diff --git a/src/app/+my-dspace-page/my-dspace-configuration.service.spec.ts b/src/app/+my-dspace-page/my-dspace-configuration.service.spec.ts
index 87a2f8a9dd..fa278da967 100644
--- a/src/app/+my-dspace-page/my-dspace-configuration.service.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/+my-dspace-page/my-dspace-configuration.service.spec.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ describe('MyDSpaceConfigurationService', () => {
     scope: ''
   });
 
-  const backendFilters = [new SearchFilter('f.namedresourcetype', ['another value']), new SearchFilter('f.dateSubmitted', ['[2013 TO 2018]'])];
+  const backendFilters = [
+    new SearchFilter('f.namedresourcetype', ['another value']),
+    new SearchFilter('f.dateSubmitted', ['[2013 TO 2018]'], 'equals')
+  ];
 
   const spy = jasmine.createSpyObj('RouteService', {
     getQueryParameterValue: observableOf(value1),
diff --git a/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.spec.ts b/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.spec.ts
index 061182c2fc..805ecd0486 100644
--- a/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.spec.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ describe('SearchConfigurationService', () => {
     scope: ''
   });
 
-  const backendFilters = [new SearchFilter('f.author', ['another value']), new SearchFilter('f.date', ['[2013 TO 2018]'])];
+  const backendFilters = [
+    new SearchFilter('f.author', ['another value']),
+    new SearchFilter('f.date', ['[2013 TO 2018]'], 'equals')
+  ];
 
   const routeService = jasmine.createSpyObj('RouteService', {
     getQueryParameterValue: observableOf(value1),
diff --git a/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts b/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts
index 798a0de287..7983bec64d 100644
--- a/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/shared/search/search-configuration.service.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export class SearchConfigurationService implements OnDestroy {
             if (hasNoValue(filters.find((f) => f.key === realKey))) {
               const min = filterParams[realKey + '.min'] ? filterParams[realKey + '.min'][0] : '*';
               const max = filterParams[realKey + '.max'] ? filterParams[realKey + '.max'][0] : '*';
-              filters.push(new SearchFilter(realKey, ['[' + min + ' TO ' + max + ']']));
+              filters.push(new SearchFilter(realKey, ['[' + min + ' TO ' + max + ']'], 'equals'));
             }
           } else {
             filters.push(new SearchFilter(key, filterParams[key]));
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search/paginated-search-options.model.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/search/paginated-search-options.model.spec.ts
index b75d2b8fab..9881cc1149 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search/paginated-search-options.model.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search/paginated-search-options.model.spec.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ describe('PaginatedSearchOptions', () => {
   let options: PaginatedSearchOptions;
   const sortOptions = new SortOptions('test.field', SortDirection.DESC);
   const pageOptions = Object.assign(new PaginationComponentOptions(), { pageSize: 40, page: 1 });
-  const filters = [new SearchFilter('f.test', ['value']), new SearchFilter('f.example', ['another value', 'second value'])];
+  const filters = [
+    new SearchFilter('f.test', ['value']),
+    new SearchFilter('f.example', ['another value', 'second value']), // should be split into two arguments, spaces should be URI-encoded
+    new SearchFilter('f.range', ['[2002 TO 2021]'], 'equals'),        // value should be URI-encoded, ',equals' should not
+  ];
+  const fixedFilter = 'f.fixed=1234,5678,equals';                     // '=' and ',equals' should not be URI-encoded
   const query = 'search query';
   const scope = '0fde1ecb-82cc-425a-b600-ac3576d76b47';
   const baseUrl = 'www.rest.com';
@@ -19,7 +24,8 @@ describe('PaginatedSearchOptions', () => {
       filters: filters,
       query: query,
       scope: scope,
-      dsoTypes: [DSpaceObjectType.ITEM]
+      dsoTypes: [DSpaceObjectType.ITEM],
+      fixedFilter: fixedFilter,
     });
   });
 
