How to Choose the Right Carlisle Brass Hinges
Selecting the right Carlisle Brass Hinges is one of the most critical steps in any architectural ironmongery specification. High-quality hinges determine how smoothly a door operates, how long it lasts, and whether it remains safe under daily use. Choosing the correct hinge isn’t just about weight—it’s about understanding performance, durability, and the environment in which the door is installed.
The Carlisle Brass Hinge Selection Guide, based on BS EN 1935:2002, provides a clear and tested framework for selecting hinges that match your door’s function and rating. Whether you’re fitting fire doors, heavy-duty commercial doors, or high-use residential openings, Carlisle Brass Hinges offer reliability, consistency, and proven certification.
Supplied by Trade Door Handles, trusted UK supplier of architectural ironmongery since 1976, with quick nationwide delivery.
Why Correct Hinge Selection Matters
A hinge’s job goes far beyond simply allowing a door to swing. It must support door mass, resist side loading, handle door closer forces, and endure constant cycles of operation. The right choice of hinge ensures long-term alignment, safety, and smooth performance — while the wrong choice can quickly lead to sagging, binding, or even failure on fire-rated doors.
Carlisle Brass Hinges, particularly those in the renowned Eurospec range, are engineered to meet the toughest performance standards in architectural ironmongery. Each model is tested in accordance with BS EN 1935, the European standard that defines hinge grades for durability, load-bearing capacity, corrosion resistance, and fire integrity. These rigorous tests ensure that Carlisle Brass Hinges perform consistently across residential, commercial, and industrial environments.
By understanding how Carlisle Brass Hinges are graded and selected, specifiers and installers can ensure doors operate reliably and comply with modern building regulations.
How to Use the Carlisle Brass Hinge Selection Chart
The Carlisle Brass Hinge Selection Chart is the foundation of correct hinge specification. Instead of relying on door weight alone, it evaluates several real-world factors that affect performance. Understanding these ensures the right Carlisle Brass Hinges are selected for each installation — whether for a light internal door or a heavy fire-rated door in constant use.
Five key factors determine hinge performance:
Door Mass – The total mass of the door leaf, including glass panels, ironmongery, and other attached hardware.
Door Width – Wider doors create greater side loading, increasing the strain on each hinge.
Frequency of Use – Determines the hinge duty cycle, from light domestic use to severe commercial use.
Door Closer Forces – Closers add substantial lateral load and can dramatically alter hinge performance.
Environmental & Installation Conditions – Moisture, humidity, temperature, and frame alignment all affect hinge wear and corrosion.
Each factor can increase or reduce the effective door mass that the hinges must carry. By applying these values through the Carlisle Brass Hinge Selection Chart, specifiers can accurately identify the correct hinge grade, determine how many hinges are required, and ensure compliance with BS EN 1935 standards.
Tip: Never choose a hinge purely on appearance or weight. Always calculate the actual operating mass using the method below.
How to Calculate Door Weight and Actual Door Mass
When selecting Carlisle Brass Hinges, it’s important to remember that the door weight listed in manufacturer data sheets represents only the door leaf — not the total operational mass. In real installations, several additional factors affect hinge performance and must be considered to ensure long-term reliability.
Carlisle Brass recommends the following step-by-step calculation sequence to determine the actual door mass:
Start with the door’s true weight (kg).
Example: A solid-core door weighs 44 kg.-
Add allowances for door closers:
Standard closer → + 20 %
Closer with hold-open / back-check → + 75 %
Add allowances for hardware:
Handles, locks, signage, kick plates, or protection plates → + 5 – 10 %-
Adjust for frequency of use:
Light → – 10 %
Medium → 0 %
Heavy → + 10 %
Severe → + 20 %
Adjust for side loading (see next section).
Example calculation:
44 kg door + 20 % closer + 10 % heavy use + 10 % hardware = ≈ 58 kg actual door mass.
This means your chosen Carlisle Brass Hinges should be rated for at least 58 kg, ideally selecting the next hinge grade above.
Accurate calculations like this ensure Carlisle Brass Hinges operate within their design limits, preventing misalignment, excessive wear, or premature failure — particularly important for fire doors and high-traffic environments.
