MARAUS floor hatches designed to create an invisible entrance to basements, cellars, basement stories, and technical rooms of mostly private houses. However, thanks to a number of additional options, it can be manufactured in large sizes and is suitable for some industrial facilities without excessive humidity. The main aspect that distinguishes this hatch from the rest of the line is the insulation of the lid, weight-adjustable gas springs and a damper (damping of the spring stroke at the end of opening the hatch). It is also possible to use MARAUS outdoors, but under a covering and under the condition of limiting constant contact with water.
The MARAUS floor hatchis designed for facing with very heavy materials up to 30 mm thick and medium weight materials, granite, onyx, natural stone, ceramic granite, ceramic tile, vinyl tile, laminate, linoleum or other materials of similar weight.
The structure of the hatch consists of a steel corner frame and a lid connected by a Navvy® axial hinge. The hinge has a closed bucket, where a part of the lid enters when the hatch is fully opened. Opening is semi-automatic and is provided by gas springs.
The steel corner frame is 40x40x3 mm in size, to which the hinge bucket is attached. The frame of the lid is made of a 20x40x1.2 mm steel profile, which is internally connected by steel stiffeners that strengthen the lid and protect it from deformation under heavy loads. A steel sheet covers the top of the frame. A 15x15.1.2 mm pipe is welded from above the frame of the lid. In this way, a tray with a depth of 15 mm is formed for pouring with concrete mortar or tile glue, in which a reinforced mesh is additionally placed. A galvanized steel sheet is attached from below, which prevents the structure from collapsing when condensation forms. Inside, the voids are filled with URSA GEO sound and thermal insulation, which is made of environmentally friendly and non-combustible materials.
Rubber sealer is placed between the surface of the lid and the corner of the frame, which is attached around the perimeter of the lid. Depth of the floor hatch in the closed condition near the hinge is 90 mm, near the holders of shock absorbers - 155 mm, near the frame - 40 mm.
Profiles for MARAUS hidden floor floor hatches are made exclusively from electrowelded carbon cold-rolled black steel, which undergoes phosphate treatment and is covered with polyester powder paint, which ensures its anti-corrosion. Welds are made by the MIG method according to the international standard DIN EN ISO 5817.
WARNING!!! If the planned covering is laminate, parquet, parquet board or linoleum, instead of a steel sheet and a reinforced mesh, a sheet of moisture-resistant OSB is installed in the lid.
The floor hatch lid opens semi-automatically perpendicular to the floor at 90° with the help of adjustable industrial gas shock absorbers fixed on special holders. Based on information about the material, weight and area of the coating, our engineer determines the required load level, and the production specialists adjust the volume of nitrogen in the gas shock absorbers personally for you, for equally easy closing and opening of the hatch! Gas springs are equipped with a damper that dampens the stroke when the opening process ends. This is especially relevant for large hatch sizes and prevents damage to the facing material if the hatch is opened abruptly.
In addition, the hatch is equipped with a rotary lock that can be opened and closed with a special key both from the outside and from the inside. To open the hatch, you need to use a lifting handle that screws into the thread on the key hole.
To open the floor hatch:
The number of gas shock absorbers to be installed on the hatch is determined at the factory, after the calculation of the load level based on information about the material, weight, area of the hatch covering and the side of the hinges.
Navvy® hinges provide for the possibility of emergency disassembly of the lid.
The minimum possible size of the structure with one lid is 600 L x 500 W mm, where W is the side of the hinge; the maximum dimensions are 900 L x 2100 W mm, where W is the side of the hinge. For larger dimensions, a design with two lids is used, the maximum permissible dimensions of which are 1200Lx2400W mm, where W is the side of the hinge, or 2400Lx1200W, where the hinges are placed on opposite sides of the lid.
The MARAUS design has an A15 load class (A15=1.5 t/m²).
Important! The floor hatch can be walked on freely, but a load greater than recommended or a car collision can damage the floor hatch lining and deform the frame over time.
The recommended overall size of the MARAUS floor hatch should be 10 mm smaller than the opening in the ceiling between the rooms to leave a gap for installation.
If you need to calculate the size of the hatch to adjust it to your tile size, measure the dimensions of the tile that will be placed on the lid, taking into account the thickness of the seams between the tile fragments (approximately 2-4 mm). Add the width L (perpendicular side of the hinge) of 35 mm to the measured dimensions of tiles with seams. It is necessary in order to take into account a part of the Navvy® hinge bucket on which tiles from the floor overlay and are cut at an angle of 45°. 8 mm should be added along the length of W (side of the hinge).
If you have followed these conditions, tiles should be placed so that they protrude beyond the edges of the lid by 5 mm from three sides of the hatch, except the side where the hinge will be placed. Tiles should not protrude from the side of the hinge!
Important!!! Light/useful/free hatch space with one lid is smaller than the overall one by the width of the hinge of 100 mm from one side and the width of the corner of the frame by 40 mm from three other sides.
