The PANZER hatch is designed for access to basements or pits in technical, production, warehouse premises or outdoors where the issue of design is not important. From above, the hatch has a sheet of corrugated steel 3 mm thick, which enables it to withstand a load of up to 2 tons per 1 square meter of the lid surface.
The hatch does not require additional lining, just install it in the opening and use.
The PANZER hatch is made in two configurations of steel. For outdoor use, the hatch is made of AISI 304 stainless steel, with the lid thickness of 3 mm; for indoor or outdoor use, it is made of black steel covered with anti-vandal powder paint, with the lid thickness of 3 mm.
The PANZER hatch in black steel is suitable for entering technical basements mainly from industrial facilities, garages, technical rooms of private houses where there is no excessive humidity and aggressive environment.
The PANZER hatches made of stainless steel are suitable for access to underground communications, water supply, sewerage, communication lines, electric cables, outside pits. They are used in the creation of observation wells, sewage wells, entrances to technical rooms of swimming pools, artificial lakes where complete sealing is not required.
Important!!! The PANZER hatch does not protect against water leakage. If you need such a hatch with full sealing, we recommend the Sine Fine model.
AISI 304 stainless steel (sheet and profile pipes) is used for the manufacture of the PANZER hatch, which is treated by the method of chemical passivation. Additionally, stainless steel is polished with a glass jet. Glass jet treatment removes residual stresses in welds, which are made by the TIG method according to the international standard EN 10217-7.
In the second configuration, the PANZER hatch is made of black electrowelded cold-rolled carbon steel (sheet and profile pipes) of the international standard ISO 630:1995, brand E235-B. The steel is treated with phosphates and coated with polyester powder paint. Welds are made by the MIG method according to the international standard DIN EN ISO 5817.
The design of the hatch consists of a frame and a lid, which are connected by means of a hidden “Poker loop” axial hinge. Opening is done with the help of gas springs.
The frame of the hatch is a branded L–shaped profile made of two steel profiles welded together with the dimensions of 20x20x1.2 mm and 20x40x1.5 mm (the thickness of the profiles is indicated for black steel, it may differ for stainless steel). The 20x20x1.2 mm pipe is shifted 2 mm down relative to the 20x40x1.5 mm pipe to place the sealant on it. A corrugated steel plate with the thickness of 3 mm and a width of 50 mm is welded on top of the frame. This plate protrudes 30 mm from the contour of the frame and, during the installation of the hatch, is lowered to the rough floor. Its purpose is exclusively decorative.
Important!!! When calculating the size of the PANZER hatch, the decorative plate protruding beyond the frame is not taken into account. The working dimensions are considered the landing dimensions, along the outer edge of the profile tube of the frame.
The frame of the lid is made of a 20x40x1.5 mm steel profile. Its sides are interconnected by stiffeners, which strengthen and protect it from deformation under heavy loads. From above, the lid is covered with a sheet of corrugated steel 3 mm thick, which has two holes: a hole for a lock and a hole for a lifting handle. The holes are closed with special decorative plugs. The lock of the hatch is placed on the profile of the lid.
Between the lid and the frame, there is a 20x20x1.5 synthetic rubber gasket placed along the contour of the frame tube. The sealant protects against the penetration of moisture, odors, and air.
The visible gap between the frame and the lid is 2 mm, on the side of the hinge it is 4 mm. The depth of the hatch structure in the closed state is 80 mm in the area of the hinge, 141 mm in the area of the shock absorber holders, and 45 mm in the area of the frame.
The rear hatch opens semi-automatically perpendicular to the floor at 90° with the help of adjustable industrial gas shock absorbers fixed on special holders. Based on the weight of the lid, the required level of load is determined, and later in production, the volume of nitrogen in the gas shock absorbers is adjusted for equally easy closing and opening of the hatch. Gas springs are equipped with a damper that dampens the stroke at the end of the opening. This is especially relevant for large hatch sizes and prevents the door from the sudden opening.
In addition, the hatch is equipped with a rotary latch lock, which can be opened with a special key both from outside and inside. The lock closes automatically when the hatch is closed. In most cases, when the lock is opened, the hatch opens without additional effort, but if the lid of the hatch is large and does not open on its own, you need to use a lifting handle, for which an additional hole on the hatch and a decorative plug are provided.