@@ -31,12 +37,14 @@ describe('PaginatedSearchOptions', () => {
         'sort=test.field,DESC&' +
         'page=0&' +
         'size=40&' +
-        'query=search query&' +
+        'f.fixed=1234%2C5678,equals&' +
+        'query=search%20query&' +
         'scope=0fde1ecb-82cc-425a-b600-ac3576d76b47&' +
         'dsoType=ITEM&' +
         'f.test=value&' +
-        'f.example=another value&' +
-        'f.example=second value'
+        'f.example=another%20value&' +
+        'f.example=second%20value&' +
+        'f.range=%5B2002%20TO%202021%5D,equals'
       );
     });
 
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.component.ts b/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.component.ts
index 76a8a0d323..31ace10a7d 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.component.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export class SearchFilterComponent implements OnInit {
   /**
    * True when the filter is 100% collapsed in the UI
    */
-  closed = true;
+  closed: boolean;
 
   /**
    * Emits true when the filter is currently collapsed in the store
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.scss b/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.scss
index 2b5029fce2..2c98280e7f 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.scss
+++ b/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.scss
@@ -8,18 +8,16 @@
 
 ::ng-deep
 {
-  --ds-slider-handle-width: 18px;
-
     html:not([dir=rtl]) .noUi-horizontal .noUi-handle {
         right: calc(var(--ds-slider-handle-width) / -2);
     }
     .noUi-horizontal .noUi-handle {
         width: var(--ds-slider-handle-width);
         &:before {
-            left: calc(calc(calc(var(--ds-slider-handle-width) - 2) / 2) - 2);
+            left: calc(((var(--ds-slider-handle-width) - 2px) / 2) - 2px);
         }
         &:after {
-            left: calc(calc(calc(var(--ds-slider-handle-width) - 2) / 2) + 2);
+            left: calc(((var(--ds-slider-handle-width) - 2px) / 2) + 2px);
         }
         &:focus {
             outline: none;
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.ts b/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.ts
index c3139c0217..62b1cb98a6 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search/search-filters/search-filter/search-range-filter/search-range-filter.component.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export class SearchRangeFilterComponent extends SearchFacetFilterComponent imple
   /**
    * Fallback maximum for the range
    */
-  max = 2018;
+  max = new Date().getFullYear();
 
   /**
    * The current range of the filter
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.spec.ts
index 62fe732218..8bed046736 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.spec.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,25 @@ import { SearchFilter } from './search-filter.model';
 import { DSpaceObjectType } from '../../core/shared/dspace-object-type.model';
 
 describe('SearchOptions', () => {
-  let options: PaginatedSearchOptions;
-  const filters = [new SearchFilter('f.test', ['value']), new SearchFilter('f.example', ['another value', 'second value'])];
+  let options: SearchOptions;
+
+  const filters = [
+    new SearchFilter('f.test', ['value']),
+    new SearchFilter('f.example', ['another value', 'second value']), // should be split into two arguments, spaces should be URI-encoded
+    new SearchFilter('f.range', ['[2002 TO 2021]'], 'equals'),        // value should be URI-encoded, ',equals' should not
+  ];
+  const fixedFilter = 'f.fixed=1234,5678,equals';                    // '=' and ',equals' should not be URI-encoded
   const query = 'search query';
   const scope = '0fde1ecb-82cc-425a-b600-ac3576d76b47';
   const baseUrl = 'www.rest.com';
   beforeEach(() => {
-    options = new SearchOptions({ filters: filters, query: query, scope: scope, dsoTypes: [DSpaceObjectType.ITEM] });
+    options = new SearchOptions({
+      filters: filters,
+      query: query,
+      scope: scope,
+      dsoTypes: [DSpaceObjectType.ITEM],
+      fixedFilter: fixedFilter,
+    });
   });
 
   describe('when toRestUrl is called', () => {
@@ -18,12 +30,14 @@ describe('SearchOptions', () => {
     it('should generate a string with all parameters that are present', () => {
       const outcome = options.toRestUrl(baseUrl);
       expect(outcome).toEqual('www.rest.com?' +
-        'query=search query&' +
+        'f.fixed=1234%2C5678,equals&' +
+        'query=search%20query&' +
         'scope=0fde1ecb-82cc-425a-b600-ac3576d76b47&' +
         'dsoType=ITEM&' +
         'f.test=value&' +
-        'f.example=another value&' +
-        'f.example=second value'
+        'f.example=another%20value&' +
+        'f.example=second%20value&' +
+        'f.range=%5B2002%20TO%202021%5D,equals'
       );
     });
 
