Should My Access Panels Be Fire-Rated?

Critical systems such as electrical wiring, heating, and ventilation, whilst essential to the functional running of a building, can also pose fire risks. Whether you’re building a compact commercial premises or a detached residential property, fire-rated access panels can play a vital part in ensuring that the site meets the legal standards of fire safety.

What are fire-rated access panels?

Fire-rated access panels are designed to withstand the heat of a fire, and help to control the spread for a specified period of time. It’s vital to ensure the access panels within your building all meet the necessary requirements and fire rating for compliance and safety - especially if you're managing a commercial property or a public building.

Benefits of having fire-rated access panels

There are numerous important benefits to having fire-rated access panels. These include:

1. Containment. The most obvious benefit of fire-rated access panels is their performance in a fire. Although fire-rated panels do not mitigate the risk of a fire starting, they can be effective at reducing damage and containing the spread of a fire should one occur. This gives you time to put the fire out safely, as well as to ensure a safe building evacuation. Once the fire has been dealt with, the contained spread of the flames could also reduce your costs of repair!
2. Compliance. Many building codes and regulations require the installation of fire-rated access panels in certain areas of a building, particularly in fire-rated walls, ceilings, and floors. Compliance with these codes is crucial to ensure the safety of occupants and to meet legal requirements.
3. Protecting Internal Systems. Our fire-rated access panels are typically used to protect fuse boxes, electrical panels or other critical, yet fragile points of contact between you and your building's infrastructure. A fire-rated access panel protects these systems for longer, reducing the risk of major damage.

How do I install fire-rated access panels?

As well as new builds, our panels can be easily retrofitted into old and existing properties. Get in touch with our team today to find out more.

At Rapid Access, we offer a range of easy-to-install access panels offering up to 2 hours of fire protection. Explore our range of access panels and riser doors today - our fire-rated offerings include our standard square, rectangular, and circular metal, as well as plaster board, and electrical boxes. Browse our products today to find out more, or create your own bespoke access panel using our access panel builder. If you’re still unsure as to which access panel would be best for you, get in touch with our technical support team today via our online contact form or give them a call on 024 7632 8811.