Falcon SC81A Series Surface-Mo...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$298.00
$123.86
Falcon SC81A Series Surface-Mount Medium Duty Cast Aluminum Door Closer, 689 Aluminum finish, shown with full cover and parallel arm — front three-quarter view

Falcon SC81A Series Surface-Mount Medium Duty Cast Aluminum Door Closer

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Model: SC81A RWPA AL
$298.00
$123.86
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In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$298.00
$123.86
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Falcon SC81A Series Surface-Mount Door Closer: Grade 1 Commercial Performance

The Falcon SC81A is a surface-mount, medium-duty door closer built for commercial applications where reliability and code compliance are non-negotiable. Its single-piece cast aluminum body with heat-treated steel pistons and pinions is tested to ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1 standards and UL 10C approved for fire-rated door assemblies. Non-handed with a universal screw pack and an industry-common hole pattern that retrofits directly to Norton 8000 installations, making it a go-to replacement and new-construction choice for contractors and facility managers alike.

Key Features

  • Adjustable Spring Sizes 1-6: Accommodates a wide range of door weights and traffic levels without swapping units.
  • Single-Piece Cast Aluminum Body: Heat-treated steel pistons and heat-treated pinions for long-term durability in high-cycle commercial environments.
  • Separate Speed Controls: Independent adjustments for general closing speed, latch speed, and backcheck - precise door control without guesswork.
  • Non-Handed Universal Design: Works on left- or right-hand doors; universal screw pack included; retrofits Norton 8000 hole pattern.
  • Multiple Arm Configurations: Available with Regular Arm (RWPA), Hold Open Arm (HWPA), Dead Stop Arm (DS/DSHO), Heavy Duty Parallel Arm (HDPA), Spring-n-Stop Arm (SS/SSHO) - select the configuration that matches your application at checkout.
  • Delay Action Option: Optional delay-action cylinder available for high-traffic or accessibility-sensitive openings.
  • ADA & ANSI A117.1 Compliant: Meets opening force requirements for accessible commercial door applications.
  • BAA Qualified: Meets Buy American Act requirements for government and federally funded projects.
  • UL 10C Approved Fluid: Suitable for fire-rated door assemblies.
  • 10-Year Manufacturer Warranty: Backed by Falcon's standard commercial warranty.

Technical Specifications

  • Grade: Grade 1 (ANSI/BHMA A156.4)
  • Spring Sizes: Adjustable 1-6
  • Body Material: Cast Aluminum
  • Piston: Heat-Treated Steel
  • Duty Level: Medium Duty
  • Handing: Non-Handed
  • Mounting Type: Surface Mount
  • ADA Compliant: Yes
  • BAA Qualified: Yes
  • Fire Rating: UL 10C Approved
  • Finishes Available: 689 Aluminum, 695 Dark Bronze, 696 Brass, 622 Matte Black
  • Commercial/Residential: Commercial
  • Warranty: 10 Years

Typical Applications

  • Commercial office buildings and multi-tenant properties
  • Healthcare facilities and hospitals
  • Educational institutions (K-12, higher education)
  • Government and municipal buildings (BAA-qualified)
  • Retail, hospitality, and mixed-use developments
  • Fire-rated door assemblies requiring UL 10C compliance

Installation Notes

Use the Falcon-supplied template to mark mounting locations on door and frame. The universal hole pattern retrofits Norton 8000 installations without redrilling. Adjust closing speed, latch speed, and backcheck valves after mounting to achieve compliant opening force per ADA/ANSI A117.1. Refer to the Falcon Door Controls Catalog for full installation instructions and torque specifications.

Manufacturer Resources

Falcon Closers Catalog

Product Specs

Subcategory:
Surface Mounted Closers
Series:
SC80A Series
Duty Level:
Medium Duty
ADA Compliant:
Yes
BAA Qualified:
Yes
Grade:
Grade 1
Product Group:
Door Controls
Product Subgroup:
Door Closers - Surface Mounted
Product Type:
Surface Mounted Door Closers
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Tags:
falcon sc81a, falcon sc81, falcon sc81a closer, falcon closer sc81, sc81a
Door Hand Direction:
Non-Handed
Product Category:
Door Controls
Product Substrate:
Aluminum
Department:
Door Hardware