Understanding Side Loading and Door Width Ratios
A hinge doesn’t just carry vertical weight — it also resists horizontal force as the door swings. This is known as side loading, and it increases dramatically on wide doors or installations fitted with door closers. Understanding and calculating this factor correctly is essential when selecting Carlisle Brass Hinges, as it ensures each hinge is rated for the true operational load it will bear.
Carlisle Brass uses a simple but effective formula to assess side loading:
Door height (mm) ÷ Door width (mm) = Ratio
If the ratio is less than 2, additional stress is being placed on the hinge knuckle and bearing system. In these cases, a mass increase percentage must be applied to the actual door mass to find the hinge’s true loading requirement.
| Height (mm) | Width (mm) | Ratio | Mass Increase % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1000 | 2.0 | 0 % |
| 2000 | 1150 | 1.74 | +26 % |
| 2000 | 1200 | 1.67 | +33 % |
| 2000 | 1300 | 1.54 | +46 % |
Example:
A 44 kg door measuring 2000 × 1200 mm gives a ratio of 1.67.
This requires a 33 % increase to the actual door mass:
44 × 1.33 = 58.5 kg adjusted mass
This adjusted figure should be combined with your door closer and usage allowances to determine the appropriate hinge grade from the Carlisle Brass Hinge Selection Chart.
By factoring in side loading, installers can ensure Carlisle Brass Hinges operate safely and smoothly throughout the door’s life cycle — reducing wear, maintaining alignment, and extending service intervals.
How Door Closers Affect Hinge Selection
Door closers place a constant lateral force on the hinge set — especially on the top hinge, which absorbs most of the stress each time the door opens or closes. When fitting Carlisle Brass Hinges, this additional load must be considered to ensure the correct hinge grade and configuration are used.
Carlisle Brass recommends applying the following allowances when door closers are installed:
| Door Type | Add to Mass | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Closer without hold-open/back-check | +20 % | 11 |
| Closer with hold-open/back-check | +75 % | 12 |
Because the top hinge bears the greatest load, its spacing and fixings are critical. A closer fitted with back-check intensifies the strain every time the door reaches full opening, so hinges must be firmly anchored into solid timber or reinforced steel frames.
For heavy-duty or high-frequency applications, upgrading to Grade 13 Carlisle Brass Hinges provides additional strength and durability. Correct hinge selection and positioning prevent frame distortion, misalignment, and premature hinge wear — ensuring long-term reliability across all door types.
Choosing the Right Category of Use
Under BS EN 1935:2002, every hinge is assigned a Category of Use, defining how durable it is and what type of environment it’s suitable for. Understanding these categories is key when selecting Carlisle Brass Hinges, as each grade corresponds to the door’s expected traffic level, user type, and installation conditions.
| Category | Description | Typical Location | Example Hinge Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Light Duty – Low-frequency use by careful users | Domestic interiors, cupboards | Grade 3–6 |
| 2 | Medium Duty – Normal frequency by trained users | Small offices, residential doors | Grade 7–10 |
| 3 | Heavy Duty – Frequent use by the general public | Schools, hotels, public toilets | Grade 11–13 |
| 4 | Severe Duty – Constant or high-frequency use, potential misuse | Hospitals, transport hubs, industrial units | Grade 13–14 |
When in doubt, select the next higher category — it provides an added safety margin, greater load-bearing strength, and a longer operational lifespan.
Most commercial and public buildings benefit from Grade 13 Carlisle Brass Hinges, as they’re engineered for heavy-duty performance, tested for 200,000+ cycles, and suitable for FD30 and FD60 fire doors when used in pairs or sets of three.
By aligning your project’s requirements with the correct Category of Use, specifiers can ensure compliance, safety, and lasting performance for every type of door.
Hinge Spacing and Door Closer Configurations
Proper hinge placement is essential for long-term door performance. It ensures load is distributed evenly across the frame, reducing stress on fixings and preventing door distortion or binding over time. When installed correctly, Carlisle Brass Hinges maintain consistent alignment and smooth operation — even on heavy or fire-rated doors.
