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dormakaba Door Closers
European-engineered commercial door closers with strong architectural heritage. Authorized service across Brevard County for the dormakaba TS93, TS93 GSR (with coordinator), TS83, 8900 / 8600 / 7400 / 7300 / U1500 series, ITS 96 in-door concealed, BTS80 / BTS75V floor closers (ANSI Grade 1), RTS85 / RTS88 overhead concealed, STA corrosion-resistant, and ED auto operators.
Parent company: dormakaba Group (Dorma + Kaba 2015 merger)
About dormakaba
dormakaba (official lowercase branding, from the 2015 merger of Dorma + Kaba) is an independent global door hardware manufacturer — not part of Allegion or ASSA ABLOY — with strong German engineering heritage on the Dorma side and Swiss lock expertise on the Kaba side. In commercial door closers, dormakaba is the go-to spec for architectural, accessibility, and premium-aesthetic applications where the generic LCN or Norton surface closer is visually unacceptable.
Two things set dormakaba apart. First, the TS93 Cam Action design — dormakaba pioneered cam-action closers that deliver dramatically reduced opening force at the start of the swing (ideal for ADA and accessibility where standard rack-and-pinion closers are too hard to open for users with mobility limitations). Second, the BTS80 floor closer line is the industry standard for all-glass entries and premium pivot-door applications — along with Rixson, the primary name in floor closers, with the added advantage of BTS80 EMB electromagnetic hold-open variants for fire-door integration.
dormakaba's US-market surface closer lineup runs in parallel to TS93 — the 8900, 8600, 7400, 7300, and U1500 series are US-spec surface closers, with the STA corrosion-resistant series for coastal applications (highly relevant for Brevard County beach-adjacent commercial). Service parts for dormakaba require distributor access but are well-supported; we maintain relationships with stocking distributors for quick turnaround on common repairs.
dormakaba Models & Series We Service
| Model / Series | Description | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| TS93 Series | Flagship cam-action surface closer with Contur design. Modular system — combine multiple cylinder models with extensive slide channel options. Non-handed, height-adjustable slide channel, delayed closing standard, adjustable backcheck standard. CE marked, ANSI/BHMA Grade 1. | Architectural accessibility / premium commercial |
| TS93 GSR System | TS93 with Gate Selector/Regulator coordinator system for double-door pairs — controls proper sequential closing so the active leaf closes before the inactive leaf reaches the strike. | Double-door pair coordination |
| TS83 Series | Heavy-duty rack-and-pinion closer with backcheck and delayed action. Silver or anti-corrosive finish for coastal/exterior exposure. EN 2-5 (doors to 1250mm), EN 3-6 (to 1400mm), EN 7 (to 1600mm, backcheck only). | Heavy-duty standard commercial |
| 8900 Series | US-market surface closer — dormakaba's workhorse for general commercial installations. Multi-size spring adjustment. | General US commercial |
| 8600 Series | Mid-range US-market surface closer. | Mid-range commercial |
| 7400 Series | US-market surface closer positioned between the 7300 and 8600 for medium-duty applications. | Medium-duty commercial |
| 7300 Series | Light-to-medium-duty US-market surface closer. | Light-medium commercial |
| U1500 Series | Universal surface closer for retrofit and replacement applications with common hole patterns. | Retrofit / replacement |
| STA Corrosion-Resistant | Surface closer with special rust-inhibiting construction — designed specifically for coastal, exterior, and corrosive-environment applications. Genuinely relevant for Brevard County beach-proximate commercial. | Coastal / corrosive environments |
| ITS 96 Series | In-door concealed closer — mounted entirely within the door itself, virtually invisible. Fits almost any door/frame combination. | Concealed in-door aesthetic |
| BTS80 Series | Flagship floor closer — compact design with interchangeable spindles for adaptability to almost any installation. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified. The primary dormakaba floor closer for commercial. | Commercial pivot / floor-closer applications |
| BTS80 EMB | BTS80 with electromagnetic hold-open specifically designed for fire/life safety applications — holds door open during normal operation, releases on fire alarm activation. | Fire-rated floor closer with electric hold |
| BTS75V Series | Floor closer with adjustable spring size and interchangeable spindles for various floor coverings. More flexible than BTS80 for retrofit applications. | Retrofit floor closer |
| RTS85 / RTS88 | Overhead concealed closers (Roof Transom Style) — mount inside the frame head, invisible from both sides of the door. Premium architectural aesthetic. | Architectural concealed applications |
| ED Series Auto Operator | Low-energy automatic door operator for ADA accessibility integration. Integrates with existing dormakaba closers or standalone. | ADA automatic entry |
Arm Types & Mounting Configurations
Door closer arm choice is the single biggest decision after brand/size — it determines mounting location, how the door behaves when fully open, and whether hold-open or controlled-stop is built in.