Falcon SC81A RWPA AL – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will a Falcon SC81A closer bolt up to the holes left by a Norton 8000 closer?
Yes. The SC81A uses an industry-common hole pattern that retrofits directly to Norton 8000 installations, so you pull the old closer and mount the new one without redrilling the door or frame. That is the main reason it shows up on retrofit jobs where the openings already have 8000 series units on them. It ships non-handed with a universal screw pack, so one unit covers left- and right-hand doors on the same building.
2) Do I have to order a left-hand or right-hand Falcon SC81A door closer?
No handing to specify. The SC81A is non-handed and comes with a universal screw pack, so the same unit works on a left- or right-hand door. What you do have to pick is the arm, because that decides which side of the door the closer lands on and how the door behaves at the open position.
3) Which arm should I order on a Falcon SC81A - regular, hold open, or dead stop?
Seven arms are offered and the choice is about what the door does when it is open. RWPA is the plain regular arm on a parallel arm bracket, the default for most openings. HWPA holds the door open at a set point. DS is a dead stop parallel arm that stops the door before it hits a wall, and DSHO adds hold open to that stop. SS and SSHO are the Spring-n-Stop arms, which cushion the stop rather than taking the abuse rigidly. HDPA is the heavy duty parallel arm for doors that get pushed hard, like exterior or high-abuse openings. If there is no wall stop and the door can swing into something, order a stop arm rather than the regular arm.
4) Is the Falcon SC81A strong enough for a heavy exterior door, or do I need a bigger closer?
Spring power adjusts across sizes 1 through 6 on the SC81A, so one unit covers everything from a light interior door up to a wide exterior opening without swapping the body. It is a medium duty closer though. On doors that take real abuse, an extra heavy duty unit like the BEST EHD9000 Series or a heavy duty cast iron closer like the Sargent 281 is the heavier class. Within the SC81A itself, the HDPA heavy duty parallel arm is what you specify for the rougher openings.
5) Can I use a Falcon SC81A on a fire-rated door?
Yes. The SC81A uses UL 10C approved fluid and is suited to fire-rated door assemblies. Note that on a fire door you cannot use a hold open arm that keeps the door standing open, so on those openings order a non-hold-open arm such as the RWPA regular arm or the DS dead stop arm rather than HWPA, DSHO, or SSHO.
6) Does the Falcon SC81A meet ADA opening force for an accessible entrance?
It is ADA and ANSI A117.1 compliant for opening force, but that is not automatic out of the box. Spring power adjusts 1 through 6, and the closing speed, latch speed, and backcheck valves are separate adjustments. You set the spring down to the lowest size that still closes and latches the door, then dial the valves in after mounting to land inside the accessible force limit. Order the Delay Action cylinder if the opening needs extra time for someone to get through before the door starts to close.
7) Will a Falcon SC81A door closer qualify on a federally funded project?
Yes. The SC81A is BAA qualified, meaning it meets Buy American Act requirements, so it can go on government and federally funded work where domestic sourcing is a condition of the spec. It is also tested to ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1, which is the level most institutional specs call for.
8) What is the closest equivalent to the Falcon SC81A door closer from another manufacturer?
The Norton Rixson 8501A is the nearest match. It is a Grade 1 tri-mount surface door closer with an adjustable size 1-6 spring, in the 8000 Series, and it is rated medium duty - the same grade, the same adjustable spring range, and the same duty level as the SC81A. The SC81A also uses an industry-common hole pattern that retrofits Norton 8000 installations directly, so on an opening already drilled for a Norton 8000 the two swap without redrilling. Both are non-handed surface closers suitable for the same commercial openings.
9) What door closer should be used instead of the Falcon SC81A on a high-traffic exterior or abuse-prone opening?
Step up to a heavy duty closer. The BEST EHD9000 Series is an extra heavy-duty Grade 1 surface closer with adjustable spring sizes 1-6, and the BEST HD8000 Series is a heavy duty Grade 1 surface closer. The Sargent 1431 Powerglide is a heavy duty Grade 1 surface closer with adjustable spring power, and the LCN 1460T is a heavy duty Grade 1 closer in a powder coat finish. The SC81A is a medium duty Grade 1 cast aluminum closer with adjustable spring sizes 1-6, which suits interior and moderate-traffic commercial openings; the heavy duty units above are built for the harder service.
10) Which door closer works on an opening where the head frame will not take a parallel arm and a slide track is needed?
Use a track closer instead. The Corbin Russwin DC5230 is a Grade 1 surface closer with a slide track arm as standard, pull side mounting, for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Dorma 8916-JT is a Grade 1 heavy duty surface closer with a jamb track, frame face mounting, pull side, adjustable size 1-6. The Falcon SC81A is supplied with swing-arm configurations - regular, hold open, dead stop, heavy duty parallel, and spring-n-stop arms - so a track application calls for one of the track units above.
11) What can be used in place of the Falcon SC81A on a federal or government job with Buy American requirements?
