An access door is unlike any traditional door you can find in the market today. Its design is not for everyday use, and it has more similarities with a wall panel than a solid door. For this reason, many in the industry, mainly the contractors, refer to them as “access panels” because their function defines them better than their description.
What is an Access Door?
People from the construction industry frequently use access doors to safeguard critical components, such as valuables that require extra protection, such as electrical equipment. As a result, they come in various locks, coatings, springs, materials, and insulation levels. It’s crucial to ensure that each access door you install provides enough security and resolves any safety and privacy threats posed by the goods or areas it covers.
These doors have a recessed keyhole or a place for a locking structure to unlock the latch. It leaves your access doors flat with the rest of the surfaces they’re on, providing for a consistent interior design and uninterrupted foot flow.
Function
One can build access doors into the drywall or stucco of your building, or they can be flush with the ceiling tiles or flooring. They consistently serve as entry points, but because they reveal and guard so many distinct locations, each one should have qualities that don’t get in the way or add to the dangers or costs.
Ventilating slats on particular access doors allow air to flow, moderating internal temperatures and avoiding harmful heat or humidity accumulation. Others block and insulate to keep outside drafts out of inside rooms. Others, you can quickly install and remove, like removable access panels. Your access door’s hinges, latch, spring, and locking function all play a role in its performance.
Materials
There are various materials for your access doors, and they function well if you pair them correctly with the environment and their purpose. Suppose it’s located outside, in a prominent location, or near a heating device that poses a fire threat. In that case, it’s critical to select a material that will resist harsh circumstances without becoming an eyesore or a safety problem. Each of these doors is suitable for a particular set of purposes.
Aluminum: Aluminum access doors are often the cheapest, lightest, and easiest to install. Some include moisture-resistant inlaid drywall, which minimizes mold and mildew growth in indoor locations with plumbing fixtures or outdoor areas exposed to rainfall. Aluminum doors are suitable if there is no requirement for door steel doors because they need less time, cost, and effort to maintain and install.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel access doors offer optimum protection for safes and valuable equipment while still being beautiful and sturdy enough for high-traffic locations. If your entry door needs to be outside, stainless steel will survive severe temperatures and will not rust if exposed to salt spray like sea breezes.
It’s also the safest solution for access doors close to HVAC systems, electrical wiring, generators, and anything else with high temperatures or electrical currents because it’s not an electrical and heat conductor.
Galvanized steel: Scratch-resistant, anti-corrosive, and weather-resistant properties are all advantages of galvanized steel. These qualities, however, aren’t permanent. Unlike stainless steel, which has a coating throughout with long-lasting chromium and nickel, galvanized steel has a thin layer of zinc. This coating will diminish over time, but this will not happen if you choose a stainless steel finish.
Common Options
Here are the typical access door options you can find in the market today if you’re considering one for your next project:
Drywall access doors are inserted inside drywall to access cables, pipes, insulation, or ducts hidden inside the wall.
Fire-rated access doors aid in keeping intense heat from flowing through, and some can survive smoke and flames for a certain period.
Security access doors come in various types, from medium-grade security to heavy-duty, maximum security systems. These give an extra layer of safety for crucial equipment in hospitals and jails. They frequently lead to safes in homes and offices.
Selecting the Right Access Door
Whether you’re constructing a small or a large building, the design and functionality of the access doors are critical to the structure’s safety. Pay special attention to the requirements of your building project like the location, the material, the size, and the cost of the access door before considering any decision.
Having an access door is now typically necessary for most modern buildings due to their usefulness and security. It provides a quick way for your maintenance personnel to install, remove, and repair equipment or any installation to upkeep your building. Due to its critical function, you should only trust a licensed professional when you’re selecting one for your next project.
