By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

The model number is the door width

Glynn Johnson's 90 Series heavy duty overhead holders and stops come in five sizes, and the number in front of the letter is not a style. It is the width range the arm is built for. Order a 902 for a 36 inch door and the arm is too short. Order a 906 for a 30 inch door and the arm is too long. Get that part right and the rest is detail.

We already cover the 902H on its own. This article is the whole family: 902 through 906, in H (hold-open) and S (stop only).

The five sizes

From the listings, the range each model covers:

• 902: door openings from 23-1/16 in. to 27 in.
• 903: 27-1/16 in. to 33 in.
• 904: 33-1/16 in. to 39 in.
• 905: 39-1/16 in. to 45 in.
• 906: 45-1/16 in. to 54 in.

The ranges run end to end with no gaps, so every door width has one right answer. A standard 36 inch commercial door is a 904. A 32 inch door is a 903. A 3-0 door that measures just under 36 is still a 904. A 42 inch wide leaf, for example a wide corridor door or a hospital door, is a 905. A 48 inch double-wide leaf, which is rare, is a 906.

The listing states the range as a "door opening." Measure the door itself and check the number against the table. If the door is right on a line, or if it hangs oddly in an opening with a wide frame, call us with the measurement before you order.

H or S: hold-open or stop only

The letter after the number is the function.

The H models are hold-open. Per the listing, you turn the serrated knob on the bottom of the channel to engage the hold-open mechanism. The door then holds at a set position between 85 and 110 degrees. Flip the knob over, and the unit acts as a stop and shock absorber. So an H unit does both jobs, and you choose one with a knob.

The S models are stop only. The listing says that when you do not need the hold-open function, a stop-only model gives the same shock absorbing capability as a hold-open one. Choose S where holding the door open would be a problem: a fire-rated door that must close, a bathroom door, or any door where a held-open leaf could cause a safety or security issue.

It costs the same either way in the listings we checked, so the choice is about use. If a door might ever need to be held open for cleaning or a delivery, the H gives you the option. Holding an opening that a fire code expects to latch is another matter. Check with your inspector before you add hold-open to a rated door.

Build and application

The 90 Series is the heavy duty line. The listings describe a heavy duty channel and slide arm design with an offset jamb bracket, built from stainless steel for corrosion resistance. Other points from the listings:

• Mounting: surface mounted, overhead.
• Handing: non handed, so one part covers a left or right door.
• Doors: single acting doors, interior or exterior.
• With closers: usable with most surface applied door closers.
• Doors and frames: templates suit almost all types of doors, including those with conventional butt hinges or specialty hinges.

The point of the overhead stop is to keep the door from swinging into the wall, a hinge or a frame. It also absorbs the shock when someone shoves the door. A door that hits a wall tears the hinge screws out over time, and the frame or the wall pays for it. An overhead stop is a cheap way to prevent that repair.

Because it works with a surface applied closer, you can run both on the same door. A closer controls the door's closing speed and latching, and the stop controls how far it opens. They do different jobs. Our 792H, 793H and 794H article covers the lighter series that works the same way, and our 702H vs 706H article covers the other end of the range. If you are choosing between series, the 90 is for the doors that get abused.

Finish

The listings show a lot of finishes for each model: satin stainless (US32D), bright stainless (US32), satin bronze (US10), oil rubbed dark bronze (US10B), bright brass (US3), satin brass (US4), a chrome-like coating (652), black (SPBLK) and powder coated bronze (SP10). The finish suffix is part of the part number, so write it down with the model. Match the door hardware that is already there, because a holder hangs at eye level and a mismatched finish stands out.

The models we link here

• 902S-US32D: narrowest size, stop only, satin stainless.
• 903H-US32D: 27 to 33 in., hold-open.
• 903S-US32D: same size, stop only.
• 904H-US32D: the standard 36 in. door, hold-open.
• 905H-US32D: 39 to 45 in., hold-open.
• 906H-US32D: 45 to 54 in., hold-open.

Every other finish is in the catalog under the same series number.

Before you order

1. Measure the door. Match it to the width table.
2. Pick H or S. Hold-open or stop only.
3. Pick the finish. Match the existing hardware.
4. Check for a closer. The overhead unit works with most surface applied closers. Plan the mounting space for both.
5. Check the door type. The listings say single acting doors.

Common questions

Which size fits a 36 inch door?

The 904, which covers 33-1/16 in. to 39 in.

At what angle does the H model hold?

Between 85 and 110 degrees, per the listing.

Is it left hand or right hand?

Neither. The listings call it non handed.

Can I use it with a door closer?

Yes. The listings say it can be used with most surface applied door closers.

Is it for interior or exterior doors?

Both, per the listing, with stainless steel for corrosion resistance.

The rest of the line is on our Glynn Johnson page. Send us the door width and what it hangs against, and we will pick the size and function.