Inspection door access hatches are used for a wide variety of purposes in commercial, industrial and residential applications. In manufacturing centres, they’re used to provide maintenance engineers with access to critical machinery and production staff with access to assembly line material flows. In commercial settings, they’re installed in walls and ceilings to allow HVAC technicians and other building maintenance staff access to heating and air conditioning equipment. In residential properties, some homeowners install inspection door access hatches to make it easier to inspect and maintain roofs. When purchasing an inspection door access hatch for any of these purposes, it’s crucial to choose the right material, as we’re about to discover.

Why Material Choice Matters

When procuring inspection door access hatches, particularly for commercial and industrial applications, it’s very important to consider the materials from which they are made. Access hatches should be manufactured from materials that will prove to be durable and safe in the environments where they’re destined to be used. This last point is key. What is safe to use in one environment may not be safe to use in another. For example, aluminium could be a great choice for some applications, but if your inspection door access hatches must be able to withstand heavy impacts, a stronger material would be indicated.

Key Considerations for Material Selection

Before specifying and sourcing new inspection door access hatches, consider these factors carefully:

  • Local Environmental Conditions – The conditions your inspection door access hatches need to be able to cope with should inform your choice of material. For example, if you need doors for a building in a coastal location, stainless steel could be the best choice. A carbon steel hatch would quickly corrode if exposed to such conditions.
  • Load-Bearing Requirements – In some cases, inspection door access hatches must be able to bear the weight of one or more people, owing to the locations in which they’re installed. In such cases, stronger materials will be preferable.
  • Building Standards & Regulations – You must ensure that all access hatches conform to state and federal regulations, including any that are specific to your industry or line of business.

The inspection door access hatches you buy and install must measure up on all counts. Don’t be tempted to compromise to save a few dollars: make the right choice the first time, and you won’t have to fork out for new access hatches in just a few years.

Commonly Used Materials and Their Benefits

Before you start evaluating individual models and the materials they’re made from, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the most common materials used in inspection access door hatches and their benefits.

  • Carbon Steel – It’s strong and relatively inexpensive but vulnerable to corrosion, especially in certain environments. However, when coated, it may prove to be a sufficiently durable option for many industrial and commercial applications in Australia.
  • Stainless Steel – Stainless steel is also strong, but it’s not quite such a bargain buy as carbon steel. It does, however, provide significantly improved protection against rust in corrosive environments. If you need the strength of steel but you’re concerned about corrosion, stainless steel is probably your best option.
  • Thermoplastic Polymer – Thermoplastic polymers such as ABS have much to recommend them. They’re lightweight, resistant to UV light and very durable in a variety of harsh environments.
  • Fibreglass – Fibreglass is another lightweight option that’s even more durable than ABS in certain conditions. Good-quality fibreglass access hatches can be impact-resistant as well.
  • Rubber – Rubber is a great choice when you need a really good seal. It doesn’t suffer from corrosion issues, and quality rubber hatches should be able to withstand temperatures up to 200°C.

Now you’re familiar with the most commonly used materials in the fabrication of inspection door access hatches, and you’ve considered your requirements carefully, it’s time to make your choice.

Choosing the Right Material for Your Inspection Door Access Hatches

Having considered all the relevant factors and evaluated the different materials from which inspection door access hatches are made, you probably already have a good idea of what you’re going to order. But before making a final decision, think about the benefits you hope to enjoy by picking the perfect material and type of inspection door access hatch.

  • Ease of Maintenance – When fitting new inspection door access hatches, you want to make sure they’ll serve you well for many years. Choosing a material capable of standing up to local environmental conditions is therefore essential as we’ve discussed, but you should also ensure the material you choose can easily be cared for by your technicians to avoid future maintenance issues.
  • Cost Savings – Ideally, the material you choose will be so durable and easy to maintain that it will help you reduce running costs at your facility. If you have any doubts in this regard, we suggest revisiting your options before making a decision.
  • Reliability – Inspection door access hatches need to operate without issue every time they’re used. If you choose hatches made from a material that makes it difficult to open and close them in local conditions, you’re going to have to replace them sooner rather than later.

An inspection door access hatch that’s easy for your engineers to maintain helps you save money on running costs, and always works as intended will be a great choice.

What to Do if You’re Still Not Sure?

If you’ve reached this point and you’re still not sure what material your inspection door access hatches should be made of, remember you’re looking for a material that will prove to be safe, durable and fully compliant with relevant regulations once the doors have been fitted in your property. If you need help deciding, we recommend consulting with experts such as ourselves. You’re welcome to call Bend Tech Group to discuss your inspection door access hatch requirements during business hours. Alternatively, feel free to send us a message requesting a call back from one of our specialists at a time that’s convenient for you.