Name: Sargent 278 Overhead Concealed Door Closer with Exposed Arm
Brand: Sargent
SKU: 278 OE EN RH
Price: 617.05 USD
Availability: InStock

Product Overview
FAQs

Sargent 278 Series Heavy-Duty Overhead Concealed Door Closer with Exposed Arm

Professional Concealed Door Closer for Commercial Applications

The Sargent 278 Series overhead concealed door closer with exposed arm delivers heavy-duty performance for rugged exit device applications in surface vertical rod and rim designs. This commercial-grade closer operates effectively in extreme heat and cold without readjustment and features ANSI/BHMA A156.19 certification for high-traffic applications. Adjustable to meet ADA compliance requirements with integrated hold open capability and 2-year limited warranty coverage.

Professional Features & Benefits

All-Weather Performance: Operates effectively in extreme heat and cold without readjustment for consistent performance in challenging environmental conditions.
Heavy-Duty Construction: Rugged design engineered specifically for surface vertical rod and rim exit device applications in high-traffic commercial environments.
ADA Compliance Capability: Adjustable to meet ADA conditions and reduced opening force requirements for accessibility compliance in commercial buildings.
ANSI/BHMA Certification: ANSI/BHMA A156.19 certified ensuring compliance with industry performance standards for commercial door control applications.
Integrated Hold Open Feature: Built-in hold open capability with fusible hold open arms available for fire-rated openings to meet life safety requirements.
High-Traffic Rating: Engineered for heavy-duty performance in demanding commercial environments with consistent operation under load.
Fire-Rated Compatibility: Fusible hold open arms available for fire-rated openings to meet life safety code requirements.
Manufacturer Warranty: 2-year limited warranty provides added confidence and protection for commercial installations.

Technical Specifications

ADA Compliant: Yes
ANSI/BHMA: ANSI/BHMA A156.19
Commercial/Residential: Commercial
Department: Door Hardware
Duty Level: Heavy Duty
Hold Open Feature: Yes
Product Category: Door Controls
Product Group: Door Controls
Product Subgroup: Power Operators
Product Type: Low Energy Operators
Series: 6000 Series
Subcategory: Surface Closers
Traffic Rating: High Traffic
Warranty: 2 Year Limited

Installation & Operation

Review manufacturer specifications and verify door preparation requirements including door thickness, stile width, and handing as applicable to this product.
Use manufacturer-provided templates to mark mounting hole locations accurately on door and/or frame surfaces.
Prepare door and frame by drilling required holes and routing as specified in manufacturer instructions.
Install all mounting hardware and secure the device to door and frame per manufacturer torque specifications.
Adjust operational components for proper alignment, latching, and smooth operation throughout the full range of motion.
Test device operation to verify proper function and make final adjustments as needed. Refer to manufacturer documentation for complete installation details and troubleshooting.

Professional Applications

Commercial Office Buildings
Educational Facilities
Healthcare Institutions
Retail Establishments
Industrial and Warehouse Facilities
Multi-Tenant Residential Properties
Government and Municipal Buildings

Why Choose Sargent Quality?

Sargent 278 Series door closers deliver professional-grade reliability with heavy-duty construction rated for high-traffic commercial applications. ANSI/BHMA A156.19 certification and 2-year limited warranty ensure dependable performance in demanding environments. Engineered for consistent operation in extreme temperatures where reliable door control is essential for commercial building safety and accessibility compliance.

Manufacturer Resources

SARGENT Full Line Catalog

Product Specs

Series:: 278 Series
Grade:: Grade 1
Product Type:: Overhead Concealed Door Closers
Duty Level:: Heavy Duty
Product Group:: Door Controls
Product Subgroup:: Door Closers - Overhead Concealed
Subcategory:: Door Closers
ADA Compliant:: Yes
Commercial/Residential:: Commercial
Mounting Detail:: Overhead Concealed
Delay Function:: No
Mounting Method:: Concealed
Product Category:: Door Controls
Department:: Door Hardware

Sargent 278 OE EN RH – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will the Sargent 278 concealed closer work with a surface vertical rod or rim exit device?

That's exactly what the 278 is built around. It's an overhead concealed closer with an exposed arm intended for rugged exit device openings using surface vertical rod and rim devices, so the closer body sits in the frame head and the arm comes down onto the door where it clears the device and its rods. Duty level is heavy duty and it's a Grade 1 closer, which is the level you want behind an exit device on a high traffic opening.

2) What is the difference between the H and OE arm on the Sargent 278 closer?

Two arm choices, and they decide whether the door will stand open. OE is the exposed standard arm, which closes the door every time. H is the exposed hold open arm, which lets the door be held at an open position. Pick H for a receiving door, a corridor you want propped during moves, or a loading area. Pick OE anywhere the door has to self close. Both arms are available in all six finishes and in both hands.

3) Can I put a hold open closer on a fire rated door?

Not a standard mechanical hold open. The Sargent 278 offers fusible hold open arms for fire rated openings, which release and let the door close when heat reaches the fuse. On a fire rated opening specify the fusible arm rather than the plain H hold open arm, because a door held open by a friction or mechanical hold open defeats the rating.

