Door stop and hold open hinges offer valuable benefits in various situations. A door stop prevents damage to walls by limiting door opening, while hold-open function offers a practical and valuable feature for a wide array of applications in both commercial and residential use.
Though sharing a hidden stopping function, these two features differ significantly. A hold open and door stop feature coordinating on the same hinge can be very beneficial for the daily users.
Just like how Meade Building Company requires for a project in Seattle:
“We are looking for a door hinge that keeps the door open and two door stops that stop at 90 degrees so the door doesn’t hit the walls. The door size is 29-3/4” wide by 92-1/4” high, 2-3/4” thick. The door is a hidden door that opens to the green roof and will look like a cabinet panel on the inside. ”
What is a Hold Open Hinge?
Hold-open hinges, also known as stay-open door hinges, are designed with a built-in mechanism to keep a door open at a specific angle—typically 90°, 135°, or more. Unlike standard hinges that only hold the door to its frame, this feature allows the door to remain open.
But the hold open hinge doesn’t prevent the door swing movement. It only temporarily keeps the door in an open position; once you close it by hand or with a spring mechanism, the door will swing, move, and close again.
Can a Hold Open Hinge be Used on Fire Rated Openings, like Garage Doors?
A lot of property owners asked
“I’m looking for garage door hinges. It’s a fire door, so it needs to self-close, but I’d also like a 90-degree hold-open. Do you have anything that does both?”
Fire safety codes, such as NFPA 80 5.2.14.1, require all fire-rated doors to be self-closing. To properly block smoke and fire and meet safety requirements, fire doors must consistently do three things:
1. Self-close
2. Latch securely
3. Maintain their fire rating (20minutes for residential, and commercial use up to 3hr UL listing)
If a fire-rated door incorporates a mechanical hold-open feature, it compromises the door’s main safety purpose. For this reason, fire rated hold open door hinges are not permitted.
What Types of Doors Need Hold Open Hinges?
Any door can use a hold-open hinge, but it will be very beneficial in high-traffic areas and places with accessibility needs. It provides convenience for movement both in commercial and residential settings, at times when doors need to stay open.
In a busy commercial area—such as retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, churches, and hotels — where there is continuous movement of people or products, doors that remain open for extended periods can be an advantage.
In residential areas, hold-open door hinges provide convenience for daily tasks. When moving furniture, carrying groceries or laundry, or simply for an air breeze to flow through.
However, in ADA-friendly places, a door hinge that keeps door open is a necessity for accessibility. Hospital doors must stay open when moving patient beds, medical equipment, or wheelchairs. In senior living facilities, it provides the time to pass through the door with the stay open.
Hold open hinges improve efficiency and ease of use in diverse settings.
What is a Door Stop?
A door stop is a device that limits how far a door can open, preventing it from swinging past a certain point. Its purpose is to protect the door or door handle from striking walls, furniture, or adjacent doors that cause damage over time.
Why Door Stops Are Related to the ADA 32-inch Clear Width Requirement?
According to ADA Standard 404.2.3, a doorway must provide a minimum clear opening width of 32 inches. This measurement is taken from the face of the door to the opposite stop or frame when the door is positioned at a 90° opening.
Door stops can cause issues if they limit how far a door can open. If a wall- or floor-mounted stop prevents the door from reaching 90°, or a stop arm intrudes into the opening, the clear width can drop below the required 32 inches. This way, the doorway is no longer ADA-compliant.
Properly designed door stops allow full opening without intruding into the clear width, helping maintain ADA compliance while still protecting walls and nearby surfaces.
Door Stop on Hinge: What are the Benefits?
“I have a hinge-pin door stop on my closet door, but it’s causing damage to both the door and the molding.
The door is fairly heavy, and people tend to open it forcefully. There isn’t a nearby wall for a traditional door stop, and without any stop at all, I’m worried the force could damage the hinges or pull them out of the frame.
Is there a better alternative that wouldn’t cause as much damage?”
This case shows how a hinge-pin door stop causes damage when it should prevent the door and molding from damage. A poorly positioned or bulky door stop can be an ineffective application, create trip hazards, and compromise the property’s clean aesthetic.
A hinge-mounted door stop creates a mechanical “block” that prevents the hinge from rotating past a certain point. Instead of stopping the door at the wall (like a baseboard stop), it stops the door’s movement directly at the hinge. This provides the same function as traditional stops, but they don’t damage the door, eliminate trip hazards, and keep the overall aesthetic.
How do the Hold Open and Door Stop Features Coordinate on a Waterson hinge?
Waterson self closing hinges perform best in a swing zone from 0˚ to 120˚. Our hydraulic hybrid hinge open limit is 120˚, whereas the mechanical set can be opened up to 180˚. We do not recommend keeping the mechanical set open beyond 120° for extended periods. Frequent overextension may cause damage and reduce its lifespan, and is not covered under warranty.
That said, our hold open feature and door stop on hinge provide different maximum open positions. With the hold open, you can keep the door open as much as 180˚. Uniformly, with our door stopper, the door can open to 90˚ or 120˚, depending on the type applied.
One Hinges with All Features: Hold, Stop, and Self Closing
To meet the requirements for the Meade Building, we provide them with hold open hinges with integrated 90° door stops. This concealed design maintains the “hidden door” cabinet aesthetic while protecting the walls. It provides heavy-duty functionality for the 2-3/4” thick door without the need for visible floor or wall-mounted hardware.
Waterson self closing hinges are specially designed to provide the best functionality. Offices, hotels, and any project applications can get innovative features that improve door operation.
- Stainless Steel: Made with 304 and 316 stainless steel, high durability for high-traffic.
- Door Stops: Collar that fits over the hinge barrel sets swing limits, 90° & 120°, without wall or floor hardware.
- Hold Open: hold-open door closer keeps the door at 90° or 120° so it doesn’t drift closed, improving work flow and ADA Compliance.
- Self Closing Mechanism: Integrated spring system automatically returns the door to the closed position; no extra hardware required.
- Heavy Duty: Waterson overhead closers are tested to one million cycles, ensuring durability and reliability for heavy-duty applications.
- Anti Slam: Ensures soft and quiet door closing, minimizing disturbances for residents.
- Fire Rated: Waterson door closer comply with NFPA 80 fire rated applications and concealed door feature, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
- 5-Year Warranty: Backed by reliable coverage and service support.
Waterson Hold Open Door Hinges with Door Stop
Waterson self closing with hold open combine the function of an overhead closer and a hinge into a single, sleek component—complete with optional hold-open and door-stop features. Designed for commercial openings, gates, and glass doors, these hinges are easy to install and adjust to meet ADA and ICC A117.1 standards for opening force, while ensuring quiet and secure closure. Crafted from durable stainless steel, they are NFPA 80 compliant, UL 3-hour fire-rated, and built to perform reliably in both interior and all-weather exterior environments. See all our features.
In addition to these performance advantages, Waterson offers custom hinge services. As a direct manufacturer, we can tailor hinge sizes, finishes, and especially hinge leaf designs to meet the specific structural needs of your doors. This makes our hinges an ideal solution for door manufacturers seeking custom options that integrate seamlessly with their existing frames.
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Please note that Waterson Closer Hinges start from a size of 4″x4″. If you’re in need of smaller self-closing hinges, we’d recommend checking out some other resources! Also, we only provide single acting closer hinges. Thank you.
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