Insulated / Thermal

Thermal Performance,
From Edge to Edge.

An uninsulated hatch in an insulated ceiling is a hole in your thermal envelope. Our insulated loft hatches achieve U-values as low as 0.567 W/m²K — and our fire-insulation rated access panels combine integrity, insulation and EI thermal performance in a single tested product.

See Product Coverage Help Me Specify

024 7632 8811

Insulation matters in two distinct ways for access products. Thermally, an insulated loft hatch or panel preserves the U-value of the surrounding envelope element, preventing localised heat loss. In fire performance, the I in an EI rating measures the time the unexposed face stays cool enough not to ignite materials on the other side — a separate, equally important property.

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

The Basics

What does insulated mean?

Insulated access products carry one or both of two performance values:

Thermal U-value (W/m²K)

How much heat passes through the product per square metre per degree of temperature difference. Lower = better thermal performance. Our R12 insulated loft hatches achieve 0.567-0.760 W/m²K.

Fire insulation (I in EI)

How long the unexposed face stays cool under fire test conditions. EI60 means 60 minutes of integrity AND insulation. R02 fire & insulation panels carry an integrity rating of 90 minutes and an insulation rating of 60 minutes.

Where each matters

Thermal U-value matters at envelope penetrations — loft hatches, external service doors, plant-room enclosures. Fire insulation matters wherever combustible materials sit close to the unexposed face during a fire.

Product Coverage

Which products offer this performance?

Live coverage across our four product categories, drawn from the PIM master record.

Access Panels

range

R02 Fire & Insulation Rated Metal Access Panel

Browse all access panels

Riser Doors

No products in our current range offer this performance.

Loft Hatches

ranges

Insulated Metal Loft Hatch – Picture Frame – U Value 0.760 W/m²
Insulated Metal Loft Hatch – Beaded Frame – U Value 0.760 W/m²
Insulated Metal Loft Hatch with Ladder – Picture Frame – U-value 0.567 W/m²K

View product range

Meter Overboxes

No products in our current range offer this performance.

Test Standards

Independently tested

Every claim on this page is backed by an accredited test report supplied free with every order.

BS EN ISO 10211

Thermal bridges in building construction — heat flows and surface temperatures. The basis for U-value calculation of building components including hatches.

BS EN 1634-1 / 1364-2

Fire resistance tests that measure both integrity (E) and insulation (I) — the source of EI ratings.

BR 443 — Conventions for U-value calculations

BRE guidance used to derive the U-value figures supplied with our insulated products.

Where it's required

Building Regulations & Standards

UK regulations and codes that specify where this performance is required.

Approved Document L (Conservation of fuel and power)

Sets backstop U-values for elements of the thermal envelope. Insulated loft hatches help maintain the overall ceiling U-value at the hatch position.

Approved Document B (Fire safety)

Specifies where fire-insulation (EI rather than E-only) ratings are required — typically wherever combustible materials sit close to the unexposed face during a fire.

Passivhaus Standard

Requires very low U-values across the envelope. Insulated loft hatches with documented U-value test data are essential for Passivhaus certification.

Made in Britain

Formed, Welded, Coated & Tested
Under One Roof

Every panel, door and hatch is manufactured at our own facility in Nuneaton. No outsourcing, no middlemen, full control over quality and lead time.

Operator running an Amada press brake to form steel access panel components — 01 CNC press-braked steel

MIG welding a riser door frame on the fabrication bench — 02 MIG-welded frames

Access panels on the overhead conveyor of the in-house powder coating line — 03 In-house powder coating

Final inspection of an assembled riser door before despatch — 04 Inspected before despatch

See inside the factory

FAQ

Common questions

Answers to the questions specifiers and Building Control most often ask.

What's a good U-value for a loft hatch?

Part L backstop for new dwelling ceilings is 0.16 W/m²K. A loft hatch can't match that, but our best R12 insulated hatch achieves 0.567 W/m²K — a fraction of the U-value of an uninsulated hatch (typically 2-3 W/m²K) and orders of magnitude better than no hatch at all.

What's the difference between E60 and EI60?

E60 means 60 minutes of integrity only — the product holds back flame and hot gases. EI60 adds insulation — the unexposed face stays cool enough not to ignite combustible materials. EI is required wherever stored goods, finishes or building elements could be ignited by radiated heat from the unexposed face.

Are insulated loft hatches more expensive?

Marginally — but the extra cost is recouped quickly in heating bills, and on Part L or Passivhaus projects the insulated specification is non-negotiable. Our R12 range is competitively priced and supplied with full test data.

Can a single product be both thermally insulated and fire-insulation rated?

Yes — our R02 fire & insulation access panel and several R12 loft hatch variants combine documented U-values with EI60 fire ratings.

Free Download

Fire Rated Access Panel
Specification Guide

BS EN 1634-1 and BS EN 1364-2 fire ratings, sizing tables, NBS specification clauses and product selection guidance.

Free PDF

No spam, ever

RIBA approved