Access Solutions for Building Services Engineers

Fire-rated access panels, riser doors, and loft hatches designed around your services coordination — with the technical support and lead times your programme demands.

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ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Constructionline Gold, UK Manufacturer

What access solutions do building services engineers need?

Building services engineers require access panels, riser doors, and loft hatches that provide safe, permanent access to concealed mechanical and electrical services — including HVAC systems, pipework, electrical distribution, data cabling, and plumbing. Every access point within a fire-rated wall, floor, or ceiling must maintain compartmentation integrity to BS EN 1634-1, while also meeting acoustic separation requirements under Approved Document E and airtightness standards under Approved Document L.

The specification must coordinate with the M&E layout, structural openings, and the drylining programme to avoid costly clashes and delays on site.

The Challenge

Why M&E Services Coordination Demands the Right Access Solutions

Building services engineers face a unique challenge with access products. You are responsible for ensuring that every valve, damper, junction, and piece of equipment concealed behind walls, above ceilings, or within riser shafts remains permanently accessible for maintenance, inspection, and replacement — without compromising the fire strategy, acoustic performance, or airtightness of the building envelope. Working with architects and the wider design team is essential to get access provision right from the outset.

The typical problems are familiar. Access panel locations are often an afterthought, specified too late in the design process when the M&E layout has already been finalised. Standard catalogue sizes do not always align with the structural openings required for your services. Fire rating requirements vary depending on the compartmentation strategy, and getting the wrong rating — or failing to provide adequate test evidence — leads to Building Control rejections and programme delays.

Coordinating access across multiple service disciplines adds further complexity. A single riser shaft may contain pipework, electrical cables, data infrastructure, and mechanical ductwork, each requiring different access frequencies and opening sizes. When the drylining contractor arrives on site before access requirements have been fully resolved, the result is rework, additional cost, and frustrated project teams.

How We Help

What We Provide for Building Services Projects

Services Riser Access

Riser doors from 300 x 300mm up to 1200 x 2400mm in single, double, and multi-leaf configurations. Metal-faced and plasterboard-faced options to match the surrounding wall finish. Fire rated up to 120 minutes to BS EN 1634-1 with full bi-directional test evidence for Building Control sign-off.

Ceiling and Wall Access

Access panels for ceiling voids and wall cavities, providing maintenance access to valves, dampers, junction boxes, and equipment. Non-fire-rated, fire-rated (30, 60, 90, 120 min), smoke-tested, and acoustic-rated options to match the performance requirements of each location.

Acoustic and Airtight Performance

Acoustic-rated access panels and riser doors achieving up to 45dB sound reduction, tested to BS EN ISO 10140-2. Airtight options tested to BS EN 12114 for buildings targeting enhanced air permeability under Approved Document L.

Bespoke Sizing and Configuration

When standard sizes do not align with your services coordination, we manufacture to your exact dimensions. No minimum order quantities. Design services available for non-standard configurations and multi-panel arrangements.

Technical Support and Specification Assistance

Our technical team helps you specify the right product for each location — matching fire rating, acoustic performance, size, and access frequency to your M&E layout. We provide NBS specification clauses, technical data sheets, and installation guidance to support your design submissions.

Fast Lead Times

Standard products dispatched within 24–48 hours. Bespoke sizes manufactured and delivered within 5–10 working days. We understand that M&E programmes are time-critical and coordinate delivery schedules with your site requirements.

Products

Products for Building Services Applications

Fire Rated Access Panels

Ceiling and wall access to concealed services in fire-rated partitions. Up to 120 min fire rating, BS EN 1634-1.

Acoustic Rated Access Panels

Access in noise-sensitive areas between apartments, hotel rooms, offices. Up to 45dB, BS EN ISO 10140-2.

Fire Rated Riser Doors

Services riser access through fire-rated walls. Up to 120 min, bi-directional testing.

Rapid Fit Riser Doors

Fast-install riser access for high-volume residential and commercial. Tool-free installation, reduced labour.

