heavy Duty Door Closer - Painted Finish DOR-8956-Hold Open-Painted

DORMA 8956 Surface-Mounted, Hold Open Heavy Duty Door Closer - Painted Finish

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Model: 8956-FHJ-FC-SN1-689
$717.00
$581.17
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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
Door Hand Direction:
Non-Handed
Product Size:
48"
Product Category:
Door Controls
Product Substrate:
Aluminum
Department:
Door Hardware

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

1) Will the DORMA 8956 door closer hold a heavy exterior door, and how heavy can that door be?
The 8956 is sized 5 to 6 with a fully adjustable spring, and it is rated for doors up to 180 lb. That puts it in heavy exterior and high-traffic institutional territory rather than light interior openings. Grade 1 certified and tested to 10,000,000 cycles, so it is built for the kind of door that gets used all day.
2) Which arm do I order for the DORMA 8956 - what does the reveal on my frame have to do with it?
Reveal decides the arm. Three hold open arms are offered: FH friction hold open for a 0 to 4 inch reveal, FHJ friction hold open for top jamb mounting with a 4 to 8 inch reveal, and PHP plunger hold open for parallel arm or top jamb mounting with a 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inch reveal. Measure from the face of the door stop back to the face of the frame before you pick. Get the reveal wrong and the arm will not reach the mounting geometry it was built for.
3) Do I need to order a left hand and a right hand version of the 8956 closer?
No. The 8956 is non-handed, so one unit covers left and right hand openings. For a property manager standardizing a building, that means a single part stocked on the shelf for every door instead of two.
4) Does the DORMA 8956 come with the mounting hardware, and will it work on a 1-3/4 inch door?
Sex nuts for a 1-3/4 inch door ship with the closer, which is the standard commercial door thickness. Sex bolts are what you want on a hollow metal or wood door where you are through-bolting rather than relying on sheet metal screws in a thin skin. Nothing else in the fastener package changes by arm type.
5) Does the DORMA 8956 closer meet ADA opening force requirements?
Yes. The 8956 is ADA compliant, and the barrier-free result comes from the fully adjustable spring, which lets you dial the opening force down to what an accessible route requires rather than being stuck at a fixed spring size. That adjustability is also why one closer covers sizes 5 through 6.
6) Is a hold open closer the right choice, or should I use a non-hold-open closer with a separate stop?
A hold open closer parks the door where you want it and is what you specify for loading doors, classrooms during passing periods, and service corridors. Where a door is on a fire rated opening or must stay self-closing and self-latching, you do not want mechanical hold open at all; specify a non-hold-open arm instead. Options in that direction include the Corbin Russwin DC8200 Series Grade 1 double lever regular arm for 1-3/4 inch doors, the Design Hardware 416 Series heavy duty tri-packed non-hold-open arm, and the Accentra 2701 with sizes 1 through 6. Confirm the opening's requirements with the door schedule before you commit either way.
7) What is the closest heavy duty Grade 1 surface closer to the DORMA 8956 if the 8900 Series is not the specified brand?
The BEST HD8000 Series is the nearest match on the two specs that usually drive the substitution: it is a heavy duty surface mounted closer carrying ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certification, the same duty level and grade the 8956 carries. The Falcon SC71A Series and the Sargent 1431 Powerglide are also heavy duty Grade 1 surface closers. All three are surface applied like the 8956, so the frame prep and door face mounting logic stay in the same family. What the 8956 brings alongside that is a 10,000,000 cycle rating and a spring range covering closer sizes 5 to 6.
8) Which door closer should I use on a low traffic interior office door instead of a heavy duty 8956?
For an opening that does not see the traffic a heavy duty closer is built for, the BEST SL6000 Series is a light duty Grade 1 surface mounted closer, and the Norton Rixson 160 Series is a light duty Grade 1 closer for light commercial openings. The LCN 1250 Series is light duty with spring sizes 1 through 5 and is ADA compliant. The 8956 is specified as heavy duty with a 10,000,000 cycle endurance rating and closer sizes 5 to 6, which is the range for wide or heavy leaves rather than a light interior door.
9) What is an alternative to the DORMA 8956 that also holds the door open?
Hold open is the defining behavior of the 8956, which is offered with friction hold open arms and a plunger hold open arm. Peers that carry a hold open arm as their stated function include the Accentra 51 Series, a tri-packed hold open arm closer with sizes 1 to 6, and the Orca Hardware BHDC1958 Series hold open closer with parallel bracket. The Stanley Security A45-501HL is a long hold open arm for top jamb mounting. Many otherwise comparable closers, including the Accentra 1101BF, the Accentra 2701 and the Design Hardware 116 Series, are specified as non hold open arm, so they will not reproduce the 8956 function.