The Carlisle Brass diagrams (Figures 1–4) show four standard hinge spacing configurations, designed in accordance with BS EN 1935:2002 recommendations:
Figure 1 – Standard Three-Hinge Arrangement
Figure 2 – Doors with Closers (Three Hinges Adjusted)
Figure 3 – Wide or Heavy Doors (Four Hinges)
Figure 4 – Closers + Wide Doors (Four Hinges Adjusted)
Combine both methods: top two hinges closer together (approx. 100 mm apart) to counteract increased torque from both door mass and closer pressure.
Understanding the Hinge Grade Table
Every hinge tested to BS EN 1935:2002 is assigned a unique eight-digit classification code that defines its level of performance. This code identifies critical aspects such as durability, mass capacity, safety, and fire suitability — helping specifiers select the correct Carlisle Brass Hinges for each door application.
The eight code digits represent:
Category of Use
Durability (Test Cycles)
Door Mass (Maximum Load)
Fire Suitability
Safety
Corrosion Resistance
Security
Hinge Type
Carlisle Brass publishes the following key hinge grades from its Eurospec and commercial ranges:
| Grade | Max Door Mass (kg) | Test Cycles | Duty Rating | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–6 | 20–40 | 25,000–200,000 | Light / Medium | Internal domestic doors |
| 7–10 | 40–60 | 200,000 | Medium | Residential and office doors |
| 11–12 | 80–100 | 200,000 | Heavy / Severe | Public buildings, schools |
| 13 | 120 | 200,000 | Severe | Most common UK hinge grade |
| 14 | 160 | 200,000 | Severe | Industrial and fire doors |
Grade 13 Carlisle Brass Hinges dominate modern UK specifications because they offer the best balance between load capacity, fire certification, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. They’re suitable for both commercial and residential developments and meet the durability expectations of heavy-traffic environments such as offices, schools, and hotels.
Many Carlisle Brass Eurospec hinges are CE-marked and tested to exceed 200,000 cycles. Selected models are fire-rated and suitable for FD30 and FD60 applications when installed in accordance with manufacturer guidance. Always consult the relevant product datasheet or certification label before specifying any hinge for fire-door use to ensure full compliance.
By selecting the correct Carlisle Brass Hinges grade and configuration, specifiers can ensure every installation meets UK safety standards, performs consistently, and stands the test of time.
Summary – Bringing It All Together
When specifying or fitting hinges:
Measure the door’s actual mass.
Add allowances for door closers, hardware, and frequency of use.
Check side-loading ratio and apply correction.
Select the correct Category of Use under BS EN 1935.
Consult the hinge grade table and always round up.
Confirm spacing (Figures 1–4) based on width and closer type.
Following this method ensures your door operates safely, quietly, and within compliance. The system works across timber, composite, and steel doorsets in both residential and commercial settings.
Learn More and Explore Related Hardware
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Summary – Key Points from the Carlisle Brass Hinge Selection Guide
Correct hinge selection ensures long-term door performance, safety, and compliance with BS EN 1935:2002.
Always calculate actual door mass, including allowances for door closers, side loading, and hardware weight.
Hinge grade and category of use determine durability and load capacity — Grade 13 is the most common choice for heavy or fire-rated doors.
Hinge spacing and configuration vary depending on door width, closer type, and usage frequency — follow Carlisle Brass guidelines for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common hinge grade in the UK?
Grade 13—tested to 200 000 cycles and supporting up to 120 kg—is the industry standard for commercial and fire doors.
How do I determine actual door mass?
Start with the door’s physical weight, then add allowances for closers, side load, and hardware as shown in the selection chart.
Why does door width affect hinge choice?
A wider door increases torque on the hinge knuckle. Correcting for side load prevents premature wear and screw loosening.
Do I need four hinges on a heavy door?
Yes—doors over 1000 mm wide or > 60 kg benefit from four hinges for improved load distribution.
Are all Carlisle Brass hinges fire rated?
Some are. Always check product datasheets or certification markings to ensure FD30 or FD60 suitability.
Should I choose stainless-steel hinges outdoors?
Yes—stainless steel provides superior corrosion resistance in coastal or humid environments.