4) Does the Sargent 278 closer meet ADA opening force requirements?

It's adjustable to meet ADA conditions and reduced opening force, and it is listed as ADA compliant. That adjustment is made at install, so on an accessible entrance the installer needs to set the spring power and check the actual force at the door rather than assume it out of the box. Certification is to ANSI/BHMA A156.19.

5) What is the closest heavy-duty concealed closer alternative to the Sargent 278 if I need a Grade 1 unit for a double acting center hung door?

The Sargent 278 is a Grade 1 heavy duty overhead concealed closer that mounts concealed in the frame and drives the door through an exposed arm, which is what makes it suited to surface vertical rod and rim exit device openings. For a center hung door that swings both ways, the Norton Rixson 73 Series is the heavy duty Grade 1 overhead concealed closer built for center hung double acting service, with a cover plate and a 250 lb door capacity. Both carry Grade 1, so the deciding factor is the hanging method: exposed arm over an exit device door for the 278, center hung pivot for the 73.

6) I have an aluminum storefront door on offset pivots, not an exit device opening. Is the Sargent 278 the right concealed closer?

The Sargent 278 is a heavy duty concealed closer with an exposed arm, engineered for surface vertical rod and rim exit device applications. An offset hung aluminum door is a different geometry: for that, the Norton Rixson 0608 Series is a standard duty overhead concealed closer made for offset hung aluminum doors up to 200 lbs. If the aluminum door is center hung instead of offset hung, the Norton Rixson 608 Series is the center hung standard duty equivalent for 200 lb doors. Confirm how the door is hung before choosing, since the arm and pivot arrangement is not interchangeable between them.

7) I do not want the door held open. What concealed closer should I specify instead of the Sargent 278?

The Sargent 278 is offered with an H exposed hold open arm and with an OE exposed standard arm, so the non hold open behavior is available by choosing the OE arm rather than a different model. If a dedicated non hold open body is preferred, the CRL Jackson 20-101M-03 is a regular duty overhead concealed closer body only with a 90 degree no hold-open function, and the CRL Jackson 20-101M-01 is the same regular duty body in a 105 degree no hold-open. For a heavier opening with the same non hold open behavior, the CRL Jackson 20-101M-09 is the heavy duty body only at 105 degree no hold-open. Note the CRL Jackson units are body only, so arms and hardware are specified separately.

8) Does the Sargent 278 door closer have delayed action?

No delay function on the 278. If your opening needs the door to pause before it starts closing, typically a hospital corridor, a room used by patients with mobility aids, or a delivery door, this closer will not give you that and you'll need a closer that lists delayed action as a feature. What the 278 does offer instead is hold open, either as the H arm or as a fusible arm on fire rated openings.

9) What finishes does the Sargent 278 concealed closer come in?

Six, and they split into powder coats and sprayed enamels: BSP black suede powder coat, WSP white suede powder coat, EN sprayed aluminum enamel, EAB sprayed brass enamel, EP sprayed bronze enamel to match satin bronze, and EB sprayed bronze enamel to match dark satin bronze. The EP and EB enamels exist so the exposed arm blends with bronze door hardware already on the opening, and EN is the one to use against clear anodized aluminum storefront.

10) What is the SRI option on the Sargent 278 closer and do I need it?

SRI is corrosion protection applied to the closer body only, and it's a choice you make when ordering: included or not included. Specify it where the closer sits in a corrosive environment, a coastal opening, a natatorium, a wash down area, or an exterior door taking weather. It protects the body, not the exposed arm, so the arm finish is still what handles appearance and exposure at the door face.

11) Will the Sargent 278 closer hold its adjustment on an exterior door in winter?

It's built to run in extreme heat and cold without readjustment, which is the failure a property manager sees most on exterior openings: the closer slams in July and won't latch in January because the fluid viscosity moved. On an unconditioned vestibule or an exterior storefront the 278 stays where it was set, so you're not sending someone back with a screwdriver twice a year.

12) Should I use an overhead concealed closer or a surface mounted closer on my commercial door?

Overhead concealed means the closer body is mortised into the frame head and only the arm shows, so the door face and header stay clean. That's the reason to pick it: appearance on an entrance, and a body that's out of reach of abuse and tampering. The tradeoff is prep. The frame has to be cut for the closer, which is straightforward on new aluminum or hollow metal frames and a real job on an existing frame that was never prepped. If the frame isn't prepped, a surface closer mounted to the door or header is the lower cost path. The Sargent 278 also brings its arm out exposed rather than concealing it in the door, so it clears the vertical rods and mechanism of a surface vertical rod or rim exit device.

13) What is a Grade 1 door closer and does my school or hospital need one?

Grade 1 is the top ANSI/BHMA performance tier for door hardware, above Grade 2 and Grade 3, and it's what institutional specs normally call for on entrances and high traffic corridors. The Sargent 278 is Grade 1, heavy duty, rated for high traffic, and certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.19, so it answers a spec that calls for Grade 1 door control on a commercial opening.

