It doesn’t matter what type of commercial kitchen ventilation system you have, you’re going to need to install duct access doors. With so many brands and styles out there, it’s hard to know which is right for you. Ductmate Access Doors are a great place to start looking.
Ductmate Industries is North America’s largest HVAC accessories manufacturer and has been designing duct access doors since 1987. All Ductmate doors are Union made in the USA. They are easy to install and provide a leak-proof seal with reduced friction. Which one is right for you? Let’s take a look and help you find out!
All duct access doors have the same basic function – to provide easy and safe access to ductwork for maintenance, cleaning and inspection. There are two main styles of access doors: those designed for use with air ducts and those designed for use with grease ducts. We’ll start by looking at Ductmate’s grease duct access doors.
Ductmate Grease Duct Access Doors
1. ULtimate™ and ULtimate™ II Duct Access Doors
The Ductmate ULtimate™ Door is a sandwich style door designed for use with grease ducts or high temperature applications. It is UL 1978 listed and meets all NFPA 96 Standards for access doors.
Sandwich® style access doors are made of multiple layers of material. The ULtimate™ is constructed of two layers and is available in either 11 gauge steel or 304 stainless steel. The ceramic rope gasket is rated for use with temperatures of up to 2300°F and covers the surface of the outer plate completely.
Installation is a breeze with no special tools or welding required and very little penetration into the duct work. There’s no need for drilling or even using clips. The collapsible door handle stays out of the way until you need to remove the access panel for easy cleaning.
As with all Ductmate grease duct access doors, the ULtimate™ is grease and air tight. It is also compatible for use with any type of duct wrap insulation system including FyreWrap® and is specifically listed by Intertek Testing Services and referenced in the Unifrax ICC Evaluation Service Report.
If you’re looking for a high temperature Ductmate Access Door you can weld onto the duct, get the ULtimate™ Door II. It has all the same features as the original ULtimate™ Door with an optional hinge and a completely removable top plate.
Another nice thing about ULtimate™ duct access doors is that you can order either of them in custom sizes. So if you’ve had trouble finding a Ductmate Access Door with the right proportions, the ULtimate™ is perfect for you!
2. F2 Grease Duct Sandwich® Access Door
As with both styles of the ULtimate™ door, Ductmate’s F2 Grease Duct Sandwich® Access Door is also designed for use with grease ducts or high temperature applications of up to 2300°F. And like the ULtimate™, the F2 can also be used with any fire wrap system, with longer bolts applied when specified.
The Ductmate F2 is available for flat or round ducts. It is stocked in galvanized, but can be custom ordered in a variety of materials: aluminized, black iron, 304 stainless steel, and 316 stainless steel. This certainly comes in handy for some people since NFPA 96 Standards require access doors to be made of the same material as your duct.
The F2 is a sandwich style door with two layers that are spot-welded at the rim. It features a 16 gauge iron backing plate with a smooth interior for reduced friction when operating the door. Just like with all Ductmate Access Doors, the F2 is super easy to install. The included zinc coated wing nuts turn easily by hand to provide effortless access to ducts and a secure seal that is both grease and air tight.
Ductmate Air Duct Access Doors
If you don’t need a grease duct access door, an air duct access door is probably what you’ll want. Ductmate makes several different types that can be grouped into a few main categories: high temperature, circular clean-out, observation, flat duct and round duct, and square framed.
3. F1 Hi-Temp Sandwich® Access Door
The F1 Hi-Temp Sandwich® Access Door features a leak-proof fiberglass rope gasket that is permanently bonded to the door’s outside panel. It is rated for use with temperatures of up to 1,000°F. It has a spot-welded 16 gauge black iron backing plate and features zinc plated springs between the inner and outer door, which make opening and closing the door even easier.
Be careful not to confuse the F1 access door with the F2 access door. Here’s a short video to review the different features of each Ductmate Access Door:
4. Circular Clean-Out Access Door
Next in the lineup is the Ductmate Circular Clean-Out Access Door. This sandwich style door was designed specifically for duct cleaners. It provides exceptionally easy access to air ducts and ducts and units.
The opening is perfectly sized for securing the metal adapters that are used to hold vacuum hoses. The uninsulated model is available in three diameters: 8″, 10″, and 12″. The insulated model is available in the 12” diameter size.
