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DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1386964003 Message started by jazzyman on Dec 13th, 2013, 7:46pm |
Title: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by jazzyman on Dec 13th, 2013, 7:46pm My elderly mother who is very frail recently had a new front door fitted to her rented property. The door that was fitted was installed with an overhead door closer, which is proving a nightmare for my mother, because she is so unsteady and frail she cannot open the door without great difficulty, due to the tension in the overhead mechanism. I am contacting the door fitters next week to see if there is anything that can be done, but I will probably be fobbed off, so are there door closers available especially designed for the elderly and disabled? |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Dec 14th, 2013, 3:22pm Firstly I take it the rented property is "PART" of a building or flats, with a communial hall/lobby ,hence the need for a closer second,it should really be an internal door closer such as a "Perko" for private dwellings....(the hidden "chain type" within the door /door jamb area) . and third and last.... it all depends on the brand, but most do have adjustment screws for the Push/pull to open phase of the door closers cycle... and for the closing/shut speed/pressure of the cycle... |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by jazzyman on Dec 15th, 2013, 7:21pm Yes the flat is one of a 4 apartment building with a communal corridor. The previous door was fitted with the "perko" type door closer, so I cannot understand why an overhead closer was fitted. I will mention this to the door fitter when I contact them tomorrow, another problem with the new door is that it was fitted with a door bar on the floor which is probably 25-30mm high, previously there was no bar. Because my mother is elderly, infirm, practically blind this simple job is turning into a nightmare for her. I believe that the other elderly tenant are also complaining of the same issues. Are there alternative disability devices that can be used instead? |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Dec 16th, 2013, 1:07am jazzyman wrote on Dec 15th, 2013, 7:21pm:
hope the above assists........ |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by jazzyman on Dec 18th, 2013, 7:03pm Thanks for the informative reply, most helpful. The high threshold bar does appear to be breaking the Part M Reg. I have checked the specification of the overhead door shutter and it does comply with the ADM standard but this is for a door width of 950mm minimum. The door fitted width is 775mm. I have checked crudely with a scale meter of the force required to open the door and it is 7lbs throughout the 90 degree of the door opening. Which I believe is slightly higher that the regulations, may seem trivial but for a 94 year old it is a problem. I have reported the problem to the Housing Association but there appears to be little interest in the complaint. So if there is a breach of the regulations to whom do I report it to? |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Dec 19th, 2013, 7:01pm Local council's building control..... is the first port of call.. and is the Housing Assoc: part or was part of the local council |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by jazzyman on Dec 20th, 2013, 11:02am I contacted the Building and Planning Dept of the local council and they are not interested. I was informed: "The replacement of an existing door would not be considered “building work” under the above legislation unless a “material alteration” would occur." I guess now that the next port of call would be the fire service? I have also now had confirmation that the door shutter fitted does not comply with the BS8300 Regulation due to the narrow door width. |
Title: Re: Overhead Door Closer - Difficult to Open! Post by CWatters on Jan 1st, 2014, 11:02am Was the door replaced or repaired?... http://www.fensa.co.uk/local-authorities.aspx Quote:
Try reminding Building Control that a replacement door/window must not make Part M compliance worse. |
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