What are access panels and what are they used for?

What are they?

Access Panels (also known as access hatches or access doors) are designed to provide safe openings in ceilings, walls and floors to allow access to building engineering services such as pipes, cables, air conditioning systems etc. Standard access panels are generally hinged, made of plastic or metal and discreet in colour and design in order to blend in with existing interior decor. They come in a variety of sizes, and can be custom made to fit specific needs, if required.

Access Panels come with one of two standard frame options :

1.      A beaded Frame with a perforated flange to key into the surrounding membrane – suitable for situations where the surface has yet to be finished

2.       A Picture Frame Type where the solid flange sits on the surface of the wall or ceiling and covers the cut edge of the hole – the best option where the surface has already been finished.

Round Access Panels

With city office interiors becoming increasingly contemporary and design-led, the need for more design-led access panels has increased. Round access panels have consequently become more popular, with the circular outline blending in with other architectural fittings. 

Access Panel materials

Access panels can be made from a variety of different materials depending on the job they are required to do, and where they will be located.

Plastic Access Panels

Plastic access panels are a high quality, low cost option for access to maintenance services in ceilings and walls. Plastic panels are usually used for domestic situation to provide access to stop cocks and plumbing. Because plastic is light in weight these panels can be easily fitted to walls and ceilings.

Wooden Access Panels

Historically wood was the preferred material for access panels due to its flexibility, affordability and workability. The fact that wood can easily be painted over was another big plus. These days, wooden access panels are increasingly rare, in part due to the availability of cheaper materials such as plastic but more due to their poor performance in fires.

Metal Access panels

In industrial/commercial situations metal is the preferred access panel material due to its strength, durability and fire resistance – see fire rated access panels.

Fire Rated Access Panels

Fire rated access panels/doors are typically rated for fire resistance. This means the duration for which a passive fire protection system can withstand a standard fire endurance test. Fire resistance is usually quantified in time eg. 2 hours fire rated

For obvious reasons Fire Rated access panels are almost exclusively made from metal, the thickness of which will depend on its fire rating ie. 1 hour fire rated will be thinner than 2 hour fire rated.

Fire rating does not usually affect the appearance of access panels, and the clever design enables most to be fire rated without using heavyweight layers of plasterboard which effect performance. This ensures that the panels are easier to use in ceilings where heavier panels can be dangerous to operate.