10) Is the Arrow DC314 a substitute for a heavy duty 8956 closer?
The Arrow DC314 is a Grade 1 surface mounted closer, so it matches the 8956 on grade, but it is specified as light duty while the 8956 is heavy duty with a 10,000,000 cycle rating. Grade 1 and heavy duty are two separate qualifications, and a Grade 1 light duty closer on an entrance sized for a heavy duty unit is the usual reason a closer gets replaced early. The Arrow DCN314 and DCN325 are also light duty. For a heavy duty replacement staying at Grade 1, the BEST EHD9000 Series is extra heavy duty with adjustable spring sizes 1 to 6.
11) Do any comparable closers offer delayed action like the 8956?
The 8956 can be ordered with delayed action on any of its arm types. Among peers, the Orca Hardware BHDC1958 delayed action closer with regular arm and parallel bracket and the Orca Hardware BHDC2011 delayed action closer both state delayed action, each for 1-3/4 inch doors. One distinction to check before swapping: both of those Orca delayed action models are specified with a non hold open arm, while the 8956 combines delayed action with a friction or plunger hold open arm.
12) Is a Cal-Royal 400 Series closer equivalent to the DORMA 8956?
No. The Cal-Royal 400 Series is a Grade 2 commercial hydraulic door closer, while the 8956 is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified and heavy duty. Similarly, the Falcon SC91A is a Grade 3 light duty closer. On a facility standard or a submittal that calls for Grade 1, a Grade 2 or Grade 3 closer will not be accepted. Staying within Cal-Royal, the 500S and the 700S Series are Grade 1.
13) Friction hold open or plunger hold open - what is the difference on a DORMA 8900 closer?
Friction hold open (FH and FHJ) uses resistance in the arm to park the door, so the hold point is set by where the friction is adjusted and the door can be pushed free by hand. The plunger arm (PHP) holds at a set position through a plunger in the arm and releases when the door is pulled past it. FH covers a 0 to 4 inch reveal, FHJ is the top jamb version for a 4 to 8 inch reveal, and PHP handles parallel arm or top jamb at 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inch reveal. Pick on reveal and mounting first, then on how you want the door released.
14) What is delayed action on a door closer and do I need it?
Delayed action holds the door open for a period at the start of the closing cycle before the normal sweep takes over. It is what you want where people move slowly or push carts through: healthcare corridors, schools, service entries, anywhere a wheelchair or a hand truck needs time to clear the opening. The 8956 is offered with delayed action and without, in every arm and finish combination, so it is a choice you make on the order.
15) What is backcheck on the 8900 Series closer and why does it matter on a windy exterior door?
Backcheck slows the door near the end of its opening swing so a gust or a hard shove does not slam it into the adjacent wall or tear the arm off the frame. On the 8900 Series the backcheck intensity is set by valve adjustment, and parallel arm installations get a separate backcheck positioning adjustment so the range lands where it does on regular and top jamb mounting. On an exterior opening that catches wind, this is the feature that keeps the closer and the door frame alive.
16) Should I order a metal cover or the plastic cover on the 8956 closer?
Three covers are offered: the standard full plastic cover, a full plastic slotted cover, and a full metal cover. The metal cover is the one to specify where abuse is likely, school corridors, dormitories, public restrooms, anywhere a cover gets kicked or pried. The slotted plastic cover is for installations where the arm or adjustment needs to pass through the cover. Cover selection does not change the closer body or the arm.
17) How does the DORMA 8956 compare to an LCN or Sargent heavy duty surface closer?
All three sit in the same heavy duty, Grade 1 surface mounted class. The LCN 1460T is a heavy duty 1460T Series closer, and the Sargent 1431 Powerglide is a heavy duty Grade 1 unit with adjustable spring power. BEST offers two heavy duty Grade 1 options, the HD8000 Series and the extra heavy duty EHD9000 Series with adjustable sizes 1 through 6. What separates the 8956 is that it ships configured as a hold open closer, with the hold open built into the arm you order (FH, FHJ or PHP), rather than as a non-hold-open tri-pack you add a stop to later.
18) I need a hold open closer but not a heavy duty one - what else is there besides the DORMA 8956?
The 8956 is a heavy duty unit sized 5 to 6 for 180 lb doors, which is more closer than a light interior office door needs. For a lighter hold open opening, the Accentra 51 Series is a tri-packed hold open arm closer covering sizes 1 through 6, and the Orca Hardware BHDC1958 hold open with parallel bracket is a tri-packed hold open for 1-3/4 inch doors. Both give you the hold open function without specifying into a size 5-6 body.
