Access Panels — Fire Rated, Acoustic & Smoke Tested

An access panel, also known as an access hatch or inspection hatch, is a removable or hinged cover installed in walls or ceilings to provide maintenance access to concealed building services such as plumbing, electrical wiring, HVAC ducting, fire dampers, and valves. Access panels are a critical component of the building envelope, maintaining fire compartmentation, acoustic separation, and airtightness while allowing safe, compliant, and discreet access for inspection, maintenance and emergency repair. Rapid Access manufactures metal faced, tile faced, and plasterboard faced access panels with fire ratings up to 4 hours / 240 minutes (BS476:1987, valid to 2029), acoustic performance up to 48dB, and airtight and smoke tested options, all manufactured in the UK to BS EN standards.

Last updated: February 2026 · Reviewed by Rapid Access Technical Team

Range Capabilities

Access Panels Performance
at a Glance

Wall and ceiling access panels engineered to perform across fire, smoke, airtight and acoustic ratings.

HR Fire Rated

BS476 (to 2029) / EN 1634-1

✓

Smoke Tested

BS EN 1634-3

✓

Airtight

BS EN 1026

dB Acoustic

BS EN ISO 10140-2

Mounting

Wall & Ceiling

Fire Test Standards

BS EN 1634-1BS EN 1364-2BS EN 1634-3

Door Faces

MetalPlasterboardTile

Frame Detail

Picture FrameBeaded Frame

Lock Options

Budget Lock3 Point LockKey LockFlipFix Flush

Door Configurations

SingleDouble

Product Range

The Full Access Panels
Product Range

Browse our curated selection grouped by performance tier. Click any product for full specifications, datasheets and CAD downloads.

Premium Range

Top of range performance. Highest fire, smoke and acoustic specifications.

R08/000/TD/BF/L11A

R08 Tile Door Access Panel

Premium bathrooms · Hotels

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

View details →

Mid Range

Balanced specification for most commercial applications.

FF/000/MD/PF/FL

FlipFix Metal, Picture Frame

Commercial · Office · Retail

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

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R01/000/MD/PF/L11A

R01 Reduced Ligature

Healthcare · Mental health · Custodial

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

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FF/000/PD/BF/BL

FlipFix Plasterboard

Commercial · Plasterboard walls

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

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R56/000/PD/BF/L11A

R56 Plasterboard Dual Purpose

Commercial · Plasterboard ceilings

Non ratedNoNo

PDF

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R56/090/PD/BF/L11A

R56 Plasterboard 90 min Fire Rated

Hotels · Healthcare · 90 min compartments

1hr 30mNoNo

PDF

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R56/120/PD/BF/L11A

R56 Plasterboard 2 hour Fire Rated

Healthcare · Education · 2 hour compartments

2hrNoNo

PDF

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FF/000/MD/PF/NL/LOD/CIR/SD04

FlipFix Circular Access Panel

Ductwork · Soffits · Curved details

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

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Budget Range

Cost effective performance for projects without the highest spec demands.

R07/000/MD/PF/L11A

R07 Shallow Gas Flue Inspection

Gas Flue · Service inspection

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

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R06/000/PD/BF/L11A

R06 Plasterboard Dual Purpose

Residential · Plasterboard walls

Non ratedNoNo

PDF

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FF/000/TD/BF/BL

FlipFix Tile Access Panel

Bathrooms · Wet rooms

Non ratedNoNo

PDF NBS

View details →

Benefits

Advantages of Access Panels

Access panels provide clean, concealed access to essential building services while maintaining fire compartmentation, acoustic separation, and a seamless interior finish.

Service Access Made Easy

Quick, reliable access to plumbing, electrical wiring, HVAC ducting, fire dampers and valves behind walls and ceilings without damaging surrounding finishes or compromising fire compartmentation. Whether you need a wall access panel or a ceiling access panel, every unit is designed for fast, non destructive service access.

Clean Interior Aesthetic

Flush fitting panels that blend seamlessly with surrounding surfaces. Choose from zintec steel metal faces, tile ready panels accepting tile and adhesive up to 20mm thick, or 12.5mm plasterboard faces for skim and paint finishes.

Versatile & Customisable

Standard sizes from 100x100mm up to 2400x900mm for walls and 2200x1800mm for ceilings. Need a non standard size? Bespoke and made to measure access panels are manufactured in as little as 3 to 5 working days.

Fire, Acoustic & Airtight Rated

Independently tested with ratings up to 4 hours / 240 minutes (BS476:1987, valid to 2029) and integrity ratings to BS EN 1634-1 and BS EN 1364-2. Acoustic performance up to 48dB. Airtight options tested to BS EN 1026. Smoke leakage tested to BS EN 1634-3. All with third party certification.

Easy to Install

Designed for straightforward installation with no specialist tools required. Reduces on site time and labour costs. Clear installation guides provided with every order, and on site technical support is available for larger projects.

Speeds Up Maintenance

Rapid access to building services for inspection, routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Hinged or removable options to suit your maintenance workflow. Reduces long term building operating costs.

Applications

Where Access Panels Are Used

Our access panels serve critical functions across a wide range of sectors and environments.

Commercial & Office

Corridors, suspended ceilings, partition walls and shop fit-outs.

Residential

Bathrooms, utility spaces, loft access and apartment risers.

Access panels in hospital corridors and wards

Healthcare & Hospitals

Wards, corridors, clean rooms and service voids.

Fire rated access panels in schools and universities

Education & Schools

Classrooms, halls, corridors and multi storey buildings.