| Code | Arm Type | Mount | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Action | Cam action arm (TS93) | Reduced opening force | dormakaba's signature arm geometry — dramatically reduced opening force at the start of swing. Ideal for ADA accessibility where standard rack-and-pinion closers are too hard for mobility-limited users. |
| Slide Channel | Slide channel (TS93) | Track-mounted arm | Arm rides in a slide channel mounted on door or frame — low visual profile, no projecting arm. Height-adjustable for precise installation. |
| Scissor Arm | Scissor arm (TS83) | Standard projection | Traditional projecting arm for TS83 heavy-duty applications. Multi-function, multi-purpose. |
| Regular Arm | Regular arm (US series) | Pull side | Standard US-market regular arm for 8900/8600/7400/7300 series — pull-side mounting. |
| Parallel Arm | Parallel arm (US series) | Push side | Push-side parallel arm for US-market series. |
| Top Jamb | Top jamb (US series) | Frame-mounted | Closer body mounts on frame, arm reaches to door — for applications where hinge-side door mounting isn't suitable. |
| Hold Open | Hold-open arm | Any | Friction hold-open variant — holds at adjustable angle. Available across most dormakaba series. |
| BC | Backcheck option | Cylinder feature | Adjustable backcheck prevents uncontrolled opening of the door — standard on TS93, optional on TS83 EN 2-5 and EN 3-6, fixed on EN 7. |
| DA | Delayed action | Cylinder feature | Delayed closing from full open to allow accessibility or load-carrying passage. Standard on TS93, optional on TS83. |
Available Finishes
Common dormakaba Repair Scenarios
- TS93 slide channel arm binding or sticky — slide channel needs cleaning and lubrication, or the height adjustment has shifted. Field service with correct dormakaba lubricant.
- TS93 Cam action closer not closing fully — cam action geometry means latch speed adjustment is critical. Valve adjustment, or check for obstruction in the slide channel path.
- TS83 leaking hydraulic fluid — internal seal failure. Cylinder replacement typically required; US replacement parts available through dormakaba authorized distributors.
- BTS80 floor closer not closing door — floor closer requires floor access to service. Valves accessible via cover plate removal; internal failure typically requires unit replacement (floor work involved).
- BTS80 EMB electromagnetic hold not releasing on fire alarm — fire alarm signal to EMB coil, EMB coil itself, or control relay. Sequential diagnosis; verify fire alarm system is sending correct signal.
- ITS 96 in-door concealed closer failing — closer is mounted inside the door itself; service requires door removal or hollow-door access. Replacement typically scheduled, not same-visit.
- RTS85/RTS88 OHCC not closing fully — frame-head access required for adjustment. Valve adjustment on-site; internal failure typically requires full unit replacement.
- STA corrosion-resistant closer showing corrosion anyway — coastal Florida exposure can exceed even STA specs. Inspect mounting, verify weather stripping, and consider full STA replacement if base-unit corrosion is compromising function.
- ED auto operator not powering door open — activation signal (push-plate, motion sensor, card reader), control relay, or motor. Sequential diagnosis with dormakaba programming interface.
- dormakaba closer pattern doesn't match replacement — dormakaba uses European hole patterns on TS-series and US patterns on 8900/8600/7400/7300. Verify pattern before ordering cross-brand replacement.
Automation & Access Control Integration
- ED Series low-energy auto operator — push-plate, motion sensor, or card reader activation. Opens door, holds programmable time, then closer returns door to closed. ADA-compliant accessible entry automation.
- BTS80 EMB electromagnetic hold-open — integrated floor closer + electromagnetic hold-open for fire/life safety applications. Releases on fire alarm — code-compliant alternative to fusible-link hold-open.
- TS93 cam-action ADA optimization — cam geometry provides dramatically reduced opening force at start of swing, naturally meeting 5 lbf interior / 8.5 lbf exterior ADA requirements without undersizing the spring.
- Access control integration — dormakaba closers pair with electric strikes, magnetic hold-opens, and electrified panic devices. Compatible with PDK.io cloud access control and traditional card systems via standard 24VDC interfaces.
- TS93 GSR door coordinator — electromechanical coordinator for double-door pairs ensures sequential closing order. Active leaf must close before inactive leaf reaches strike — critical on fire-rated pairs.
Fire Rating & Code Compliance
- TS93 Series: CE marked, UL-listed for fire-rated door assemblies when installed per specification.
- TS83 Series: Certifire Approved for use on fire-rated doors, including barrier-free (reduced opening force) applications.
