Norton Rixson 78-B/D-E/F Traditional Door Closer

The Norton Rixson 78 B/D-E/F is a traditional-style surface door closer in a single aluminum alloy shell that covers the full power range from sizes 2 through 6. The B/D configuration covers spring sizes 2 through 4 and the E/F configuration covers sizes 5 and 6. Spring power is adjustable through a clock-type coil spring that provides fine incremental adjustment across a wide range, allowing the closer to be tuned precisely to the door's actual operating conditions rather than being fixed at a factory setting. Certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 3, UL listed for 3-hour labeled fire door assemblies, and manufactured in an ISO 9001 facility. Ten-year limited warranty with a life-of-building warranty on the aluminum housing.

What the adjustable clock coil spring does differently from standard spring designs

Most surface closers use a fixed spring that's preset to a specific power level at the factory. The installer can sometimes make minor adjustments through a spring tension screw, but the range of adjustment is limited. The Norton 78 uses a clock-type coil spring with a broader, finer adjustment range. The spring can be turned incrementally to increase or decrease closing force in small steps, allowing the closer to be matched precisely to the door weight, door width, and environmental conditions at the installation site.

This matters in practice because doors that are underspecified for their closer will fail to latch consistently, and doors that are overspecified will close too aggressively and create comfort and safety issues in high-traffic areas. The clock coil spring on the 78 series lets a facility manager or service technician tune the closer to the exact correct power level after installation rather than before, which accounts for real-world variables like weather seals, threshold resistance, and door finish friction that can't always be predicted during specification.

Valve controls and traditional series features

The 78 series includes two separate hex-key operated valve controls. The first is a dual-purpose regulating valve that independently adjusts sweep speed and latch speed. Sweep speed governs movement from the fully open position through most of the closing arc. Latch speed governs the final portion of travel into the frame, where control over door speed prevents slamming without sacrificing reliable latching. The second valve provides adjustable backcheck cushioning for the opening cycle, allowing the installer to set the point and intensity at which the closer resists rapid door opening. Backcheck is standard on all 78 series closers except delayed action variants.

The rack and pinion mechanism provides smooth, consistent force delivery through the full opening and closing arc. The traditional styling of the 78 series suits institutional and period architectural applications where a conventional closer profile is preferred over contemporary low-profile designs.

Arm options, handing, and certifications

The standard arm on the 78 series is the non-hold open arm, which is non-handed and field reversible for both regular arm and top jamb applications. A hold open arm variant (suffix HA) is available for hold open function from 90° to 180° and is non-handed for regular arm applications. Parallel arm hold open installations are handed and not field reversible. Delayed action closers are also not field reversible. For applications that don't require hold open, the standard non-hold open arm provides maximum fire door compliance flexibility, as all 78 series closers with non-hold open arms are UL listed for labeled fire door assemblies to UL10C and UBC-72 for 3-hour assemblies.

Four painted finishes are available: 689 silver aluminum, 690 dark bronze painted, 691 light bronze painted, and 696 satin brass painted. Corner brackets and arched door brackets are available as separate accessories for non-standard frame conditions. For the complete Norton 78 B/F series lineup including delayed action and hold open configurations, browse the Norton Rixson 78-B/F Series catalog. The full Norton Rixson door closers section covers surface and concealed closer options across the complete Norton line. For the broader selection of door closers across all brands and styles available on this site, that catalog is available for comparison.

Select your spring size (B/D for sizes 2-4 or E/F for sizes 5-6), arm type, and finish when ordering. Confirm door hand before ordering parallel arm hold open configurations.