Non Fire Rated Access Panels

General access to non-fire-rated areas. Budget lock, picture or beaded frame.

Insulated Loft Hatches

Roof void access maintaining thermal envelope. Part L compliant, U-value certified.

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Resources

Technical Resources for Building Services Engineers

  • Technical Data Sheets — Full specifications for every product including fire, acoustic, smoke, and airtightness performance data
  • Installation Guides — Step-by-step fitting instructions for drylining contractors and M&E installers
  • Fire Test Certificates — BS EN 1634-1 test reports from BRE and Warringtonfire for Building Control submissions
  • Acoustic Test Data — BS EN ISO 10140-2 reports for each acoustic-rated product
  • NBS Specification Clauses — Pre-written specification text for incorporation into your project documentation
  • CAD Downloads — DWG/DXF files for integration into your services coordination drawings
  • BIM Objects — Revit families for model-based coordination
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Need specification support for your next project?

Our technical team understands building services coordination. Whether you need help selecting the right product, confirming fire ratings for your riser schedule, or coordinating bespoke sizes with your M&E layout — we are here to help.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The fire rating of any access panel or riser door must match the fire resistance period of the wall or floor it is installed in. In a typical residential building with 60-minute compartment walls, you need a minimum 60-minute fire-rated riser door. For buildings over 30 metres, Approved Document B may require 120-minute fire resistance. Always refer to the project fire strategy and confirm requirements with the fire engineer. Rapid Access riser doors are tested to BS EN 1634-1 from both sides for 60 and 120 minutes.
Yes. Our access panels and riser doors are designed for installation during the drylining phase, after M&E first fix is complete. The frame is fixed into the structural opening and the panel fitted once the surrounding wall finish is applied. For retrofit situations or late additions, our picture frame profile is designed for installation into finished walls without disturbing the surrounding surface.
The access panel must be large enough to allow inspection, maintenance, and removal of the component behind it. As a general guide, allow a minimum 150mm clearance around the component on all sides. For fire dampers, check the manufacturer's maintenance access requirements — most require a minimum 600 x 600mm opening. Our technical team can help you determine the correct size based on your services layout.
Yes. Our acoustic-rated access panels achieve up to 45dB sound reduction, tested to BS EN ISO 10140-2. These are commonly specified in residential developments where Approved Document E requires acoustic separation between dwellings. We offer acoustic upgrades on both access panels and riser doors to meet your project's specific dB requirements.
We recommend finalising access panel locations during the detailed design stage, coordinating with the M&E layout drawings. Provide the drylining contractor with a schedule of access panel sizes, locations, and fire ratings before they begin. Our technical team can review your services coordination drawings and produce a door schedule to simplify procurement and installation.
Yes. We manufacture to your exact dimensions with no minimum order quantities. Bespoke panels are typically delivered within 5–10 working days. This is particularly useful when structural openings do not align with standard catalogue sizes, or when multi-panel configurations are required for large riser openings.
Building Control will typically require fire test certificates (BS EN 1634-1), declarations of performance, and confirmation that the installed product matches the tested configuration. We provide all test evidence as downloadable documents, and our technical team can prepare compliance packs for specific projects on request.
Yes. All fire-rated riser doors and access panels are supplied with factory-fitted intumescent seals as part of the tested assembly. The seals expand in a fire to maintain the integrity of the compartment wall. It is essential that the complete assembly — frame, door, seals, and ironmongery — matches the tested configuration to maintain the fire rating.
Yes. For large projects with phased programmes, we can hold stock and deliver on a call-off schedule to match your site requirements. Contact our team to set up a project delivery plan.
A riser door is designed for regular pedestrian-frequency access to services risers — typically larger openings with robust hinges, multi-point locking, and higher durability for repeated use. An access panel provides occasional maintenance access to concealed services through walls and ceilings — typically smaller openings with lighter-duty hardware. Both are available in fire-rated, acoustic-rated, and smoke-tested configurations.

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