Important Access Door Construction Requirements To Follow

Installing the necessary components and systems is essential to creating a perfect construction. Electrical, plumbing, fire prevention, ventilation, and HVAC are just a few examples of building systems and components. On the other hand, contractors can only operate if they provide adequate protection from various factors. 

 

Installing the best access doors in a building is one approach to keep those components safe. Access panels are an essential part of the installation process for air ducts, which must meet several safety and maintenance requirements. All critical considerations are finding the right access panels, putting them in the right places, and ensuring they comply with local building requirements. 

 

 

How Buildings Use Different Kinds of Access doors   

 

Security Access Doors. Facilities that maintain the highest level of security can benefit significantly from installing security access doors. Most of the time, these panels are made of sturdy materials and have locks that You can't break. It keeps people from getting into important areas behind walls that aren't supposed to. Security access panels are available in medium, high, and fire-rated security levels and can be used in jails, correctional facilities, housing projects, and more. 

 

Sound-Rated Access Doors. In addition to being easy to maintain and use, a sound-rated access panel makes facilities more private by reducing or controlling noise. With high-quality insulation, sound-rated access panels usually meet the requirements for walls to keep noise inside and stop sound from getting through. They can be installed in places like courts (GSA acoustic isolation ratings), learning spaces like music rooms and theaters, hospitals (HIPAA requirements for patient privacy), and schools (LEED enhanced acoustical performance credits). 

 

Fire-rated access doors. Fire-rated panels are used in buildings to help keep people safe in case of fire. It gives you more than easy access to all the building's fixtures. Its main job is to stop heat and smoke from moving from one door to another when there is a fire. Fire-rated doors have a fire rating of between 48 and 72 hours and can close and lock themselves. For fire doors to be up to code, they must be NFPA-compliant. 

 

Airtight and watertight access doors. Access doors that don't let air or water get tested for air and water leakage. The door and frame are welded and sealed all the way around. These doors are great for places where an airtight and watertight seal is needed, like labs, clean rooms, and operating rooms. They are also used for exterior installations, protecting building parts from the weather and temperature outside. 

 

 

4 Access Door Requirements That You Must Comply With 

 

Planning a construction project, whether for a business or your residence, requires accurate measurements and following standards for access doors properly. It will boost the overall security of your structure and make ducts more accessible when needed. 

 

 

1. Construction and Installation.  

 

You must consider code requirements at every step of the building and setting up. Regardless of whether your access panel is for the kitchen or a fire-rated enclosure, it must meet the following requirements: 

 

• A tight-fitting steel door that meets the thickness requirements for your unique duct system 

• Opening that does not require a tool to reach 

• A tight-fitting steel door that satisfies the thickness requirements for your specific duct system 

 

Fire-safe walls, enclosures, and ducts should also meet the International Building Code's fire-resistance and accessibility requirements (IBC). The International Building Code (IBC) says that a fire-resistant frame, shaft, or enclosure should have a fire-rated access door around it. In some systems, fire resistance for only one hour is enough. 

 

 

2. Location 

 

When it comes to the location of your access door, it all depends on the type of door it is, the space or equipment it will allow access to, and the actual building configuration. Depending on how easy it is to get to the sides, you should put an access panel in a horizontal duct on one of the sides of the very top. It's a bad idea to put it at the bottom of the page. You must install access doors at the top of vertical risers, such as exhaust vents and ducts. If you are putting access panels on all of your ducts, you must put in a new access door every 12 feet from the center of each new duct. 

 

The site is only safe if the surrounding area is also clear. Structures, wires, machinery, or other physical obstructions shouldn't interfere with your access panel or duct construction. 

 

 

3. Size 

 

The type of duct determines your access door's thickness it will be protecting. California Mechanical Code section 303.9 says that roof access panels must have a clearance of at least 30 inches to allow safe access to any equipment or enclosure on the roof.  

 

The bottom of each duct should have a one-and-a-half-inch lip, while the top and sides should each have an inch.  

 

Your access panel must be at least 20 inches wide by 20 inches high if a person crawls through the aperture to get access. It is the minimum requirement for allowing personnel admittance. It is the best situation, but if it isn't possible, they should be big enough to clean and spaced out every 12 feet across the whole room or building. 

 

 

4. Visibility 

 

Since fuse boxes and safes don't have much room, their access doors usually blend in with the rest of the room. Since the panels have recessed keyholes, matte finishes, flush frames, and hinges, they fit right into the wall and don't stand out or get in the way of regular foot traffic. 

 

Commercial access doors, particularly those used to access ducts hidden behind walls and ceilings, aren't usually reliable in this regard. Avoid fire threats by following the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) visibility regulations and immediately detect and open access panels for quick access (NFPA).  

 

You must have a sign identifying your access panel and instructing others to leave the space clear following the NFPA construction requirements and CMC Section 510.1.5. The phrase "access panel – do not obstruct" should be written in all capital letters on your sign. 

 

Takeaway 

All businesses need access doors for customers, employees, and delivery people. But not all access door features are equal. You must follow specific requirements to ensure the safety of your customers and employees. Look for perfect the access door for your business and ensure it meets all the necessary safety requirements. 

 

Don't waste time and turn to Access Doors and Panels right away! We have a team of product experts that will guide you throughout the process to ensure you get the right product you require. Place your orders now at (800) 609-2917. Need more content about commercial construction? Check out our informative blogs today!