Specifying Floor Hatches

Floor hatches, or floor access doors, are indispensable for accessing underground spaces, mechanical systems, or storage areas in both commercial and residential settings. Designed for functionality and durability, Surespan’s range of floor hatches has become a trusted choice for architects, builders, and contractors. With extensive expertise and a commitment to innovation, Surespan offers customisable solutions that meet the specific demands of modern construction projects in the UK and beyond.

Types of Floor Hatches and Key Features

Surespan’s floor hatches cater to various project requirements, with options suitable for internal and external applications.

Material Options

Products are available in aluminium, stainless steel (grades 304 and 316), and galvanised steel, providing strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion.

Load Ratings

Surespan floor hatches are classified from light pedestrian use to heavy-duty vehicular loading, compliant with FACTA (Fabricated Access Covers Trade Association) standards. The W8 class, for example, supports docklands traffic with wheel loads up to 158 kN.

Cover Types

• Recessed Lids: Designed to accommodate infill materials such as laminate, wood, concrete, plywood, and tiling for seamless floor integration. This flexibility makes recessed hatches ideal for maintaining aesthetic consistency across various environments.
• Chequer Plate and Plain Plate Lids: Available for slip resistance or a flush aesthetic finish, these lids are ideal for industrial or commercial applications.
• Flush and Self-Draining Lids: Ideal for external use where drainage is required, with integrated systems to manage water ingress.

Specialised Floor Hatches

Within the broader product categories, Surespan also provides:

• Fire Rated Floor Hatches: Models like the EHDC comply with BS EN 1634-1 standards, offering up to 4 hours of fire protection for areas such as basements and plant rooms.
• Acoustical Floor Hatches: Designed to reduce noise transmission, these hatches are rated up to 45 dB, making them suitable for high-traffic public areas or commercial buildings.
• Glass Floor Hatches: Surespan’s Horizon walk-on glass hatches combine aesthetics and functionality, with manual or electric operation for access while providing a sleek, transparent finish.

Operation Options

• Manual: Gas-spring assisted, suitable for smaller hatches or pedestrian areas.
• Electric and Hydraulic: Available for larger or heavy-duty hatches, offering smooth operation with battery backup options for safety during power failures.

How to Specify Floor Hatches

When specifying a floor hatch, architects should consider the following:

• Structural and Load Requirements: Determine the required load rating based on the intended use, whether for pedestrian, vehicular, or industrial applications.
• Regulations: Ensure compliance with UK standards for fire resistance, safety, and slip resistance, such as BS EN 1634-1 (fire safety) and BS 4592 (anti-slip and durability requirements).
• Size and Customisation: Surespan offers bespoke sizing for all floor hatches, ensuring compatibility with project specifications and site conditions.
• Thermal Efficiency: For external applications, consider insulated hatches like the RSI model, which reduces heat loss with a 0.43 W/m2K insulation rating.
• Safety Features: Options such as hold-open stays and secure locking systems are essential in public or high-traffic areas.

Top Considerations When Specifying a Floor Hatch

When specifying a floor hatch, a range of factors should be considered to ensure the solution meets the project’s specific functional, safety, and aesthetic requirements. Below is an expanded list of key considerations:

When specifying a floor hatch, architects should consider the following:

• Structural and Load Requirements: Determine the required load rating based on the intended use, whether for pedestrian, vehicular, or industrial applications.
• Regulations: Ensure compliance with UK standards for fire resistance, safety, and slip resistance, such as BS EN 1634-1 (fire safety) and BS 4592 (anti-slip and durability requirements).
• Size and Customisation: Surespan offers bespoke sizing for all floor hatches, ensuring compatibility with project specifications and site conditions.
• Thermal Efficiency: For external applications, consider insulated hatches like the RSI model, which reduces heat loss with a 0.43 W/m2K insulation rating.
• Safety Features: Options such as hold-open stays and secure locking systems are essential in public or high-traffic areas.

Top Considerations When Specifying a Floor Hatch

When specifying a floor hatch, a range of factors should be considered to ensure the solution meets the project’s specific functional, safety, and aesthetic requirements. Below is an expanded list of key considerations:

Floor Hatch Standards For UK and EU

Surespan’s floor hatches are designed to meet stringent UK and EU standards, ensuring safety, performance, and compliance across various applications. Below are key regulatory areas that Surespan products adhere to:

Fire Resistance

• Products like the EHDC floor hatch comply with BS EN 1634-1, providing up to 4 hours of fire protection. This makes them suitable for use in areas requiring fire containment, such as basements and plant rooms.
• Additional compliance with BS 476 ensures resistance to both fire penetration and thermal insulation under extreme conditions.

Slip Resistance

• Chequer plate finishes meet the requirements of BS 4592, offering anti-slip properties essential for pedestrian areas, particularly in commercial and industrial environments.
• Optional SureGrip anti-slip coatings are available for models like the Horizon Glass Hatch, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards for public spaces.

