Choosing the right floor spring weight capacity is the most critical decision in any frameless glass door installation. Specify too low and the door will develop premature closing problems, bearing wear, and control failures. Specify too high and you overpay without benefit. This guide gives hardware dealers, glass fabricators, and project specifiers the complete framework for correct floor spring weight capacity selection.
For a full overview of Tickr’s floor spring range, see our complete Floor Spring guide.
Why Weight Capacity Is the Defining Specification
A floor spring is a hydraulic closing mechanism installed in the floor beneath a glass door. The spring mechanism must support the full static weight of the door panel while simultaneously providing controlled hydraulic closing action. If the floor spring’s rated capacity is insufficient for the door’s actual weight, the hydraulic mechanism is overloaded — it wears rapidly, loses its adjustment range, and eventually fails to close the door reliably.
Glass is among the heaviest door materials. A 10mm tempered glass panel in a standard commercial door size (900mm × 2100mm) weighs approximately 47 kg. Add hardware — patch fittings, patch locks, pull handles — and the operational load the floor spring must manage is closer to 50-55 kg. Standard residential floor springs rated for 60-80 kg are frequently misspecified on commercial glass doors that require 120-150 kg capacity.
How to Calculate Your Glass Door Weight
Glass weight calculation is straightforward:
Formula: Width (m) × Height (m) × Thickness (mm) × 2.5 = Weight (kg)
The constant 2.5 represents the weight of glass per square metre per millimetre of thickness in kilograms.
Examples:
- 900mm × 2100mm × 10mm glass: 0.9 × 2.1 × 10 × 2.5 = 47.25 kg
- 1000mm × 2200mm × 12mm glass: 1.0 × 2.2 × 12 × 2.5 = 66 kg
- 1200mm × 2400mm × 12mm glass: 1.2 × 2.4 × 12 × 2.5 = 86.4 kg
- 1500mm × 2700mm × 15mm glass: 1.5 × 2.7 × 15 × 2.5 = 151.9 kg
Add approximately 5-10 kg for hardware (patch fittings, lock, handle) to get the total operational load. This is the minimum floor spring rated capacity your installation requires. Always select the next standard capacity tier above your calculated load — never specify at the maximum rated capacity.
Floor Spring Weight Capacity Classes
Floor springs are manufactured in standard weight capacity tiers. Understanding each tier’s target application helps ensure correct specification:
EN 1 — Up to 80 kg
The entry-level floor spring capacity class. Suitable for lightweight residential glass doors and lightweight commercial interior doors. Not recommended for standard commercial glass door installations where glass panel weights typically exceed 50 kg with hardware. The EN 1 class covers the basic residential floor spring segment — adequate for solid wood doors up to 80 kg, or lightweight glass panels under 70 kg total.
EN 2 — Up to 120 kg
The standard commercial floor spring class. Covers the majority of commercial glass door installations — typical 900mm × 2100mm to 1000mm × 2200mm glass door panels in 10mm to 12mm tempered glass fall within this capacity range. Tickr’s standard floor spring and TCH-7400 series operate in this class. Correct specification for most retail, office, and hospitality glass door installations in India.
EN 3 — Up to 150 kg
The heavy-duty commercial class. Specified when door panels exceed 1.0m width or 12mm glass thickness, or when operational load regularly approaches or exceeds 120 kg. Common in hotel lobby single-leaf glass doors with oversized panels, large retail showroom entrances, and commercial doors in high wind-pressure environments.
EN 4 / Heavy Commercial — Above 150 kg
Specified for oversize glass door installations — large lobby single-leaf panels above 1.2m width in heavy glass thicknesses, or commercial applications with unusually high operational loads. Projects in this range typically involve architectural glass and are specified at design stage by the project architect or structural engineer.
Common Misspecification Mistakes
The following misspecification patterns appear repeatedly in the Indian commercial glass door market:
- Using residential floor spring ratings for commercial glass: Many hardware dealers stock residential-class floor springs (rated 60-80 kg) and apply them to standard commercial glass doors. The EN 2 (120 kg) class is the correct starting point for commercial glass.
- Ignoring hardware weight: Calculating glass panel weight only, and ignoring the additional 5-10 kg of patch fittings, patch lock, and pull handle.
- Specifying at maximum rated capacity: A floor spring rated to 120 kg should not be installed on a 118 kg total load. Select the next tier — 150 kg — to ensure the spring operates within its reliable range.
- Using the same specification for double-door installations: Each door panel in a double-door system requires its own floor spring sized to that panel’s weight independently.
Floor Spring Selection by Project Type
Use this reference matrix for common project types in India:
| Project Type | Typical Glass Spec | Typical Door Weight | Recommended Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard office entrance | 900×2100mm, 10mm | 47-55 kg | EN 2 (120 kg) |
| Retail showroom glass door | 1000×2200mm, 12mm | 66-76 kg | EN 2 (120 kg) |
| Restaurant/café entrance | 1000×2100mm, 12mm | 63-73 kg | EN 2 (120 kg) |
| Hotel lobby single panel | 1200×2400mm, 12mm | 86-96 kg | EN 2-3 (120-150 kg) |
| Large commercial lobby | 1500×2700mm, 15mm | 150-165 kg | EN 4 (150 kg+) |
| Residential premium | 900×2100mm, 10mm | 47-55 kg | EN 1-2 (80-120 kg) |
How Door Width Affects Floor Spring Selection
Door width creates a mechanical leverage effect on the floor spring. A wider door panel places greater rotational force on the spring mechanism at the same weight — because the closing force must act over a longer lever arm. As a practical rule: for glass door panels above 1.0m width, step up to the next capacity class above what the weight calculation alone would indicate.
Frequently Asked Questions — Floor Spring Weight Capacity
What happens if I install a floor spring that’s too weak for the door?
The spring will initially appear to work, but will deteriorate rapidly. Hydraulic adjustment range reduces, the door begins closing too fast or too slow, and within months the spring may fail to close reliably. Replacement within 1-2 years is common in misspecified installations.
How do I weigh my glass door panel?
Use the formula: Width (m) × Height (m) × Thickness (mm) × 2.5 = kg. Add 5-10 kg for hardware. If uncertain, always go to the next capacity class.
Can a floor spring be too strong for a glass door?
A floor spring with excess capacity rating is generally harmless — the spring will simply operate within a comfortable range. The closing speed and force can be adjusted via the spring’s hydraulic adjustment screws. Oversizing by one capacity class is acceptable; significant oversizing may result in a closing force that is uncomfortable or difficult to adjust finely.
What floor spring capacity should I use for a double glass door?
Each panel in a double glass door system needs its own floor spring, sized to that panel’s weight independently. Both springs are typically the same specification if both panels are identical.
Which Tickr floor spring models are available for heavy-duty applications?
Tickr Overseas supplies floor springs across EN 1 to EN 4 capacity classes. Contact us on WhatsApp +91-9855225874 or at sales@tickrindia.com to discuss heavy-duty specifications for your project.
Get Expert Floor Spring Specification Support
Tickr Overseas has supplied floor springs to hardware dealers and glass fabricators across India since 2012. Our team can help you specify the correct floor spring capacity for your project — provide the glass dimensions and thickness and we’ll confirm the right specification.
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💬 WhatsApp — Floor Spring Specification Help