Important!!! Installation of floor hatchs is possible only in a horizontal position.
Important!!! In the standard version, floor hatchs do not include fastening elements or openings.
Important!!! It is forbidden to operate the floor hatch with connected gas springs until the floor covering work is finished!
Before starting work, it is necessary to remove the gas springs from the floor hatch (if they were installed). The manufacturer always delivers products with the gas springs removed. The gas springs are packaged separately from the other elements of the floor hatch and are put in the rear of the floor hatch.
1. Preparation of the opening
Prepare the opening of the correct geometric shape (rectangular or square) with 90° corners in the concrete or wooden floor. The overlap thickness between floors should be at least 200 mm. If the overlap is less than 200 mm, you need to provide additional fasteners for fixing the floor hatch. Do not start facing works before installing the floor hatch!
2. Fixation of the floor hatch in the opening
The MARAUS floor hatch is installed exclusively in the middle of the opening in a concrete or wooden celing.
Calculate the level to which the floor hatch frame and the hinged part will be lowered so that the top of the lid is in the same plane as the rough floor. Move down from this level by 1-2 mm. This will be an assembly line. Mark it on the walls of the opening.
Prepare steel angles for fixing the floor hatch (not supplied with the floor hatch). For the front and side parts of the floor hatch frame, there should be at least 3 corners with the dimensions of 40x40x3 mm, for the hinge part of the floor hatch - at least 3 corners with the dimensions of 50x50x4 mm. Fasten these corners with one side to the walls of the opening so that the other side is turned to the top and a shelf is formed at the level of the assembly line. You can fasten the corners in any convenient way: on 2-3 anchors, on reinforcement, by welding to a metal frame, etc.
Lower the floor hatch onto the shelf from the corners and screw its frame to it with countersunk head screws. Separately fasten the shock absorber holders to the wall of the opening.
Make sure that the floor hatch is installed without distortion of the frame and in one plane with the floor surface.
Fill the gaps between the concrete floor and the hatch frame with cement or another fixative and sealing solution.
If the electric “warm floor” is used in the place of installation of the hatch, we recommend using steel anchors 60-100 mm long and 6-10 mm in diameter instead of tcorners. Choose the length and diameter of the corners depending on the size of the hatch and the material that will be attached to the structure (the heavier the hatch, the stronger the required corners). Install the corners so that the distance between them is 200-300 mm and no more than 200 mm from the side of the hinges.
3. Facing
After installing the hatch in the mounting opening, fill the 15 mm socket in the upper part of the hatch lid with a concrete solution or a special glue that, according to its instructions, is suitable for your facing material. A concrete screed on the lid will increase the strength of the structure and is recommended if the hatch will be used under maximum loads. It should also be done for the hatchs with the dimensions larger than 900x900 mm.
Apply a layer of tile adhesive to the concrete screed, following the recommendations for its use.
Glue the facing material. The tile should be placed on the lid so that it protrudes beyond its edges no more than 5 mm from three sides of the hatch, except the side where the hinge will be placed. Tiles should not protrude beyond the edge of the hinge!
To minimize the width of the gap in the area of the hinge attachment, where the facing material from the floor side meets the hinges, cut the thickness of the tile from the inside at an angle of 45°. This will make it possible to make the width of the seam between the hinge bucket and the floor no more than 2 mm wide. After finishing laying the lining material, open the hatch to 90° and connect the gas springs to the hatch with the stem down.
After completion of installation, it is not recommended to walk on the hatch for 3 days.
Important!!!
Before closing the floor hatch, it is necessary to check that there are no foreign objects on the frame of the hatch, and that the sealer was correctly laid.
Gas springs, and especially the rod, should not be exposed to impact, contamination, or exposure to aggressive environments.
The fastening strength of facing materials should exclude their separation or damage when opening the floor hatch. When operating the hatchs, water/dirt must be avoided in the hatch hinges to avoid jamming or corrosion. In case of deterioration of the hatch entrance opening properties, you can lubricate these elements with lubricants.
Storage and transportation conditions
4.The Product must be stored exclusively indoors at a temperature from +5 to +55oC, relative humidity no more than 70%;
5.It is forbidden to store the Product near open heat sources closer than 2 meters;
Important!!! To achieve the maximum concealment of the floor hatch, the floor covering material should be laid after installing the floor hatch, in the direction from the floor hatch to the walls. It is necessary to calculate the placement of the covering fragments so that the seams are placed along the contour of the floor hatch.
Important!!! Do not leave children unattended when the floor hatch is open, as it is a heavy construction with sharp metallic protrusions, so carelessness in its handling can lead to serious injuries and bodily harm. Be cautious!
Important!!! When closing the floor hatch, make sure that no children, domestic animals, birds or other living creatures are trapped between the frame and the entrance. They can be injured or killed when the floor hatch is being closed.