To open the hatch:
The minimum possible landing dimensions of the structure with one lid are 600Lx500W mm, W is the hinge side, the maximum dimensions with one lid are 900Lx2500W mm. For larger sizes, a design with two lids is used, the maximum permissible dimensions of which are 1200Lx2500W mm, W being the side of the hinge.
The PANZER hatch design corresponds to load class A15 (A15=1.5 t/m²).
Important! It is possible to walk freely on the hatch, and vehicles weighing up to 2 tons are allowed to run into it, but a load greater than the recommended one can lead to deformation of the frame of the lid over time.
When calculating the size of the PANZER hatch, the decorative plate protruding beyond the frame is not taken into account. The working dimensions are considered the landing dimensions, along the outer edge of the profile tube of the frame. The landing dimensions equal to the outside dimensions with a decorative wing minus 30 mm on each side.
The recommended landing dimensions of the PANZER hatch should be 10 mm smaller than the opening in the ceiling between the rooms to leave an installation gap.
The total depth of the hatch in the closed state is 80 mm in the area of the hinge, 141 mm in the area of the shock absorber holders, 40 mm in the area of the frame.
Important!!! The clear/free opening with one lid is less than the landing one by 80 mm by the hinge width (with 110 mm shock absorber holders) on one side and by 40 mm of the frame angle width on the other three sides.
Important!!! Installation of hatches is possible only in a horizontal position;
Important!!! In the standard configuration, hatches do not contain fastening elements or holes;
Important!!! The PANZER hatches are installed exclusively after laying the finished floor covering;
Important!!! It is forbidden to operate the hatch with connected gas springs until the works on laying the floor covering are finished!
Before starting the works, it is necessary to remove the gas springs from the hatch (if they were installed). The manufacturer always ships products with the gas springs removed. The gas springs are packaged separately from the other elements of the hatch and nested in the rear of the hatch.
1. Preparation of the opening
Prepare an opening of the correct geometric shape (rectangular or square) in the concrete or wooden floor, with 90° corners. 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 hatch. Do not start laying the finishing lining before installing the hatch!
2. Fixing the hatch in the opening
The PANZER hatch is installed exclusively in the middle of the opening in the concrete or wooden floor.
When the finishing lining material around the opening for the hatch has been laid, start installing the hatch. Calculate the level to which the hatch frame will be lowered so that the decorative overlay of the frame lies tightly on the finished floor covering. This will be an assembly line. Mark it on the walls of the opening.
Prepare steel angles for fixing the hatch (not supplied with the hatch). For each side of the hatch frame there should be at least 3 angles, with the dimensions of 40x40x3 mm, from the side of the hinges of the hatch – at least 3 angles, with the dimensions of 50x50x4 mm. Fasten these angles 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 angles in any convenient way: on 2-3 anchors, on reinforcement, by welding to a metal frame, etc. Lower the hatch frame without the lid onto the corner shelf and screw it with countersunk head screws. Make sure that the hatch is installed without distortions of the frame and in the same plane with the floor surface. The decorative overlay on the frame should lie tightly on the finished floor covering.
If there are still gaps between the finished floor and the decorative overlay on the hatch frame, fill them with cement or another fixing and sealing solution.
If an 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 angles. Choose the length and diameter of the anchors 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 anchors). Install the anchors so that the distance between them is 200-300 mm and no more than 200 mm from the side of the hinges.
After the installation is complete, open the hatch door to 90° and connect the gas springs to the hatch with the rod down.
Important!!!
Before closing the hatch, it is necessary to check that there are no foreign objects on the hatch frame, and that the sealant is correctly laid;
Gas springs, and especially the rod, should not be exposed to impact, contamination, or exposure to aggressive environments;
When operating the hatches, water/dirt must be avoided in the hinges of the hatch to avoid jamming or corrosion. In case of deterioration of the hatch door opening properties, it is allowed to lubricate these elements with lubricants.
3. Storage and transportation conditions
Important!!! Do not leave children unattended when the 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 hatch, make sure that no children, domestic animals, birds or other living creatures are trapped between the frame and the door. They can be injured or killed when the hatch is being closed.
Warning!!! Black steel hatches may rust during operation.