A perimeter gasket can have a similar visible lip while being attached in a completely different way. In athmer’s dated instructions, PS 2807 S, PS 3607 S and PS 2816 S use a mechanically fixed carrier with a snap-on cover; PS 788 S is an adhesive-backed seal applied to the frame. The visible contact shape alone cannot establish which product is installed, or whether another can replace it.
Start with what remains on the door frame
Look along the door stop, head and jambs without taking anything apart. If there is an obvious rigid carrier and removable-looking cover, photograph the carrier-end profile if an end is already exposed. A covered fixing line is consistent with a mechanically mounted system but does not prove which athmer model it is. If instead you can see a continuous strip bonded directly to the frame with no separate carrier, it may be an adhesive type; other manufacturers also use adhesive and the adhesive’s presence is not a brand identifier.
Athmer’s 06.2022 one-page fitting instruction for PS 2807 S / PS 3607 S / PS 2816 S shows three different illustrated cross-sections under VALID FOR. Steps 4 and 6 show the carrier screwed at the stop and a cover snapped over the fixing. The drawing should be matched to your specific named variant, not reduced to “all PS seals are the same size.” Its 01.2023 one-page instruction for PS 788 S describes a frame adhesive and a different contact/placement sequence. These are historical document editions: a current product may have revised instructions.
| Observation | More relevant document to consult | What still must be confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid frame-side carrier and a cover hiding fastening points | PS 2807 S / PS 3607 S / PS 2816 S; 06.2022 p.1, VALID FOR diagram and steps 4, 6 | Exact cross-section, model marking, frame clearance and installed variant |
| Strip apparently bonded directly to stop/face, without separate visible carrier | PS 788 S; 01.2023 p.1, steps 1–3 and NOTE | Whether it is athmer at all, substrate/finish, actual model and adhesive condition |
| Door hard to latch or rubs a new seal | Neither fitting instruction confirms the cause | Original door adjustment, attachment position, contact and safe operation need separate examination |
A five-photo identification record
- Take a whole-door photo showing opening direction, head and both jambs. Do not obstruct or prop open a security, access-controlled or rated opening for the sake of a photo.
- Photograph the existing gasket at the head, hinge-side jamb and latch-side jamb, showing whether it is fixed to the frame or moving leaf.
- Include a close-up of any already exposed end of the carrier/strip with a small ruler adjacent; do not lift a strongly bonded seal to inspect its back.
- Photograph any surviving athmer label, packaging, installer invoice or product code. A molded line or approximate width is not necessarily a model number.
- Make a dimension sketch: opening width/height, visible frame stop, approximate uncompressed seal projection where safely visible, and where contact occurs. Mark dimensions as observed; they are not ordering measurements until checked against the exact installation drawing.
Send that record to the supplier or building maintenance contact with the date of installation if known. Ask for the exact model, newest fitting instruction, approved fixing method for that frame finish, and any listing for the actual door assembly when relevant.
Why a screw-on carrier and adhesive seal are not interchangeable
The documents illustrate different fastening, end treatments and installation locations. Installing a self-adhesive seal where a mechanically retained profile sat may leave an incompatible mounting surface, wrong compression or an uncovered fixing condition. Conversely, introducing screws into an unknown frame can damage concealed components or invalidate a required assembly configuration. Do not drill, route, strip adhesive, remove the snap cover or alter door hardware merely to test a likely match.
The PS 788 S instruction explicitly cautions that athmer cannot guarantee compatibility with all surface finishes and that relocating a fitted strip may reduce bond strength. The 06.2022 carrier instruction notes that the PS 3607 S tamper-resistant cover should not be removed after fitting. Those cautions are reasons to identify first, not permission to remove or refit a product.
Compare two cases without proposing a substitution
Case A: a covered line of screws is visible on the frame. The useful hypothesis is “mechanical carrier”; photograph an already exposed end and the frame contact without touching the cover. Give the installer the PS 2807 S / PS 3607 S / PS 2816 S, 06.2022 drawing group with a note that the VALID FOR profiles differ. Asking for a match to the exact section is more specific than asking for any “PS series gasket.”
Case B: an apparently bonded-on perimeter strip is visible. The useful hypothesis is “adhesive-mount family,” which makes the PS 788 S, 01.2023 instruction a comparison document only. Do not assume athmer manufactured the installed strip, pull it back to view adhesive, or install PS 788 S on a mechanical-carrier assembly. Ask for the original frame/door system record first.
| Service-card field | Answer to collect |
|---|---|
| Door assembly and operating type | ______ |
| Visible fixing | carrier / apparently adhesive / unknown |
| Photograph showing exact side of contact | head / hinge jamb / latch jamb |
| Any original part code, as marked | ______ / no legible marking |
| Instruction revision checked | 06.2022 / 01.2023 / other, not yet verified |
| Is assembly rated, access-controlled or a required exit? | yes / no / unknown — no field modification on uncertainty |
The decision is which instruction and original assembly to verify, not which seal “fits.”
If the door is fire/smoke-rated or a required exit
Do not select, remove or replace a perimeter component from these instructions alone. A generic manufacturer statement about suitability for retrofit is not evidence that your exact leaf/frame/hardware/seal assembly is approved or that opening forces and exit function remain compliant. Ask the responsible building professional to establish the complete tested/listed configuration and the correct authorized product and procedure. If the original seal is already damaged, report it promptly rather than trying substitutes.
Confirmed and not confirmed
Confirmed in the cited editions: athmer’s 06.2022 p.1 instruction covers the three named PS carrier-and-cover variants and its diagrams distinguish their cross-sections; the 01.2023 PS 788 S p.1 instruction covers adhesive application and includes finish/bonding cautions. Unknown: whether either document describes your installed seal; installed product generation, door frame finish, replacement compatibility, dimensional match, tested-assembly status and latest instruction revision.
Original manufacturer documentation
- athmer oHG, PS 2807 S / PS 3607 S / PS 2816 S — Perimeter seal, Fitting Instruction, 06.2022, p.1 of 1, “VALID FOR” drawings, steps 4 and 6, NOTE: https://athmer.com/media/b2/1e/2f/1745571158/PS%202807%20S_fittinginstructions_2206.pdf
- athmer oHG, PS 788 S — Perimeter seal, Fitting Instruction, 01.2023, p.1 of 1, steps 1–3 and NOTE: https://athmer.com/media/fa/c6/3b/1745570976/PS%20788%20S_fittinginstructions_2206.pdf
Next step: identify the attachment method and exact code, then obtain the current model-specific instruction and assembly permission before making changes. An unmarked seal remains unidentified even if its shape resembles a drawing.