Load and Structural Standards

• Surespan floor hatches conform to BS EN 1991-1-1 (Eurocode 1) for load-bearing requirements, ensuring structural safety for various applications, from light pedestrian use to heavy vehicular traffic (e.g., W8 loading classification).
• For vehicular areas, heavy-duty hatches like the EHDC meet requirements for FACTA load classes, ensuring reliable performance under intense loads.

Acoustic Standards

• Acoustic-rated floor hatches, such as the RSI and Horizon Glass Hatch, are designed to reduce sound transmission and comply with BS EN ISO 10140-2, achieving ratings of up to 45 dB. This is crucial for high-traffic or noise-sensitive environments like offices, educational facilities, and public spaces.

Thermal Efficiency

• Insulated floor hatches, such as the RSI model, align with Part L of the UK Building Regulations, ensuring energy efficiency by minimising heat loss. Thermal insulation ratings as low as 0.43 W/m2K meet stringent environmental standards for modern construction.

Drainage and Waterproofing

• Self-draining floor hatches like the SAC and EHDC comply with BS EN 12056-3, which governs the design and layout of drainage systems for buildings, ensuring effective water management in external installations.
• Waterproof hatches meet IP67 ingress protection standards, ensuring they are resistant to water and dust ingress, particularly in harsh external environments.

Health and Safety

• Compliance with Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 ensures that hatches are designed to minimise risks during operation and maintenance.
• Electrically or hydraulically operated models reduce the strain of lifting, contributing to a safer working environment for maintenance personnel.
• Hold-open stays and anti-fall mechanisms on larger hatches align with safety requirements to prevent accidents during use.

Surespan’s Floor Hatch Comparison Table

Floor Hatch Installation Guidance and Best Practices

Installing floor hatches requires careful preparation and attention to ensure optimal functionality and longevity. While exact steps depend on the product, here are the key points to consider:

Preparation

• Ensure the structural opening matches the frame size and is level. Address uneven surfaces with grout or packing to achieve a flush installation.
• Inspect all components, including gas springs, hinges, and actuators, to confirm they are intact and ready for installation.

Frame Fixing

• Align the frame carefully within the structural opening, ensuring it sits level with the finished floor level (FFL).
• Use corrosion-resistant fixings to secure the frame, and for external hatches, connect integrated drainage systems to prevent water ingress.

Final Adjustments

• Test the hatch by opening and closing it to ensure smooth operation. For electric or hydraulic models, verify that actuators and power packs function as intended.
• For recessed hatches, install the chosen infill material (e.g., tiles, laminate, or concrete) for seamless integration with the surrounding floor.

Best Practices

• Avoid allowing debris or grout to interfere with hinges or moving components.
• Use appropriate lifting equipment for heavy hatches to minimise risks during installation.
• Ensure adequate drainage for external applications to prevent pooling around the hatch.

For detailed product-specific instructions, access Surespan’s Floor Hatch Resource Centre, where you can find downloadable BIM and CAD drawings, specifications, and installation guides for a wide range of floor hatches, including Recessed (HIAC), Flush (SAC), Heavy Duty (EHDC), and more. These resources are invaluable for architects, engineers, and contractors.

Floor Hatch Case Studies

Surespan’s floor hatches have been installed in a variety of high-profile projects, demonstrating their versatility, durability, and bespoke design capabilities. Below are some key examples:

Sri Lanka Plant Room Access

A large 6500 x 4100 mm hatch was installed to provide heavy-duty industrial access for a plant room in Sri Lanka. This project highlighted Surespan’s ability to deliver large-scale, high-load capacity solutions for critical infrastructure.

Westfield Shopping Centre, London

Surespan supplied a bespoke double-leaf flush floor hatch for the iconic Westfield Shepherd’s Bush shopping centre in London. Located in the atrium of the ￡1.6 billion development, the hatch measured 21ft 4″ by 14ft 9″ and was designed to accommodate granite infill. The hatch features hydraulic operation with an electrically driven power pack and can withstand axle loads of up to 2500 kilograms, making it ideal for the high-traffic retail environment.

Yale University Wright Laboratory, USA

As part of Yale University’s laboratory renovation, Surespan manufactured a bespoke stainless steel flush floor hatch measuring 2.7m x 4.5m (9ft x 15ft). This heavy-duty hatch was engineered to withstand slow-moving wheel loads of up to 17 tons and featured SureGrip, an anti-slip coating. Its hydraulic operation and integration with an electrically driven power pack ensured safe and efficient usage in this modern astrophysical research facility. These case studies illustrate Surespan’s ability to deliver tailored solutions for a wide range of applications, from commercial shopping centres to world-class educational facilities. For more details on these and other projects, visit Surespan’s Case Studies Page.

Conclusion: Surespan’s Commitment to Excellence

Surespan’s versatile range of floor hatches delivers the highest standards in safety, performance, and design. Architects specifying hatches can rely on Surespan’s bespoke solutions, detailed technical resources, and compliance with all relevant UK regulations. Explore the Floor Hatch Resource Centre for BIM files, CAD drawings, and product data to simplify specification and ensure a seamless project delivery.