Schneider floor hatches - office workspace solutions
Often when laying cable routes in open-plan office premises, the question arises of using floor switching hatches for organizing workplaces. The market for these products is not too saturated with high-quality, thoughtful offers at an affordable price and are limited to offers from one or two manufacturers. Yes, and they have their drawbacks.
Installers always actively respond to new products in this segment, especially when world-famous manufacturers enter the field.
We will try to satisfy the hunger for information and toss up bread and circuses! The article will focus on access hatches from Schneider Electric, which are part of the new Optiline 45 product line for commercial buildings.
Hatches are presented in three modifications: under 4, 6 and 8 mechanisms of the popular standard size 45x45mm (Fig. 1), (Fig. 2). Rosette calipers compatible with any products of other manufacturers of this format. But there is no need to search for them separately. As part of the Optiline 45 range, Schneider Electric offers a wide selection of affordable power and low current sockets in the Altira range (Fig. 3).
Fig. 1 Plastic hatches
Fig. 2 Stainless steel hatches
Fig. 3
As for sockets, they differ from analogues of other manufacturers in an acceptable price, ultra-fast and safe way of installation due to the use of self-clamping terminals. The connection speed of one outlet is no more than 10 seconds, a block of 2 outlets with pre-prepared jumpers - 15 seconds.
And so, back to the review of hatches. A distinctive feature of the hatches (I have not seen anything like this from other manufacturers) is that the same models are made of both plastic and stainless steel and have almost identical dimensions.
Fig. 4
Models made of plastic have the high quality of the materials from which they are made, as well as the exact fit of all parts of the case. The design is simple and convenient. Nothing more, everything is thought out, carefully, which is quite expected (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Stainless steel hatches (Fig. 7) were a revelation. Similar solutions from other manufacturers are 2-3 times more expensive.
Thanks to this, they can compete with plastic solutions.
For those who have never encountered the operation of such products, I will share my experience. The life cycle of hatches made of plastic during active use and constant physical impact is relatively small. Over time, they are subject to deformation, can fall apart, acquire an unpresentable appearance. Although the manufacturer claims the allowable load on models made of plastic and stainless steel is the same and equal to 300 kg.
Fig. 7
At the same time, hatches made of metal in "office" conditions have an almost unlimited resource. And if you do not want to pay twice, this is the only right solution for areas with increased traffic.
I would note the following advantages of stainless steel hatches:
- almost unlimited resource;
- a sufficiently large thickness of the enclosed coating in the cover.
Separately, it should be noted that the depth of the lid allows you to install in it not only a carpet, but also tiles up to 15 mm thick.
To fix the frame of the hatch itself, a spring-loaded latch is used, which allows the frame to be snapped into place without having a tool with a floor thickness of 10 mm or more.
Fig. 8
Separately, you can purchase the so-called access hatches (Fig. 8). They are a hatch housing with a cover without outlet calipers. Low cost justifies the meaning of their use.
Permissible load 300 kg.
The dimensions of the hatches in the horizontal plane are 199x199 (for hatches for 4 mechanisms 45x45) and 199x276mm (for hatches for 6 and 8 mechanisms 45x45).
Rosette supports can be placed at a depth of 70 to 100 mm in plastic hatches and from 80 to 110 in steel, the depth adjustment step is 5 mm. A special adapter allows you to place circuit breakers and RCDs in the hatch.
OptiLine 45 floor hatches are suitable for installation in all types of floors, both raised floors (outlet hatches and access hatches are installed directly in the prepared opening of the raised floor panel) and concrete floors.
For the raised floor there is a special mounting kit in the form of two screw clamps. For flooring, two types of installation boxes can be used (Fig. 9). Inexpensive plastic with an adjustable depth of 75-95 mm and galvanized with a fixed depth of 250 or 350mm. The latter are supplied as part of a single solution for the organization of underground cable channels for floors. Both types of boxes are equipped with chipboard protective covers to protect against ingress of cement mortar.
Fig. nine
The relevance of using galvanized steel ducts for laying cables in a concrete floor can be argued for a long time. Prices for these boxes are often forced to use something cheaper. But in any case, such boxes are included in the OptiLine 45 product range (Fig. 10). I’ll clarify that they are compatible with OptiLine45 hatches and mounting boxes, otherwise it cannot be.
Boxes are supplied in 2-meter sections and are presented in eight sizes:
- two-section boxes: 150x28mm, 150x38mm, 200x28mm, 200x38mm;
- three-section boxes: 250x28mm, 250x38mm, 350x28mm, 350x38mm.
The box system consists of the tray itself, the lid, mounting brackets and transitions for transferring the box from a horizontal plane to a wall plane.
Fig. 10
The scope of delivery for the hatch includes:
- hatch frame with cover;
- mounting calipers for direct locking mechanisms 45x45 (adjustable in height);
- cable holder / organizer (located next to the cable outlet in the manhole cover);
- two partitions;
- Six cable clamps.
Fig. 11
Among the necessary additional accessories, it is necessary to note the caliper cover (indicated in Fig. 11). The need for its use can be discussed for a long time, but as an electrical safety is a necessary protection.
The new product line from the global manufacturer Schneider Electric will still have to prove in practice its undeniable advantages over third-party analogues. But now, taking into account the presence of all the necessary accessories in this line, practicality and quality, we can say with confidence about the "freshness" of this product on the market.
