Stanley Security A45-501H - Hold Open Arm Standard, Top Jamb

Yes. The A45-501H is set up for top jamb mounting on the push side, and the D-455 closer body also supports hinge (pull side) mounting and parallel arm (push side) mounting. So if the job changes from a top jamb detail to a parallel arm detail on the same opening, the body itself is not the limitation.

It holds open. The A45-501H comes with a standard hold open arm, so the door stays put at the set open position until it is pushed back out of hold. That is the arm to order for a receiving door, a break room, or anywhere staff want the door parked open during a move-in. If you need the door to self-close every time with no hold open feature (common on fire rated openings), you need a non-hold-open arm instead.

The D-455 closer is ADA compliant per the product data, which matters on any accessible route where opening force is regulated. It's a Grade 1 commercial closer with an adjustable size 2-6 spring, so the installer can dial the spring power down to meet the opening force the inspector is checking for, or up for a heavier exterior leaf.

Several stocked equivalents sit in the same heavy duty Grade 1 class: the BEST HD8000 Series and the higher-output BEST EHD9000 Series with adjustable spring sizes 1-6, the Sargent 1431 Powerglide, the Falcon SC71A, and the LCN 1460T. If you specifically need hold open like the A45-501H, the Accentra 51 Series ships with a tri-packed hold open arm, and the Orca BHDC1958 HO/PA is a hold open closer with a parallel bracket.

The Stanley A45-501H is a Grade 1 heavy duty surface closer with a standard hold open arm. The closest functional matches are the Accentra 51 Series, which is supplied as a tri-packed hold open arm closer, and the Orca Hardware BHDC1958HO/PA, also a tri-packed hold open arm closer with a parallel bracket for 1-3/4 inch doors. Both give you the hold open function on a surface mounted body, so either can cover an opening where the door needs to stand open under its own arm.

The A45-501H arm is a standard hold open arm configured for top jamb mount on the push side, though the D-455 body also supports hinge mount on the pull side and parallel arm mount on the push side. If you want a closer that ships prepared for all three mountings out of the box, the Dexter DCH1000 and DCH4000, the DCL2000 and DCM1000 are all Grade 1 tri-mount closers covering regular, parallel and top jamb, and the Norton Rixson 8501A and 1601P are Grade 1 tri-mount designs as well.

Two things to watch. First, arm function: the A45-501H carries a hold open arm, so closers supplied as non-hold-open, such as the Dorma 8616 with a flat arm tri-pack or the Design Hardware 316 and 416 tri-packed non-hold-open models, will not hold the door open even though they mount the same way. Second, duty level: the Stanley is a heavy duty Grade 1 closer, so medium duty bodies like the Dormakaba 7303 and 7414, the Sargent 1131 and 1331, or the BEST HD7000 are not like-for-like on an institutional opening.

It uses all-weather hydraulic fluid, so closing speed stays reasonably stable through temperature swings instead of turning sluggish in winter and fast in summer. Paired with the R-14 silicon aluminum alloy cylinder body and a powder coat finish, it is built for exterior institutional openings rather than interior-only use.

Stanley calls the D4550 series its best performing heavy duty closer, and the silicon aluminum alloy cylinder body is specified for institutional applications. Grade 1 with a size 2-6 spring range covers everything from a light interior leaf up to a wide, heavy exterior door, which is why it gets specified in schools, healthcare, and other high traffic buildings.

If the head frame face is obstructed (a deep transom bar, an overhead stop, or a narrow aluminum head), top jamb mounting is out and you want a slide track or jamb track closer. We carry the Corbin Russwin DC5230 with a standard slide track arm for pull side mounting, and the Dorma 8916-JT with a jamb track for frame face pull side mounting in an adjustable size 1-6. The Stanley D-455 body will still cover hinge side or parallel arm details if you have room there.

The A45-501H uses Stanley's heavy duty D4550 cylinder body built for institutional applications. For lower traffic interior openings, lighter closers include the BEST SL6000 Series, a Grade 1 light duty surface closer, the Arrow DC314 in the DC300 Series, also Grade 1 light duty, the Norton Rixson 160 Series Grade 1 light commercial closer, and the LCN 1250 Series light duty closer. The Falcon SC91A is a Grade 3 light duty closer if the opening does not call for Grade 1.

Stanley's A45-501H is a Grade 1 heavy duty closer with an R-14 silicon aluminum alloy cylinder body intended for institutional use. Heavy duty Grade 1 peers include the BEST EHD9000 Series and BEST HD8000 Series, the Falcon SC71A, the Sargent 1431 Powerglide and the cast iron Sargent 281, the Dorma 8916-JT of the 8900 Series, and the Norton Rixson 1600BC Series aluminum storefront closer. The LCN 1460T is another heavy duty closer, supplied in a powder coat finish like the Stanley.

Not on a spec that calls for Grade 1. The Stanley A45-501H is a Grade 1 commercial closer, while the Cal-Royal 400 Series is a Grade 2 commercial hydraulic closer. If you are staying with Cal-Royal and need to hold the Grade 1 line, the 500S barrier free closer with adjustable back-check, the 700S dual valve sized closer, and the N900PBF barrier free closer are the Grade 1 models in that brand.

The Stanley A45-501H is ADA compliant. Other closers described as barrier free or ADA include the Cal-Royal 500S and N900PBF barrier free models, the Calibre CA4001 with adjustable spring tension, the Calibre CA9901 tri-pack arm size 2-5, the Calibre CA8001P parallel arm size 1, and the Imperial USA TC4300 Series heavy duty size 1-6 ADA closer.

The A45-501H provides a standard hold open arm. If the requirement is delayed action rather than hold open, the Orca Hardware BHDC1958DA/PA and BHDC2011DA/PA are delayed action closers with a regular arm and parallel bracket for 1-3/4 inch doors, both supplied as tri-packed non-hold-open arms. Orca's BHDC1958HO/PA covers the hold open side of the same series if you want to standardize on one family across a building.

The A45-501H is a size 2-6 closer. For an adjustable range starting at size 1, the BEST EHD9000 Series is an extra heavy duty closer with adjustable spring sizes 1-6, the Accentra 51 Series is a size 1-6 hold open closer, the Arrow DCN325 is a Grade 1 surface closer with adjustable spring size 1-6, the Norton Rixson 8501A adjusts 1-6, and the Imperial TC4300 is a heavy duty size 1-6 closer. That wider range matters if one model has to serve both narrow interior doors and full width exterior leaves.

The product data doesn't call out a cover with the hold open arm assembly, so treat the cover as a separate line if the architect wants the cylinder concealed. Worth knowing when you compare: the Arrow DCN314 and DCN325 are sold less cover, while the Dexter DCH1000 includes a full cover. Spell out cover or no cover on the purchase order so the job doesn't stall on a trim piece.

The cylinder body is R-14 silicon aluminum alloy, which Stanley specifies for strength and durability on institutional openings. Cast bodies like this resist the abuse of a door slammed thousands of times a week better than a light stamped or thin-wall closer, which is the practical reason it gets used on school and hospital entrances rather than interior office doors.

The Stanley A45-501H cylinder body is R-14 silicon aluminum alloy. Other aluminum bodied closers include the Falcon SC61A, SC81A and SC91A, all cast aluminum surface mount closers, the LCN 1450 with cast aluminum construction, and the Sargent 1331 with a universal aluminum body. By contrast, the LCN 1261 is cast iron and the Sargent 281 is a cast iron body, which is worth knowing if your spec calls out the material.