Constructed of two layers of precision stamped, hot-dipped galvanized steel, the Ductmate Circular Clean-Out Access Door is a leak-proof air duct access door you can rely on. The gasket is constructed of closed cell neoprene and permanently bonded to the outside panel.
It is UL94HF1 listed and has a service temperature range of -20°F to 200°F. Insulated models include a polyester foam pad that is installed between the inner and outer panels.
There is no metal plate, no drilling screws, and no need for applying tape or even sealant. For easy installation and quick entry, it’s hard to beat the Ductmate Circular Clean-Out door.
5. Single Pane Observation
Like to keep an eye on things? The Single Pane Observation Duct Access Door is the door for you. This sandwich style door has a very unique feature. A 4” x 2-5/8” viewport actually lets you see inside the air ducts and units to inspect them without ever opening the door.
The door is constructed of hot-dipped galvanized steel with a closed cell neoprene gasket rated for use between -20°F and 200°F. It is tested to 10” w.g. and features zinc plated conical springs and UL94HB listed polypropylene knobs with threaded metal inserts that eliminate stripping.
The single pane viewport is made with safety glass that has been permanently sealed with silicone adhesive. Hot-dipped galvanized steel clips keep the safety glass securely in place. It’s easy to use and just as solid and leak-proof as the rest of Ductmate’s access panels.
This door is ideal for use with single wall HVAC applications and takes very little time to install. No frame needs to be installed and no special tools are required. You don’t even have to measure.
6. Round and Flat Duct Access Doors
These round and flat duct access doors are available for use with round or flat ducts and come in both insulated and uninsulated models. They feature the same advanced pressure vessel design as the other sandwich style Ductmate Access Doors and are constructed of sturdy galvanized steel. Custom manufacturing orders may be requested for construction in a variety of specialty metals.
The insulated model is UL classified and features three layers of precision stamped steel. The inside panel consists of two layers of metal that are spot-welded along the edge to encapsulate the high density Ecose® fiberglass insulation.
The bonded gasket construction features closed cell neoprene with a service range of -20° F to 200° F. Simple to install and simple to use, these access doors have no frame and require no special tools.
7. Square Framed Access Doors
HoodFilters.com carries square framed access doors for both high and low pressure applications. All of them are insulated, double-gasketed, and are available in specialty metals.
The High Pressure Square Framed Access Door is constructed of two 24 gauge galvanized steel panels that are locked together. The 1-inch high density fiberglass insulation is made with Ecose® and is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified®.
The bonded gasket features a cell neoprene construction and is UL94HF1 listed. The service range of the door is -20°F to 200°F and it is NFPA 90A and 90B approved.
Depending on the size of the access door, the dovetail frame is made of either 24 gauge or 22 gauge galvanized steel. All frames feature spot-welding at the corners to provide additional strength to the door.
Each door has 8 cams manufactured from 16 gauge galvanized steel with a 20 gauge galvanized steel latch that is attached to the frame. Cams are each secured by a rivet to the door. Preformed tabs on the back side of the door are made of 22 gauge galvanized steel.
Ductmate’s low pressure air duct access doors meet the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) standards for low pressure doors. They come in two designs: hinge and cam latch, and cam latch.
The Low Pressure Hinge & Cam Latch Door was developed to serve as a low-cost alternative to other Ductmate Access Doors and is specifically designed for use with low pressure applications. Available options include dovetail and press-on frames.
The door has many of the same design features as the high pressure Ductmate Access Door. The full-length piano hinge is made of galvanized steel and is securely attached to the frame as well as the door. The Low Pressure Cam Latch Door is identical except for the fact that it does not include a piano hinge. Both door frames feature fastened corners for additional durability and strength.
The 1-inch high density fiberglass gasket on both doors is UL FHC25/50 classified. It is bonded to both the inside and outside of the dovetail frame. On the press-on frame, it is bonded only to the inside. The gasket is constructed of closed cell, cross-linked polyethylene and has a service temperature ranging from -70°F to 175°F.
So Many Choices… Which Ductmate Access Door Is Best?
One Ductmate Access Door is not necessarily better than the other. The trick to choosing the best door for you is knowing what features you need. If you’re having trouble figuring out which door you should get, give our product specialists a call or live chat with us online. We’ll answer all your questions and help you make the right decision.