Retail

Shopping centres, retail units, supermarkets and mixed use developments.

Access panels in hotel and leisure facilities

Hotel & Leisure

Hotels, spas, gyms, leisure centres and hospitality venues.

How It Works

From Enquiry to Delivery

A streamlined process designed for speed and precision, from initial consultation to site delivery.

Consultation

Discuss your project requirements, including sizes, ratings, quantities, and finishes with our technical team.

Specification

We provide a detailed specification sheet, CAD drawings, and a competitive quotation within 24 hours.

Manufacture

Panels are CNC cut, formed, assembled, and finished in our UK facility with full quality traceability.

Delivery

Nationwide delivery on palletised, shrink wrapped consignments. Standard lead time 3 to 5 working days.

Made in Britain

Formed, Welded, Coated & Tested
Under One Roof

Every access panel range is manufactured at our own facility in Nuneaton — steel forming, welding, powder coating and despatch, all under one roof.

Raw steel access panel frames entering the powder coating line — 01Steel frames formed

Grey powder-coated access panels on the paint line — 02Powder-coated finish

Finished access panel frames stacked on a trolley — 03Assembled in-house

Finished access panels on the packing conveyor before despatch — 04Packed for despatch

See inside the factory

Common Questions

Access Panel Frequently
Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about specifying, ordering and installing access panels.

What is an access panel and what is it used for?

An access panel is a removable or hinged cover installed in a wall or ceiling to provide maintenance access to concealed building services. These services typically include plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, HVAC ducting, fire dampers and shut off valves. Access panels are a critical part of the building envelope, they maintain fire compartmentation, acoustic separation and airtightness while allowing safe, compliant and discreet access for inspection, routine maintenance and emergency repairs.

What size access panel do I need?

The size depends on what you need to access behind the panel. As a general rule, the access panel should be at least 150mm larger than the item being accessed. Standard sizes range from 100x100mm up to 2400x900mm for walls and 2200x1800mm for ceilings. For non standard openings, bespoke and made to measure access panels are available to order.

Are your access panels fire rated?

Yes. Our access panels are independently tested with ratings up to 4 hours / 240 minutes (BS476:1987, valid to 2029) and integrity ratings to BS EN 1634-1 and BS EN 1364-2. Fire rated options are available in metal faced and plasterboard faced types, tile faced access panels are currently supplied non fire rated. All fire testing is carried out by accredited third party laboratories, and test reports are available for download.

What fire rating do I need for an access panel?

The required fire rating depends on the fire resistance of the wall or ceiling the access panel is being installed into. Under Building Regulations Approved Document B, access panels installed in fire rated compartment walls must achieve the same fire performance as the surrounding construction. Common requirements include 30 minutes for residential partition walls, 60 minutes for corridors and escape routes, and up to 120 minutes for high risk compartment penetrations and service duct access points in commercial and healthcare buildings.

Can I get an acoustic or airtight version?

Yes. Our metal faced access panels achieve acoustic performance up to 48dB, with plasterboard faced panels up to 31dB. Tile faced acoustic options are available on request. Airtight rated access panels are available in metal faced and plasterboard faced options, tested to BS EN 1026. Smoke tested variants are also available to BS EN 1634-3.

What is the difference between metal faced, tile faced and plasterboard faced access panels?

Metal faced access panels have a zintec steel face and are the most versatile, ideal for corridors, commercial ceilings, partition walls and shop fit-outs, offering the highest acoustic performance at up to 48dB. Tile faced access panels are designed to create a concealed tiled finish for bathrooms, kitchens and tiled corridors, accepting tile and adhesive up to 20mm thick on a 5mm moisture board (not watertight, so not suitable for wet rooms). Plasterboard faced access panels feature a 12.5mm plasterboard face that can be skimmed and painted to match surrounding drylining. Metal and plasterboard faced types are available with fire ratings up to 4 hours / 240 minutes (BS476:1987, valid to 2029); tile faced options are currently non fire rated.

Do I need special tools to install an access panel?

No specialist tools are required. Our access panels are designed for straightforward installation using standard site tools, typically a drill, screwdriver and spirit level. Each panel comes with clear installation instructions and all necessary fixings.

How quickly can I get my access panel order?

Standard access panels ship within 1 to 2 working days from order. Bespoke and made to measure panels are typically ready in 3 to 5 working days. For urgent requirements, contact our team about fast track options.

Can access panels be painted to match my walls?

Yes. Metal faced access panels can be painted with standard emulsion or specialist paint. Plasterboard faced panels are designed to be skimmed and painted as part of the surrounding wall or ceiling finish. Tile faced panels are designed to create a concealed tiled finish for bathrooms, kitchens and tiled corridors, accepting tile and adhesive up to 20mm thick on a 5mm moisture board.

Are access panels required by Building Regulations?

Access panels themselves are not mandated by Building Regulations, but the services they provide access to often are. Building Regulations Approved Document B (Fire Safety) requires that any penetration through a fire rated wall maintains the fire resistance of that element. Approved Document E may require acoustic rated access panels. Approved Document L may require airtight access panels where airtightness testing is specified.

Do you offer BIM objects and NBS specifications for access panels?

Yes. We provide Revit compatible BIM objects for all access panel types and sizes, available for free download. Our products are also listed on NBS Source with full specification clauses. We also offer CAD downloads (DWG and DXF), technical data sheets, fire test reports, and RIBA approved CPD seminars.

Built to Specification, Tested to Standard.

Access Panels Performance
at a Glance