The Importance of Access

How Access Panels Have Made Homes Safer

We might see them every day, but we rarely stop to think about how access panels make our homes safer. It’s hard to say when access panels became common, but the development of building codes and practises, along with new utilities like electricity and central heating, made quick access to those hard-to-reach essentials important for any building. From everyday upkeep to lifesaving measures, how do access panels make our homes safer?

Maintenance

One of the most important functions of access panels is that they give you the ability to repair and maintain your utilities at any time. Just like lifting up the hood of your car to check the engine, access panels let you respond to quick issues around the house, whether to flip the circuit breaker off to fix a lightbulb or take pictures of damage to pass on to a specialist. Some of the most common utility problems in the house that access panels help solve include:

• Electrical, like faulty wiring. Access panels allow you to squeeze behind walls to fix hidden issues like these.
• Plumbing, since access panels allow you to get up close and personal with pipes to detect clogs or leaks.
• Ventilation on larger buildings, allowing for regular cleaning and maintenance of a vital safety mechanism.

Emergency Response

Speaking of safety mechanisms, access panels don’t just keep us safe in the long term. They also let us respond to emergencies efficiently, meaning identifying and resolving issues has never been quicker. Sometimes, access panels will also let emergency responders react to natural disasters much quicker.

For example, in a flood, an access panel will allow emergency responders or a flood repair team to quickly disable the electrical circuits, limiting risks for themselves or others. It could also allow them to search for missing people in vents or ducts, if needed. In a fire, responders could similarly use access panels to quickly shut the gas supply off and prevent a devastating explosion.

Fireproofing

Fireproofing is an important feature of access panels that prevent or limit fire damage to important utilities, preventing further damage. Fire-rated access panels are designed to stand up to a flame’s heat for a certain amount of time – between thirty minutes and four hours, depending on your needs.

 That means that your utilities, the contents of your house, and sometimes, even your family, is given a fighting chance while emergency responders arrive. Fire-rated access panels come in many different shapes and sizes, including loft access panels that can halt the impact of a fire from within and without. Meanwhile, utility access panels protect vital in-home infrastructure from damage, saving you money on fire damage repairs in the long-run.

Rapid Access Ltd. is the UK’s premiere supplier of access panels to everyday homeowners and commercial buildings alike. With a range of options, from meter over boxes to the innovative FlipFix panels, fire rating certificates to suit your specifications, we’ve always got something to help you keep your home or business as safe as possible. Rapid Access is proud to supply bespoke solutions through our interactive panel builder, or answer any questions you might have about your next access panel through our Contact page.