Dormakaba 8956 DS Door Closer w/ Door Saver Arm

The 8956 is the exception. The spring is adjustable from size 5 through size 6 with an additional 50% adjustment range beyond size 6, which is the Dormakaba specification for exceptionally wide, exceptionally tall, or exceptionally heavy doors where standard size 1-6 spring closers run out of closing force before the door fully latches. If the door is oversized glass, thick solid wood, or heavy hollow metal in a large frame, the 8956's extended spring range is what gets it closed.

The DS arm (Door Saver) is the other differentiator. It's a heavy-duty parallel arm with an integral cushioned stop built into the arm body. The door can be set to stop at 85°, 90°, 100°, or 110° of opening, and the cushioning absorbs the impact when the door reaches that position. The arm can be configured as stop-only (door stops, closes normally, doesn't hold open) or stop-and-hold-open at the selected angle. For heavy doors where uncontrolled full-swing opening creates real risk of damage to the door, frame, adjacent wall, or hardware, the DS arm limits and cushions the opening without requiring a separate door stop or wall bumper. For all Dormakaba door closers, browse our Dormakaba door closers catalog. For all commercial door closers, view our full door closers catalog.

Dormakaba 8956 DS Part Number Specifications

SKU: 8956 DS 689. Also known as: 8956DS689, 8956 DS 695, 8956DS695. Series: Dormakaba 8900 Series. Arm: DS, Door Saver, heavy-duty parallel arm with integral cushioned stop. Stop positions: 85°, 90°, 100°, and 110° (conditions permitting). Maximum opening angle: 110°. Hold open: Field configurable; stop only OR stop and hold open at selected angle. Arm handing: Non-handed. Spring size: Adjustable size 5 to 6, plus 50% additional adjustment range beyond size 6. Application: Exceptionally wide, tall, or heavy doors. Backcheck: Adjustable intensity hydraulic cushioning; backcheck positioning valve for parallel arm applications. Optional delayed action: Adjustable independent valve for extended closing cycle. Temperature performance: Minimizes closing speed change in severe temperature variations. Valve adjustments: Tamper-resistant; accessible with closer installed without removal. Cover: Impact-resistant full plastic cover standard. Door hardware: SNB1 sex nuts and machine screws for 1-3/4" doors included. Finishes: 689 Silver Aluminum Painted, 695 Dark Bronze. ANSI: A156.4 Grade 1. UL/CUL: Listed. Cycle rating: 10 million cycles. Warranty: 25-year limited.

What "Door Saver" Actually Means

The Door Saver designation comes from what the arm does in a real installation. A heavy door swinging open uncontrolled doesn't just bounce off a wall stop. At sufficient weight and velocity, it can crack the frame, pull the closer off its mounting plate, bend the arm, shear the sex nuts, or strip the mounting threads. A wall bumper or floor stop absorbs the impact after it happens. The DS arm prevents the full-force impact by cushioning the door as it approaches the stop position, decelerating it before it hits. The door reaches the limit angle with reduced force, the cushioning takes the remainder, and the hardware sees a fraction of the load it would have taken from an uncushioned stop.

8956 vs. 8916: Choosing the Right Spring Range

The 8916 covers adjustable spring sizes 1 through 6, which handles the full range of standard commercial doors. The 8956 starts at size 5 and extends beyond size 6 by 50%. If the 8916 is set to maximum size 6 and the door still doesn't latch reliably, the 8956 is the correct specification. For standard commercial doors that fit within the size 1-6 range, the 8916 DS or 8916 PH (depending on hold-open requirements) is the more common specification.