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.ts b/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.ts
index fb4e8d4caf..591e4fcb04 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search/search-options.model.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { isNotEmpty } from '../empty.util';
+import { hasValue, isNotEmpty } from '../empty.util';
 import { URLCombiner } from '../../core/url-combiner/url-combiner';
 import { SearchFilter } from './search-filter.model';
 import { DSpaceObjectType } from '../../core/shared/dspace-object-type.model';
@@ -13,10 +13,15 @@ export class SearchOptions {
   scope?: string;
   query?: string;
   dsoTypes?: DSpaceObjectType[];
-  filters?: any;
-  fixedFilter?: any;
+  filters?: SearchFilter[];
+  fixedFilter?: string;
 
-  constructor(options: {configuration?: string, scope?: string, query?: string, dsoTypes?: DSpaceObjectType[], filters?: SearchFilter[], fixedFilter?: any}) {
+  constructor(
+    options: {
+      configuration?: string, scope?: string, query?: string, dsoTypes?: DSpaceObjectType[], filters?: SearchFilter[],
+      fixedFilter?: string
+    }
+  ) {
       this.configuration = options.configuration;
       this.scope = options.scope;
       this.query = options.query;
@@ -33,27 +38,27 @@ export class SearchOptions {
    */
   toRestUrl(url: string, args: string[] = []): string {
     if (isNotEmpty(this.configuration)) {
-      args.push(`configuration=${this.configuration}`);
+      args.push(`configuration=${encodeURIComponent(this.configuration)}`);
     }
     if (isNotEmpty(this.fixedFilter)) {
-      args.push(this.fixedFilter);
+      args.push(this.encodedFixedFilter);
     }
     if (isNotEmpty(this.query)) {
-      args.push(`query=${this.query}`);
+      args.push(`query=${encodeURIComponent(this.query)}`);
     }
     if (isNotEmpty(this.scope)) {
-      args.push(`scope=${this.scope}`);
+      args.push(`scope=${encodeURIComponent(this.scope)}`);
     }
     if (isNotEmpty(this.dsoTypes)) {
       this.dsoTypes.forEach((dsoType: string) => {
-        args.push(`dsoType=${dsoType}`);
+        args.push(`dsoType=${encodeURIComponent(dsoType)}`);
       });
     }
     if (isNotEmpty(this.filters)) {
       this.filters.forEach((filter: SearchFilter) => {
         filter.values.forEach((value) => {
           const filterValue = value.includes(',') ? `${value}` : value + (filter.operator ? ',' + filter.operator : '');
-          args.push(`${filter.key}=${filterValue}`);
+          args.push(`${filter.key}=${this.encodeFilterQueryValue(filterValue)}`);
         });
       });
     }
@@ -62,4 +67,28 @@ export class SearchOptions {
     }
     return url;
   }
+
+  get encodedFixedFilter(): string {
+    // expected format: 'arg=value'
+    //  -> split the query agument into (arg=)(value) and only encode 'value'
+    const match = this.fixedFilter.match(/^([^=]+=)(.+)$/);
+
+    if (hasValue(match)) {
+      return match[1] + this.encodeFilterQueryValue(match[2]);
+    } else {
+      return this.encodeFilterQueryValue(this.fixedFilter);
+    }
+  }
+
+  encodeFilterQueryValue(filterQueryValue: string): string {
+    // expected format: 'value' or 'value,operator'
+    //  -> split into (value)(,operator) and only encode 'value'
+    const match = filterQueryValue.match(/^(.*)(,\w+)$/);
+
+    if (hasValue(match)) {
+      return encodeURIComponent(match[1]) + match[2];
+    } else {
+      return encodeURIComponent(filterQueryValue);
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/styles/_custom_variables.scss b/src/styles/_custom_variables.scss
index 56cf4abca9..298be09f67 100644
--- a/src/styles/_custom_variables.scss
+++ b/src/styles/_custom_variables.scss
@@ -78,4 +78,5 @@
   --ds-breadcrumb-link-active-color: #{darken($cyan, 30%)};
 
   --ds-slider-color: #{$green};
+  --ds-slider-handle-width: 18px;
 }