- BTS80 Series: ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1 certified, UL-listed for fire-rated floor-closer applications.
- BTS80 EMB: UL-listed for fire/life-safety applications — electromagnetic hold-open releases on fire alarm per NFPA 101.
- ITS 96: UL-listed for concealed closer applications on fire-rated door assemblies.
- RTS85/RTS88: UL-listed for overhead concealed fire-rated door assemblies.
- STA Corrosion-Resistant: same UL fire ratings as equivalent non-STA models — corrosion-resistance doesn't affect fire certification.
- ADA opening force: 5 lbf interior / 8.5 lbf exterior. TS93 cam action natively meets ADA; other series adjustable to comply.
Need service on dormakaba door closers?
Brevard County commercial service — same-visit repairs on common parts. Licensed, insured, 25+ years hardware experience.
Call (321) 224-5625Frequently Asked Questions
Why is dormakaba spelled lowercase?
Official brand spelling since the 2015 merger of Dorma and Kaba — "dormakaba" is always lowercase including at the start of sentences, per their brand guidelines. Older installations and documentation may show "DORMA" (Dorma Group, pre-merger) or "Kaba" (Kaba Group, pre-merger) — these are the same company now operating under the combined dormakaba brand.
What makes TS93 cam action different from LCN or Norton rack-and-pinion?
Standard rack-and-pinion closers (LCN, Norton, most US closers) provide relatively linear force throughout the swing — meaning the opening force at the start of swing is similar to the closing force near latch. Cam action closers (TS93 and competitors) use a cam geometry that gives dramatically reduced opening force at the start of swing while still providing adequate closing and latching force. This matters significantly for ADA accessibility: a standard closer sized to properly latch a door may exceed the 5 lbf opening force ADA limit; a TS93 cam action closer can latch the same door while being easily opened by users with mobility limitations. For new ADA-heavy applications (medical, senior living, public buildings), TS93 is often specifically spec'd over LCN.
Is dormakaba part of Allegion or ASSA ABLOY?
Neither — dormakaba is an independent publicly-traded company (dormakaba Group, Swiss headquarters). It's the third major global commercial door hardware manufacturer alongside Allegion (LCN, Schlage, Von Duprin, Falcon) and ASSA ABLOY (Yale, Sargent, Norton Rixson, Corbin Russwin, Medeco). This matters for procurement decisions: if your building is standardized on Allegion or ASSA ABLOY hardware, dormakaba products don't share the parent-company parts ecosystem. For truly architectural applications where dormakaba is the right spec, it's worth the separate supply chain.
Do you service dormakaba BTS80 floor closers?
Yes. BTS80 service requires access to the floor closer housing (typically via removing the pivot cap and top plate — not requiring the door to be removed in most cases). Valve adjustments are accessible; full cylinder failure requires unit replacement which does involve floor work. For BTS80 EMB with electromagnetic hold-open, we also diagnose the fire-alarm integration — the EMB coil, control wiring, and fire-alarm signal path. BTS80 is genuinely the best-in-class spec for commercial pivot doors, and we support the full service lifecycle.
What is STA corrosion-resistant and should I spec it for coastal Florida?
STA is dormakaba's corrosion-resistant variant of their standard surface closers, built specifically for coastal, exterior, and corrosive-environment applications. For Brevard County beach-adjacent commercial buildings (Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach), STA is worth the upgrade cost over standard finishes — salt-air corrosion destroys standard closer components within 3-5 years in oceanfront applications. Interior doors and inland commercial don't need STA. Exterior entries within 2-3 miles of the coast benefit significantly.
Can I retrofit a dormakaba closer to replace an LCN or Norton?
Sometimes, with careful hole-pattern matching. dormakaba TS93 and TS83 use European mounting patterns that don't typically match LCN or Norton directly. dormakaba's US-market 8900/8600/7400/7300/U1500 series use more US-compatible patterns. The U1500 is specifically designed for retrofit applications. For an existing LCN or Norton installation, the cleaner replacement is same-brand; for a premium upgrade or architectural change, dormakaba often requires plate adapters or door re-drilling.
Is dormakaba worth the premium over LCN?
Depends on the application. For standard US commercial with heavy traffic, LCN 4040XP is equal-or-better at lower cost. For architectural applications (lobbies, executive suites, design-forward retail), ADA-heavy environments (medical, senior living), all-glass entries requiring floor closers (BTS80 has no LCN equivalent at this level), or coastal exterior (STA corrosion-resistant series), dormakaba is worth the premium. We advise honestly based on the specific application — sometimes LCN is the right answer, sometimes dormakaba is.
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