The SC81A is itself the direct answer - it is BAA qualified and meets Buy American Act requirements for government and federally funded projects, and it is Grade 1, ADA compliant, and UL 10C approved for fire-rated door assemblies. Cross-brand medium duty Grade 1 peers such as the Sargent 1131, the Sargent 1331 with its universal aluminum body, and the Norton Rixson 1601P tri-mount closer with 180 degree swing cover the same duty and grade, but the BAA qualification is what makes the SC81A the specification-ready pick on that scope of work.
12) Is a Grade 2 door closer an acceptable swap for the Falcon SC81A?
Not where the specification calls for Grade 1. The Cal-Royal 400 Series is a Grade 2 commercial hydraulic door closer, a lower ANSI/BHMA grade than the SC81A, which is Grade 1 to ANSI/BHMA A156.4. If the drawing or the facility standard states Grade 1, stay with a Grade 1 unit - within Cal-Royal, the 500S is a Grade 1 barrier free closer with adjustable back-check, the 700S is a Grade 1 dual valve sized closer with an adjustable tube arm, and the N900PBF is a Grade 1 barrier free hydraulic surface closer.
13) What closer suits an aluminum storefront door rather than the Falcon SC81A?
The Norton Rixson 1600 Series aluminum storefront door closer with tri-style mounting is built for that opening - it is a heavy duty Grade 1 unit in the 1600BC Series. The narrow top rail on a storefront door is what drives the selection. The SC81A is a Grade 1 commercial closer supplied in regular, hold open, dead stop, heavy duty parallel, and spring-n-stop arm configurations with a full or slim cover, in 689 aluminum, 695 dark bronze, 696 brass, or 622 matte black.
14) What is the delay action cylinder on a door closer for, and do I need it?
Delay action holds the door near full open for a few seconds before the normal closing cycle begins. It matters where people need extra time to clear the opening: someone in a wheelchair, a nurse pushing a cart, a stockroom door with hand trucks going through. On the SC81A it is a cylinder option you pick when ordering, alongside Standard. If the opening is normal foot traffic, standard is the correct choice and delay action just slows the door down for everyone.
15) Can I match Falcon SC81A closers to dark bronze or black hardware already on my doors?
Four finishes are offered: 689 aluminum, 695 dark bronze, 696 brass, and 622 matte black. 689 is the standard aluminum look that matches most existing commercial closers, 695 pairs with dark bronze storefront, and 622 covers the black hardware packages that are common on newer builds. For a property manager standardizing a fleet, pick one finish and the same closer covers every door regardless of hand.
16) My door slams shut and won't latch properly - can this closer be adjusted to fix that?
That is exactly what the separate valves on the SC81A are for. General closing speed, latch speed, and backcheck are three independent adjustments. Slow the general speed for the main sweep, set latch speed for the last few inches so the door pulls into the frame without banging, and use backcheck to stop the door from being flung into the wall when someone shoves it open. Spring power is separate again and adjusts 1 through 6, so if the door is not latching at all you raise the spring rather than fighting it with the valves.
17) Is a cast aluminum door closer body durable enough for a high traffic commercial door?
The SC81A is a single-piece cast aluminum body with 1-1/4 inch heat-treated steel pistons and heat-treated pinions, tested to ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1. Grade 1 is the top commercial performance level under that standard and is what institutional specs normally require. For openings beyond medium duty, cast iron bodied closers such as the LCN 1261 or the Sargent 281 are the heavier construction.
18) Do I need to buy a separate mounting bracket or screw pack with the Falcon SC81A?
No. A universal screw pack is included, and the parallel arm mounting bracket comes as part of the RWPA, HWPA, and HDPA arm configurations. Use the Falcon template to mark the door and frame before drilling. Plan on setting the closing, latch, and backcheck valves after the unit is mounted, since that is where the opening force actually gets dialled in.
19) Can the Falcon SC81A be mounted on the push side of the door as well as the pull side?
Yes. The SC81A mounts pull side (hinge side), top jamb on the push side, and parallel arm on the push side, so it works whichever way the door swings out of the space. Parallel arm mounting puts the closer on the door face on the push side and is the usual choice in corridors where you want the unit out of the way. Top jamb needs adequate head frame face to land on; pull side mounting puts the closer on the door with the arm to the frame.
20) Is there a lighter-duty alternative to the Falcon SC81A for interior office or closet doors?
Yes. The BEST SL6000 Series is a light duty Grade 1 surface closer with adjustable spring sizes, and the Arrow DCN325 is a Grade 1 surface closer, less cover, regular/parallel arm tri-pack with adjustable spring size 1-6, also light duty. The Arrow DCN314 covers the same ground with a size 1-4 spring range, and the LCN 1250 Series is a light-duty surface closer in sizes 1-5 with all-weather fluid. All are lighter-service units than the SC81A, which is a medium duty Grade 1 closer with spring sizes 1-6.
21) What is the difference between the Falcon SC81A and the LCN 1450 door closer?
