Roof and floor hatches allow access through a building’s roof or floor. There are many different types of products. Most are made of metal and provide access over fixed ladders, ship stairs, or service stairs. Roof and floor hatches that are made of heavier-gauge metals and equipped with tamper-proof hinges are designed for use in high-security applications, banks, embassies, correctional facilities, and petrochemical plants. Roof hatches that admit daylight are not as secure, but can help illuminate interior rooms. Equipment hatches are designed to provide safe, unobstructed openings at facilities such as water treatment plants. Safety accessories for roof and floor hatches include railings, ladder posts, and netting that meet standards from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

Roof hatches provide access to a building’s roof so that personnel can maintain or replace equipment. A roof hatch consists of a heavy-duty cover, locking handle and inside handle, gasket and insulation, inner liner, hold-open arm, compression spring, hinges, and a curb cab. Roof hatch covers are made of aluminum, galvanized or stainless steel, or other weather-resistant materials. A seal is attached to the inside of the hatch cover to provide a tight fit. Roof hatch curbs are made of these same materials, but include a mounting flange and pre-drilled holes. Compression springs are used to open and close the roof hatch. A hold-open arm enables maintenance personnel to keep the cover in position. Latches for roof hatches have an inside handle and locks on both the inside and outside. Acrylic domes and louvered curbs are optional features.

There are many different types of floor hatches. Categories include angle-frame, channel-frame, recessed, and removable. Angle-frame floor hatches and removable floor hatches are designed for interior and exterior applications that do not require resistance to water. Angle-frame floor hatches have an automatic hold-open arm, but removable hatches do not. Instead, maintenance personnel use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the cover from the frame. Channel-frame floor hatches provide a drainage coupling, an integral anchor flange, and a hold-open arm. Recessed products are suitable for applications in which the floor hatch must blend into the surrounding material. They are designed for use with both concrete and ceramic floor coverings.