14) Can I use a CRL Jackson 20-101M closer body as a drop-in replacement for a Sargent 278?

They are not the same scope of supply. The CRL Jackson 20-101M units are catalogued as closer body only, in regular duty at 90 and 105 degree no hold-open and in heavy duty at 105 degree no hold-open. The Sargent 278 is a Grade 1 heavy duty overhead concealed closer supplied with the arm selected as part of the order, either the H exposed hold open arm or the OE exposed standard arm, and in a finish such as BSP black suede powder coat or EN sprayed aluminum enamel. If the existing frame already has a compatible arm and spindle in place, a body only unit is a body replacement; if the arm is being replaced too, it is not a like-for-like swap.

15) What is the Grade 1 concealed closer to use when the door is hung on butt hinges rather than pivots?

The Sargent 278 uses an exposed arm off a concealed body, which is the arrangement used on surface vertical rod and rim exit device openings. Where the requirement is a Grade 1 concealed closer that conceals in the door leaf itself, the Dormakaba ITS9613 from the ITS96 Series is a Grade 1 concealed overhead door closer. Both meet Grade 1, so the choice comes down to whether the closer is to sit in the frame with a visible arm or be concealed in the door.

16) I need one concealed closer that works on both hands of a pair of aluminum doors. Does the Sargent 278 handle that?

The Sargent 278 is handed: every configuration is ordered as either LH left hand or right hand, so a pair takes two part numbers. The Dorma RTS88 Series RTS01 is a non-handed overhead concealed closer for center hung side load aluminum door and frame, in double or single acting, so one part number covers both leaves. On an exit device opening where the 278 belongs, order the left hand and right hand units separately in the matching finish.

17) Which concealed closer should I standardize on across a facility if I need ADA adjustability and fire-rated hold open?

The Sargent 278 is adjustable to meet ADA conditions and reduced opening force requirements, is ADA compliant, and offers fusible hold open arms for fire-rated openings alongside its standard hold open capability, in a Grade 1 heavy duty concealed build. Among the heavy duty concealed peers, the Norton Rixson 73 Series is also heavy duty Grade 1 but is a center hung double acting closer with a cover plate for 250 lb doors, and the Dormakaba ITS9613 is a Grade 1 concealed overhead closer. A facility standard usually splits by opening type: the 278 on exit device and swing openings needing hold open, a center hung unit where the doors are pivot hung.

18) Is the Sargent 278 closer suitable for apartment building or multi-tenant entrance doors?

Yes for the entrance, with a caveat on the hold open. The 278 is a commercial only closer, heavy duty and rated for high traffic, which is what an apartment or multi-tenant common entrance takes. If that entrance door is fire rated, and stair and corridor doors in multi-family usually are, don't put the standard H hold open arm on it. Use the fusible hold open arm or the OE standard arm instead.

19) Can I standardize one Sargent 278 part number across all the doors in my building?

Not one part number, but a short list. The 278 is ordered by three choices: arm (H hold open or OE standard), finish (six options), and handing (left or right). Handing alone means any opening with doors swinging both ways needs both hands stocked. A practical standard for a facility is one arm type and one finish, then left and right, which is two line items covering every opening of that type. Add the SRI corrosion protection only on the exterior or wash down doors that need it.

20) What is the difference between the CRL Jackson 20-101M-17 adjustable spring power closer and the Sargent 278?

The CRL Jackson 20-101M-17 is an adjustable spring power overhead concealed closer body only in a 105 degree no hold-open function, so the spring power is set on the unit and the door is not held open. The Sargent 278 is a Grade 1 heavy duty concealed closer supplied with an exposed arm, ordered with hold open built in through the H arm or without it through the OE standard arm, and available with SRI corrosion protection on the closer body. The CRL Jackson unit is a body only item; the 278 is ordered as a handed, finished assembly.

21) If I need a delayed closing action on the door, does the Sargent 278 provide it?

The Sargent 278 does not include a delay function; its adjustability is aimed at ADA conditions and reduced opening force, with hold open available through the H exposed hold open arm and fusible hold open arms for fire-rated openings. Where the requirement is simply a longer controlled swing on a center hung aluminum door, the Dorma RTS88 Series RTS01 covers single or double acting center hung side load openings as a non-handed unit. Confirm the closing behavior called for on the drawing before selecting.

How fast can I get the Sargent 278 OE EN RH delivered?

Most orders ship the same day from our distribution partners, with quick delivery throughout the continental U.S. Need it urgently? Contact Us for expedited shipping options.

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 Sargent 278 OE EN RH come with a warranty?

Absolutely. The Sargent 278 OE EN RH 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 Sargent 278 OE EN RH?

You can call, text, or email our expert support team for fast answers. We’re here to help with product selection, installation tips, and troubleshooting. Contact Us

Why buy the Sargent 278 OE EN RH from ZenSupply?

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Sargent 278 Overhead Concealed Door Closer with Exposed Arm

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