What is a hold-open device on a door?

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A hold-open device is a mechanical or electrical mechanism used to keep a door securely in an open position without needing a manual wedge or physical prop.

How It Works & Types

  • Electromagnetic Holders: These units connect to a building's fire or smoke alarm system. They keep fire doors open during normal daily use for easy traffic flow, but automatically release the door when an alarm sounds or power fails so the door closer can shut it tightly.
  • Mechanical Hold-Open Arms: Built into standard door closers or hinges, these use physical friction, a ball-catch, or a detent to fix a non-fire-rated door at a specific angle (like 90 degrees) until someone pulls the door to release it.

Common Uses

  • Hospitals and Schools: Keeps heavy corridor doors open for wheeled beds or large crowds, while remaining fire-safe.
  • High-Traffic Commercial Buildings: Prevents wear and tear and allows unobstructed movement through busy entryways.

What is the device that holds a door open?

A device that holds a door open is generally called a doorstop or door stopper, with specific variations known as door holders, door wedges, or kickdown doorstops.

You can explore various options and styles through the Amazon Door Open Holder Collection.

Common Types of Door-Holding Devices

  • Door Wedge: A simple triangular piece of rubber, wood, or plastic slid under the bottom of a door.
  • Kickdown Doorstop: A small arm with a rubber tip attached directly to the face of the door that you flip down with your foot to prop the door open.
  • Magnetic Door Holder: A two-part magnetic device—one part on the door and the matching piece on the wall or floor—that catches and holds the door in place.
  • Hinge Pin Stop / Latch: A tool that fits over the door hinge or pin to lock the door at a specific open angle.
  • Hold-Open Door Closer: A mechanical arm attached to commercial doors that engages at a specific angle to keep the door from closing automatically.

What are the different types of door hold open devices?

Door hold open devices range from basic manual stops to advanced fire-safe electromagnetic systems.

Manual and Mechanical Door Holders

  • Kick-down holders: Hinged arms attached to the bottom of the door that flip down to grip the floor.
  • Plunger/spring holders: Foot-operated, spring-loaded plungers with rubber tips that press down against the floor.
  • Hooks and eyes: A physical hook mounted on the wall or floor that latches into a loop on the door.
  • Hold-open arms: Specialized mechanical door closer arms that lock a door at a specific open angle. (Note: These cannot be used on fire-rated doors).

Automatic and Fire-Safe Hold Open Systems

  • Electromagnetic door holders: Wall- or floor-mounted magnets wired to the building's fire alarm system that release and let the door shut automatically during a power outage or fire alarm.
  • Electromagnetic door closers: Hydraulic closers with built-in electronic holding mechanisms integrated into the door rail or arm to function safely with fire alarms.
  • Acoustic (sound-activated) holders: Wireless units—such as the AGRIPPA Sound Activated Digital Fire Door Holder—that listen for a specific fire alarm frequency to release the door autonomously.
  • Free-swing closers: Devices that allow a heavy fire door to swing completely free of resistance during normal use, but engage to close the door automatically when triggered by smoke or a fire alarm.

What is the difference between a hold-open and a non-hold-open door closer?

A hold-open door closer keeps a door open at a specific angle until you pull it closed, while a non-hold-open closer shuts the door immediately every time you let go.

Hold-Open Door Closers

  • How it works: A mechanical friction mechanism or electronic magnet locks the door open when swung past a set point (usually 90 to 110 degrees).
  • How to close it: You must give a firm pull on the door to release the arm and let it shut.
  • Best uses: Busy hallways or retail stores during big sales where you need a clear path for heavy foot traffic.
  • Important rule: Mechanical hold-open units are not allowed on fire-rated doors because fire doors must always shut on their own to block smoke and flames.

Non-Hold-Open Door Closers

  • How it works: Internal springs and hydraulic fluid start pulling the door shut the second you let go of the handle.
  • How to close it: It closes itself fully every time.
  • Best uses: Exterior doors, security doors, and fire-rated doors where keeping the opening shut is vital for safety.
  • Main benefit: Consistent latching and better security since the door never stays accidentally propped open.

You can look at Door Closers USA to see more details on how these specific arms operate.

What is the thing that holds the door open?

You can keep a door open using simple hardware devices like rubber wedges, magnetic catches, or hinge tools.

Common Options to Hold a Door Open

  • Rubber Door Wedges: These low-cost rubber blocks slide under the bottom corner of a door to prop it securely on tile, wood, or carpet.
  • Magnetic Door Stops: These two-part holders mount to the baseboard, wall, or floor, using a strong magnet to catch and hold the door open until you pull it away.
  • Hinge Pin Stops and Latch Tools: Portable tools (like a hinge-mounted folding stop) or a standard door wedge fit right into the upper hinge or frame gap without sticking to the floor.
  • Explore a wide selection of choices on Amazon Hold Open Devices or check out various styles on Walmart Door Hold Open Devices.

Door Closers | Episode 2 - Hold Open Closer

9 related questions found

What do you call the thing that holds the door?

The thing that holds a door depends on whether you mean keeping it shut, open, or attached to the wall.

