Riser doors give safe, discreet access to the vertical service shafts that carry electrical, plumbing, data and HVAC services through a building. They keep fire compartmentation intact while engineers get routine access floor by floor.
Choose metal or plasterboard riser doors, fire rated up to 2 hours, including doors fire rated from both sides and a model with fire rated insulation. Acoustic ratings run from 30dB to 48dB, with airtight and smoke tested options. Every door is made to order and despatched within 3 to 5 working days. Build a made to measure riser door in our configurator, or request a quote for your door schedule.
Every riser door we supply is made to measure. Use the online configurator to choose a metal or plasterboard door, set the fire rating, add acoustic or airtight options, then enter your exact opening size and order online in minutes.
Riser doors are essential for modern building design, providing discreet and secure access to service shafts that contain electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Designed to integrate seamlessly into walls and riser cupboards, they allow essential maintenance access without compromising fire safety, acoustic performance, or the overall finish of a space.
Available in a range of fire-rated, acoustic-rated, and airtight options, riser doors are built to meet the demands of commercial and residential environments where compliance, durability, and aesthetics all matter.
What is a riser cupboard?
A riser is the vertical shaft that carries services up through a building. On each floor it is closed off by a riser cupboard, usually in a corridor or communal area, holding electrical distribution, water pipework, soil stacks, data cabling or ventilation ductwork. Because the shaft runs through every floor, it can carry fire and smoke between compartments, so the riser cupboard door has to give the same fire resistance as the wall it sits in.
Riser doors and dry risers
A dry riser is something different: an empty firefighting main that the fire service charges with water. Its inlet and outlet cabinets are in our dry riser cabinets range, and our dry riser cabinets guide explains the regulations.
Fire rated riser doors are non-negotiable in many UK building scenarios, particularly in escape routes and where fire compartmentation is required.
Integrity & insulation:
Our range includes doors tested to BS EN standards, offering ratings like 90 minutes integrity / 60 minutes insulation (EI9060) or 2 hours integrity (E120). Integrity prevents the passage of flames and hot gases, while insulation limits heat transfer through the door, protecting escape routes and preventing fire spread through heat radiation.
Testing standards
Look for doors tested according to BS EN 1634-1 and BS EN 1363-1, the relevant UK and European standards for fire resistance.
Smoke control
Some models are also Smoke Tested (BS EN 1634-3), crucial for preventing the spread of dangerous smoke through buildings.
In commercial offices, residential apartments, or healthcare settings, controlling noise transfer is vital.
The frame type dictates how the riser door integrates with the wall.
For energy-efficient buildings, airtightness is key. Specific riser door models are tested for air permeability (e.g., to BS EN 1026), contributing to the overall airtightness of the building envelope.
Access Panels Direct specialises in bespoke access panels, offering tailored sizes and configurations to meet your unique project requirements.
Riser doors provide essential access across a wide spectrum of
UK buildings:
Technical drawing
For: Plasterboard riser door 2 hours fire rated – airtight – 30dB acoustic
Technical drawing
For: Metal riser door – 2 hour fire rated (from both sides) – smoke tested – 36dB acoustic
Technical datasheet
For: Metal riser door – 2 hour fire rated (from both sides) – smoke tested – 36dB acoustic
Technical datasheet
For: Plasterboard riser door 2 hours fire rated – airtight – 30dB acoustic
Technical datasheet
For: Riser door – 90 mins fire rated and 60 mins fire rated insulation (from both sides) – 48dB acoustic
We offer a specific range of riser doors that are fire rated, tested to UK and European standards (BS EN 1634-1). These include options with 90-minute integrity / 60-minute insulation and 2-hour integrity ratings. It’s essential to check the specification of each product to ensure it meets your project’s fire safety requirements and legal compliance needs. Non-fire-rated access panels are also available for other applications.
We’re able to manufacture air tight access panels however, at a higher cost. These access panels have been tested in accordance with EN 1634-3:2004 & BS 5368: Part 1:1976.
Yes, we offer specific riser door models that have been acoustically tested (to BS EN ISO 10140-2) and provide certified levels of sound reduction, ranging from 30dB up to 48dB. Check the product specification for the exact acoustic rating if sound insulation is a key requirement for your wall installation.
As standard, our access panels come with a tee-key, we do offer different locking options if required. Please contact us or choose these at checkout.
The most concealed access panel we have for sale is the plasterboard beaded frame.
Can’t find the size you require on our website? Contact us, we guarantee we can manufacture an access panel to suit your project requirements.
Our website lists standard sizes and our standard finish is RAL 9010 30% Gloss. However, we understand that projects often have unique needs. We also offer bespoke riser doors and custom manufacturing services. Please contact our sales team directly on 01922 313518 or email sales@accesspanelsdirect.net to discuss your specific size, finish, or feature requirements.
Unfortunately we do not manufacture waterproof access panels.
Unfortunately we do not sell Access Panels that can be used on the floor. However, we do sell Floor Access Covers.
We can custom manufacture tiled access panels to suit your project requirements, please contact us for a quotation.
If you order a stocked size online, there is no manufacturing involved and you will receive your access panel within 1 to 2 working days. Made to order products show their own despatch time on the product page.
We offer free next day delivery if you order before 2:30pm (12pm on Friday). If not next day, we aim to deliver within 48 hours.
Firstly, sorry your access panel has arrived damaged, this is uncommon. Please contact us immediately with photographic evidence and we will gladly get a replacement to you.
The choice depends on your project requirements:
We offer multiple Access Panel types. Our FlipFix easy installation range are the most popular due to their revolutionary and unique FlipFix mechanism.
The standard colour of our access panels is RAL9010 white however, we can powder coat the access panel in almost any RAL colour required. An alternative option is for us to dust prime the access panel which allows the consumer to paint the panel themselves.
Beaded frames are frames which can be plastered over, whereas picture frames is retrofit and no plastering will be required.
A dual purpose access panel is an access panel that can be installed in both a wall or ceiling. Most of our stock panels are dual purpose however, we don’t recommend installing the plastic access panel in a ceiling.
Plasterboard doors with beaded frames are used when you need to plaster over the door and the frame, so all you will see is the outline of the panel in the wall or ceiling. This looks very neat and tidy.
Picture frames are 25mm frames around an access panel and the frame will be visible when installed therefore, you don’t have to worry about how neat the hole is. The beaded frame allows you to plaster over it, so all you see is the white door and no frame.
A riser door is designed to safely conceal vertical service shafts (risers) in a building, housing things like electrical wiring, plumbing, and data cables, while providing secure and easy access for essential maintenance, inspection, and repair work. They also play a crucial role in maintaining fire safety compartmentation and acoustic performance within the wall system.
You’re able to use glue to secure the plastic access panel in place.
The time to install our access panels is dependant on which access panel you’re referring to. Our FlipFix range can take approximately 10-15 minutes, whereas standard access panels can take up to 30-45 minutes.
Structural opening is the size of the hole in your wall / ceiling.
The best example would be if you’re ordering a 600 x 600mm Access Panel, then you will need to make the hole in the wall or ceiling (the structural opening) 605 x 605mm. (5mm larger than the panel size).
From hospitals and schools to hotels and housing, our panels are specified wherever building services need clean, secure access.
projects in this sector
of new builds need a loft hatch
Enjoy the assurance of top quality with every purchase at Access Panels Direct. Our products, including a wide range of access panels available, offer numerous advantages.