19) Can I standardize a whole building on the DORMA 8956 instead of stocking several closer sizes?
Largely, yes. Because the spring is adjustable across sizes 5 to 6 and the closer is non-handed, one part number covers left and right hand openings and a range of door widths and weights up to 180 lb, then gets tuned in the field. You still choose the arm by frame reveal (FH for 0 to 4 inches, FHJ for 4 to 8 inches top jamb, PHP for 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches parallel or top jamb) and the finish to match the rest of the hardware. For facilities standardizing a spec, Grade 1 plus ADA compliance plus 10,000,000 cycles is the combination that usually has to be met on paper.
20) What closer works for an ADA barrier free opening if the 8956 is not available in the arm I need?
The 8956 is ADA compliant and its fully adjustable spring meets barrier free accessibility requirements. Peers stated as barrier free or ADA include the Cal-Royal 500S, a Grade 1 barrier free closer with adjustable back check, the Cal-Royal N900PBF barrier free Grade 1 hydraulic surface closer, the Calibre CA9901 with a tri-pack arm in sizes 2 to 5, and the Imperial USA TC4300 Series, a heavy duty ADA closer with sizes 1 to 6. Where the opening is a high traffic entrance, the Imperial TC4300 is the one of those stated as heavy duty.
21) What is the difference between the DORMA 8956 and a medium duty closer like the Sargent 1131 or Norton 8501A?
The split is duty level. The Sargent 1131 is a Grade 1 medium duty surface closer described for medium traffic commercial applications, and the Norton Rixson 8501A is a Grade 1 medium duty tri-mount closer with an adjustable size 1 to 6 spring. The BEST HD7000 Series is likewise Grade 1 medium duty. The 8956 is heavy duty, rated 10,000,000 cycles, with a spring covering closer sizes 5 to 6 and a door weight figure of 180. Medium duty units suit interior and moderate traffic leaves; the 8956 spring range is aimed at the wider, heavier exterior and institutional openings.
22) Which heavy duty closers compare to the 8956 on an aluminum storefront entrance?
The Norton Rixson 1600BC Series is a heavy duty Grade 1 closer built for aluminum storefront doors with tri-style mounting, and the LCN 1460T is a heavy duty Grade 1 commercial closer in a powder coat finish. The 8956 body is aluminum substrate, comes in a painted finish range including 689 aluminum, 690 and 695 dark bronze, 691 light bronze, 693 black and 696 satin brass, and is non-handed, so one unit covers either swing on a storefront pair.
23) If a job spec calls out a Corbin Russwin DC8200, how does a DORMA 8956 compare?
The Corbin Russwin DC8200 Series is a Grade 1 surface door closer with a double lever regular arm for pull side mounting, listed for 1-3/4 inch doors, as are the DC6200 and DC3200 Series. The 8956 is likewise Grade 1 and surface mounted, ships with sex nuts for a 1-3/4 inch door, and is non-handed. The functional difference a spec reviewer will care about is arm behavior: the DC8200 is a regular arm closer, while the 8956 is supplied with friction hold open arms for 0 to 4 inch and 4 to 8 inch reveals or a plunger hold open arm for parallel arm and top jamb mounting at 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inch reveal.
24) Which Design Hardware or Dexter closers are the nearest cross reference to a DORMA 8956?
The Design Hardware 116 Series and 416 Series are both heavy duty closers, and the 316 Series is medium to heavy duty. On the Dexter side, the DCH1000 Series is a Grade 1 surface closer with tri mount for regular, parallel or top jamb mounting and a full cover, and the DCH4000, DCM1000 and DCL2000 Series are Grade 1 tri mount surface closers. Two differences to settle before ordering: all three Design Hardware series are specified with a non hold open arm, where the 8956 is a hold open unit, and the 8956 cover is selectable as full plastic, full plastic slotted or full metal.
25) What finishes does the DORMA 8956 painted closer come in?
Six painted finishes: 689 aluminum, 690 dark bronze, 691 light bronze, 693 black, 695 dark bronze, and 696 satin brass. All six are available with any of the three hold open arms and with or without delayed action, so matching the rest of the hardware on a building does not limit your arm choice.
26) What is the 8956 closer body made of, and will it hold up outdoors?
Aluminum body, heavy duty, with a hydraulic control system tested to 10,000,000 cycles and a narrow projection full cover. It is a commercial-rated closer, not residential. Aluminum keeps weight off the door compared with a cast iron body while the Grade 1 certification and cycle count cover the traffic.
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Does the Dormakaba 8956-FHJ-FC-SN1-689 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The Dormakaba 8956-FHJ-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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