Keeping the Door Closed

  • Latch: The small metal piece that slides out of the door edge and goes into the frame.
  • Strike plate: The metal plate on the door frame that catches the latch.
  • Deadbolt: A heavy metal lock bolt that adds extra security.

Keeping the Door Open

  • Doorstop: A small device on the floor or wall that stops the door from hitting the wall.
  • Kick-down door holder: A small metal arm attached to the bottom of the door that flips down to hold it in place.
  • Magnetic door holder: A magnet on the wall or floor that catches a metal piece on the door.

Holding the Door to the Frame

  • Hinge: The metal joint that attaches the door to the frame and lets it swing.
  • Door jamb: The vertical side of the frame that supports the door.

How to make a door closer hold open?

To make a door closer hold open, you must check if your unit has a hold-open arm or replace it with one, as standard non-hold-open closers cannot be adjusted to stay open.

Check Your Existing Arm

  • Look at the metal arm connecting your door to the closer.
  • A standard arm is solid or just a single hinge joint with no extra mechanisms.
  • A hold-open arm features a special friction shoe, a thumb-turn nut, or a T-handle plunger.

Adjust a Hold-Open Arm

  • Open the door to your desired position (usually 90 degrees).
  • Tighten the adjustment nut or screw on the friction shoe or arm using an appropriate wrench or Allen key.
  • Test the door by opening it fully until it catches; give it a gentle pull to release it.

Replace With a Hold-Open Arm

  • If your current model only has standard closing valves (Sweep and Latch), it lacks the internal hardware to stay open.
  • Buy a compatible hold-open arm kit made for your specific door closer brand and model (such as Norton or LCN).
  • Install the new arm, open the door to the target angle, and set the hold-open mechanism according to the new parts instructions.

What are the three types of door closers?

The three main types of door closer arm configurations—often referred to when discussing standard surface-mounted door units—are Regular Arm, Parallel Arm, and Top Jamb mount.

1. Regular Arm Closer

  • How it works: Installed on the pull side of the door (the side the door opens toward).
  • Design: The arm projects outward at a 90-degree angle from the door and frame when closed.
  • Best used for: Standard pull-side doors where maximum power efficiency and leverage are needed. It is the most powerful configuration, but it is less visually subtle and can be a bump hazard in tight spaces.

2. Parallel Arm Closer

  • How it works: Installed on the push side of the door (the side you push to open).
  • Design: The main arm rests parallel to the face of the door when closed, connected to a parallel soffit plate.
  • Best used for: High-traffic corridors, schools, and offices. It offers a much cleaner, lower-profile look than a regular arm and prevents vandalism or accidental snags, though it delivers slightly less closing force (about 20–25% less) due to its mechanical angles.

3. Top Jamb Mount Closer

  • How it works: Installed on the push side of the door, but the main body mounts directly to the underside of the frame header (the top jamb) instead of the door face.
  • Design: The arm projects outward similarly to a regular arm, but the heavy mechanical box is overhead on the frame.
  • Best used for: Glass or aluminum storefront doors that feature a very narrow top rail with insufficient space to mount a box directly onto the door.

(Note: In a broader sense, industry professionals also categorize foundational installation styles into Surface-Mounted, Overhead Concealed, and Floor Closers depending on whether the hardware is visible or completely hidden.)

What is the device called that automatically closes a door?

A device that automatically closes a door is called a door closer or an automatic door closer.

Common Types of Door Closers

  • Hydraulic/Mechanical Door Closers: The most common type found on commercial and heavy doors; they use an internal spring to pull the door shut and hydraulic fluid (or air) to control the speed and prevent slamming.
  • Spring Hinges: Specialized hinges with built-in springs that replace standard hinges to push a door closed automatically.
  • Pneumatic Closers: Simpler tube-shaped closers often seen on lightweight screen or storm doors.

You can explore various options and hardware types on platforms like Amazon or read more about Door Closer Types for high-traffic environments.

What is a door closer that has a hold open feature?

A hold-open door closer is a mechanical device that automatically closes a door, but includes a special mechanism that allows the door to stay propped open at a specific angle without needing an external door stop.

How It Works

  • Automatic closing: Like a standard closer, an internal spring and hydraulic or pneumatic system stores energy when you open the door and uses it to shut the door smoothly.
  • Engaging the hold: When you push or swing the door past a certain point (usually around 90 degrees or up to 180 degrees), a friction shoe, ball-and-detent arm, or a specialized latch locks the door in place.
  • Releasing: A gentle manual pull on the door overcomes the friction or mechanism, letting the closer do its job and shut the door.

Common Types

  • Friction/Mechanical Arms: Standard commercial or residential arms equipped with a screw or adjustable nut that creates friction to hold the position.
  • Push-Button/Pneumatic: Commonly found on lightweight storm or screen doors, where you tap a small button to lock the door open and nudge the door to release it.
  • Electromagnetic: Tied to a building's fire alarm system; it keeps the door open freely during normal operation and automatically releases it to close when an alarm trips.

Important Safety Rule

You cannot use a mechanical hold-open door closer on a fire door. Fire doors must always self-close and latch completely to prevent smoke and flames from spreading.