Norton 8501 Door Closer with CloserPlus Arm (CLP8501), Grade 1, Size 1 to 6

The CloserPlus is a parallel arm: the closer body mounts on the push side of the door, below the frame, and the arm runs almost parallel to the door with its soffit plate on the frame stop or rabbet. For a pull side or top jamb mounting the door needs a different 8501 arm.

Standard door widths are 28 to 48 in, and the spring is set on site through sizes 1 to 6 by door width. Norton's sizing assumes 1-3/4 in by 7 ft standard weight doors swinging to 110 degrees; a taller or heavier door, wind or stack pressure may need more power or a larger closer.

The built-in stop is set when the arm is installed, anywhere from 85 to 110 degrees in 5 degree steps, and the closer's backcheck slows the door before it reaches the stop. Norton notes the door may overtravel up to 5 degrees past the set position.

Norton advises a wall, floor or overhead stop wherever one can be fitted, and requires one where the door is abused. It intends the CloserPlus arm for doors where an auxiliary stop cannot be used and no more than moderate abuse is expected, and recommends its Unitrol arm for harder conditions.

Without a drop plate the door needs a top rail at least 4-5/8 in high; the 8148 drop plate takes the closer on a top rail as narrow as 2-9/16 in. The 2019S spacer block, which comes with the closer, supports the soffit plate on a narrow frame soffit; a frame too narrow for the soffit plate takes the 6890 bracket, a blade stop the 6891 spacer block and a flush transom the 2019L bracket.

The closer comes with self-drilling screws, machine screws and sleeve nuts. Self-drilling screws need a 3/16 in pilot hole in wood. Norton's template calls for sex bolts on a wood or plastic-faced fire door, and channel or box reinforcement in a hollow metal door when the closer is through-bolted. Tell us the door material and thickness: sleeve nuts are sized for 1-3/4 in doors unless 2-1/4 in is ordered.

Norton lists the 8000 Series closer under UL 10C positive pressure up to 3 hours. The CLP8501T is not permitted on a fire-door assembly because of its hold open, so a fire door takes the CLP8501. Norton also refers you to NFPA 80 for the hinges on a fire door.

Norton states the 8000 Series meets the opening force requirements of the ADA and ANSI/BHMA A117.1 for interior doors, and warns that a closer turned down to a low opening force may not close and latch the door dependably against wind or building stack pressure.

The closer and arm are non-handed. At installation the arm is lined up with the pinion's L mark on a left hand door or its R mark on a right hand door, so the same part fits either hand.

The 8501 body fixes with four holes 3/4 in apart vertically and 12 in apart horizontally. Send a photo of the old closer, its arm and the frame head, and we confirm the part number and options in writing before anything ships.

Choose the opening angle, 85 to 110 degrees, and mark the four closer holes on the door and the five soffit plate holes on the stop or rabbet from Norton's template or the dimension chart in its instructions. The template is drawn for hinges up to 5 in wide.

Turn the power adjustment shaft clockwise to raise the power. Norton's chart for the CLP8501 gives 9 full turns for an interior door 28 to 32 in wide (10 exterior), 11 (12) for 33 to 36 in, 13 (14) for 37 to 42 in and 15 (16) for 43 to 48 in. Twenty turns is the maximum; the closer ships at mid power.

Fit the closer with its power adjustment shaft toward the hinge edge of the door. With the door closed, close valves S and L, turn the pinion 50 degrees or more to line the arm mark up with the pinion flat (L for a left hand door, R for a right hand door), fit the arm, then reopen the valves.

With the door closed, line the soffit plate up with its holes and fix it to the frame with the flat head screws supplied, adding the 2019S or 6891 spacer block if the frame needs one. The arm is under spring tension.

Valve S sets the sweep speed and valve L the latch speed. Norton's instructions call for 4 to 7 seconds from 90 degrees (its newer Tri-Style sheet says 3 to 7), and longer where elderly or disabled people or small children use the door. The 2010 ADA Standards require at least 5 seconds from 90 degrees open to 12 degrees from the latch (section 404.2.8.1). The backcheck valve sets the cushion on opening and must never be closed completely, and backing any valve out of the closer makes it leak.

Turning the knob on the arm clockwise engages the hold open and increases its holding force; turning it counterclockwise reduces the force and releases the hold open.

Make every adjustment before the cover goes on, then slide the cover insert into the unused cutout and fix the full cover with the screws supplied.