UPD: where this can be installed
MUK-Service - all types of IT repair: warranty, non-warranty repair, sale of spare parts, contract service
Installers always actively respond to new products in this segment, especially when world-famous manufacturers enter the field.
We will try to satisfy the hunger for information and toss up bread and circuses! The article will focus on access hatches from Schneider Electric, which are part of the new Optiline 45 product line for commercial buildings.
Hatches are presented in three modifications: under 4, 6 and 8 mechanisms of the popular standard size 45x45mm (Fig. 1), (Fig. 2). Rosette calipers compatible with any products of other manufacturers of this format. But there is no need to search for them separately. As part of the Optiline 45 range, Schneider Electric offers a wide selection of affordable power and low current sockets in the Altira range (Fig. 3).
Fig. 1 Plastic hatches
Fig. 2 Stainless steel hatches
Fig. 3
As for sockets, they differ from analogues of other manufacturers in an acceptable price, ultra-fast and safe way of installation due to the use of self-clamping terminals. The connection speed of one outlet is no more than 10 seconds, a block of 2 outlets with pre-prepared jumpers - 15 seconds.
And so, back to the review of hatches. A distinctive feature of the hatches (I have not seen anything like this from other manufacturers) is that the same models are made of both plastic and stainless steel and have almost identical dimensions.
Fig. 4
Models made of plastic have the high quality of the materials from which they are made, as well as the exact fit of all parts of the case. The design is simple and convenient. Nothing more, everything is thought out, carefully, which is quite expected (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Stainless steel hatches (Fig. 7) were a revelation. Similar solutions from other manufacturers are 2-3 times more expensive.
Thanks to this, they can compete with plastic solutions.
For those who have never encountered the operation of such products, I will share my experience. The life cycle of hatches made of plastic during active use and constant physical impact is relatively small. Over time, they are subject to deformation, can fall apart, acquire an unpresentable appearance. Although the manufacturer claims the allowable load on models made of plastic and stainless steel is the same and equal to 300 kg.
Fig. 7
At the same time, hatches made of metal in "office" conditions have an almost unlimited resource. And if you do not want to pay twice, this is the only right solution for areas with increased traffic.
I would note the following advantages of stainless steel hatches:
- almost unlimited resource;
- a sufficiently large thickness of the enclosed coating in the cover.
Separately, it should be noted that the depth of the lid allows you to install in it not only a carpet, but also tiles up to 15 mm thick.
To fix the frame of the hatch itself, a spring-loaded latch is used, which allows the frame to be snapped into place without having a tool with a floor thickness of 10 mm or more.
Fig. 8
Separately, you can purchase the so-called access hatches (Fig. 8). They are a hatch housing with a cover without outlet calipers. Low cost justifies the meaning of their use.
Permissible load 300 kg.
Dimensions and filling
The dimensions of the hatches in the horizontal plane are 199x199 (for hatches for 4 mechanisms 45x45) and 199x276mm (for hatches for 6 and 8 mechanisms 45x45).
Rosette supports can be placed at a depth of 70 to 100 mm in plastic hatches and from 80 to 110 in steel, the depth adjustment step is 5 mm. A special adapter allows you to place circuit breakers and RCDs in the hatch.
Installation
OptiLine 45 floor hatches are suitable for installation in all types of floors, both raised floors (outlet hatches and access hatches are installed directly in the prepared opening of the raised floor panel) and concrete floors.
For the raised floor there is a special mounting kit in the form of two screw clamps. For flooring, two types of installation boxes can be used (Fig. 9). Inexpensive plastic with an adjustable depth of 75-95 mm and galvanized with a fixed depth of 250 or 350mm. The latter are supplied as part of a single solution for the organization of underground cable channels for floors. Both types of boxes are equipped with chipboard protective covers to protect against ingress of cement mortar.
Fig. nine
The relevance of using galvanized steel ducts for laying cables in a concrete floor can be argued for a long time. Prices for these boxes are often forced to use something cheaper. But in any case, such boxes are included in the OptiLine 45 product range (Fig. 10). I’ll clarify that they are compatible with OptiLine45 hatches and mounting boxes, otherwise it cannot be.
Boxes are supplied in 2-meter sections and are presented in eight sizes:
- two-section boxes: 150x28mm, 150x38mm, 200x28mm, 200x38mm;
- three-section boxes: 250x28mm, 250x38mm, 350x28mm, 350x38mm.
The box system consists of the tray itself, the lid, mounting brackets and transitions for transferring the box from a horizontal plane to a wall plane.
Fig. 10
Options and nuances
The scope of delivery for the hatch includes:
- hatch frame with cover;
- mounting calipers for direct locking mechanisms 45x45 (adjustable in height);
- cable holder / organizer (located next to the cable outlet in the manhole cover);
- two partitions;
- Six cable clamps.
Fig. 11
Among the necessary additional accessories, it is necessary to note the caliper cover (indicated in Fig. 11). The need for its use can be discussed for a long time, but as an electrical safety is a necessary protection.
To summarize
The new product line from the global manufacturer Schneider Electric will still have to prove in practice its undeniable advantages over third-party analogues. But now, taking into account the presence of all the necessary accessories in this line, practicality and quality, we can say with confidence about the "freshness" of this product on the market.
UPD: where this can be installed
Contact info
Questions about products / product prices can be written at: sс[email protected]
MUK-Service - all types of IT repair: warranty, non-warranty repair, sale of spare parts, contract service