They are the closest cross-brand pairing on construction. The LCN 1450 is a surface-mounted medium duty closer with cast aluminum construction and spring sizes 1-6 - the same body material, duty level, and adjustable spring range as the SC81A, which is a medium duty cast aluminum closer with adjustable spring sizes 1-6. Where the SC81A differs is in configuration breadth: it is ordered with a choice of regular, hold open, dead stop, dead stop hold open, heavy duty parallel, spring-n-stop, or spring-n-stop hold open arm, with a full or slim cover and a standard or delay action cylinder.
22) What looks like a substitute for the Falcon SC81A but will not work on the door?
Watch for parts that are not closers at all. The Arrow DCN500DP is a parallel drop plate for the DCN500 - a mounting accessory, not a closing unit. The Stanley Security 327 is a heavy wardrobe pivot for 1-3/8 inch or 1-3/4 inch doors up to 150 lbs, the Stanley 341 is a wardrobe pivot for flush recessed or overlay doors 1-1/8 inch to 1-3/8 inch, and the Stanley 57-0100 is a box of 100 steel machine screws for architectural hinges. None of those control a door's closing cycle. The SC81A is a complete surface-mount hydraulic closer with separate closing speed, latch speed, and backcheck adjustments.
23) Which door closers offer delayed action besides the Falcon SC81A?
The Orca Hardware BHDC1958DA/PA is a delayed action closer with a regular arm and parallel bracket, tri-packed non-hold open, for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the BHDC2011DA/PA is the same delayed action regular-arm-with-parallel-bracket arrangement in the BHDC2011 Series. On the Falcon side, delay action is a cylinder choice made at order time alongside the standard cylinder, so the same SC81A body and arm selection can be had either way.
24) What is the alternative to the Falcon SC81A if a hold open arm is required?
Several peers ship hold open as the arm function: the Accentra 51 Series is an industrial closer with hold open and tri-packed mount options in sizes 1-6, the Orca BHDC1958HO/PA is a hold open closer with parallel bracket for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the Stanley Security A45-501HL carries a long hold open arm as standard for top jamb mounting. The SC81A covers the same need within its own arm selection - hold open with parallel arm bracket, dead stop hold open, and spring-n-stop hold open are all order options. Note that hold open arms are generally not permitted on fire-rated openings without an approved release device.
25) Which door closer covers regular, parallel, and top jamb mounting from one box like the Falcon SC81A?
The Dexter DCH1000 Series is a Grade 1 surface closer, tri mount for regular, parallel, or top jamb mounting, with a full cover; the DCH4000, DCL2000, and DCM1000 Series are Grade 1 tri mount closers in the same arrangement. The Calibre CA9901 is a Grade 1 tri-pack arm closer in sizes 2-5. The SC81A is non-handed with a universal screw pack and is templated for pull side, top jamb, and parallel arm mounting, so it addresses the same three positions.
26) How does the Falcon SC81A compare with a cast iron door closer such as the LCN 1261 or Sargent 281?
The difference is body material and service class. The LCN 1261 is a surface-mounted closer with adjustable spring sizes 1-5 and cast iron construction, rated light to medium duty, and the Sargent 281 Powerglide is a cast iron surface closer with heavy-duty construction, Grade 1. The SC81A uses a single-piece cast aluminum body with 1-1/4 inch heat-treated steel pistons and heat-treated pinions, is Grade 1, medium duty, and adjusts across spring sizes 1 through 6.
27) Which door closers besides the Falcon SC81A are Grade 1 and adjust across spring sizes 1 through 6?
For standardizing a facility on one adjustable Grade 1 platform, the peers that state the full 1-6 range are the Norton Rixson 8501A tri-mount closer, the BEST EHD9000 extra heavy-duty closer, the Dorma 8916-JT jamb track closer, the Accentra 2701 architectural closer with tri-pack mounting, and the Imperial USA TC4300 heavy duty ADA closer in sizes 1-6. The SC81A carries the same adjustable 1-6 spring range as a Grade 1, ADA compliant, medium duty unit, which lets one part number cover a range of door weights across a building.
28) What is the difference between the full cover and slim cover on the Falcon SC81A?
Both covers hide the same closer body, the slim one just presents a lower profile on the door or frame. Cover style is a separate line on the order from arm, cylinder, and finish, so you can put a slim cover on any arm configuration. Choose by how the closer needs to look against the rest of the openings in the building; it does not change the closer's performance or spring range.
How fast can I get the Falcon SC81A RWPA AL delivered?
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Can I return it if it doesn’t work for me?
Yes—ZenSupply offers a hassle-free return policy. If the product isn’t the right fit, reach out to our support team for a return authorization or setup a return by following our return instructions.
Does the Falcon SC81A RWPA AL come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The Falcon SC81A RWPA AL is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
How do I get technical support or installation help for the Falcon SC81A RWPA AL?
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Product Reviews

  • 5
    Closer

    Posted by Shane McCoy on Jul 20th 2025

    First time using this style. Very sturdy and was priced matched from competitors

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