Access challenges in metro and underground environments
Metro stations and associated plant areas place unique demands on access systems. Unlike standard commercial buildings, access solutions must integrate directly into life safety strategies while remaining robust enough for frequent operational use.
Typical challenges we engineered around on Riyadh Metro included:
- Fire strategy integration, where access hatches form part of compartmentation and smoke control planning
- Automatic operation requirements, ensuring safe response during alarm conditions
- High footfall and maintenance intensity, demanding durable, low maintenance designs
- Recessed architectural finishes, including tile and resin infills
- Tight spatial constraints, particularly in station plant rooms and service corridors
- Phased construction and package delivery, requiring flexibility and repeatable solutions
Specification shift and value engineering
The original project specification called for fusible link operated access hatches, designed to close automatically in the event of a fire alarm.
Surespan proposed an electro thermal controlled solution as a more modern, reliable and controllable alternative. This approach provided:
- Improved response consistency
- Integration with powered actuators and control panels
- Reset capability following activation
- Greater long term maintainability
The revised proposal was accepted, and Surespan was subsequently awarded key packages on the project, including a major station deployment where we successfully displaced an incumbent competitor.
The Surespan solution
Across multiple sales orders and project packages, Surespan supplied a coordinated range of access products, tailored to different station zones and operational requirements.
Fire rated and automated floor access hatches
For station areas requiring fire performance and automatic operation, Surespan supplied HIAC/E/FR120 access hatches, featuring:
- Grade 304 stainless steel construction
- FR120 fire resistance for integrity in accordance with BS EN 1634-1 and BS EN 1363-1
- Electro thermal fusible link operation with nominal 74°C trigger point
- Mercury status switch for controlled automatic descent in a fire event
- Reset facility following activation
- Recessed pan lids to accept tiled or resin finishes
- Integrated drainage channels for self draining performance
- Satin polished visible trims and concealed hinge design
These units were deployed in high quantity at station level, forming part of the life safety and access strategy rather than acting as simple maintenance covers.
Electrically operated roof access hatches and guarding
On above ground and plant level applications, Surespan supplied thermally broken electrically operated roof access hatches, complete with:
- Aluminium construction with insulated lids and upstands
- 24V DC synchronised actuators
- Integrated limit switches and battery backed control panels
- Secure key switch operation
- Permanent guarding systems mounted directly to the upstand to minimise roof penetrations
This ensured safe and controlled roof access in operational areas while maintaining weather performance and thermal continuity.
Internal access ladders and panels
To support access between internal levels, Surespan also supplied:
- Heavy duty retractable ladders, sized to suit varying floor to ceiling heights
- Insulated trapdoors with defined U values
- Fire rated and acoustic wall access panels for plant and service zones
Each product was selected to suit its specific location, ensuring consistent safety and access performance throughout the network.
Programme, coordination and delivery
The Riyadh Metro project spanned multiple years and packages, with Surespan supporting delivery across several phases.
Key aspects of our involvement included:
- Coordination across several packages, reflecting phased procurement and evolving scope
- Detailed approval drawings for each hatch, ladder and panel type
- Close liaison with local contractors and agents to align specification and logistics
- Phased manufacture and shipment to suit programme constraints
This approach allowed consistency of access solutions across different stations and packages, while retaining flexibility as requirements developed.
Outcome
The completed access systems delivered:
- Integrated fire strategy compliance, with automated response during alarm conditions
- Safe and reliable access for ongoing inspection and maintenance
- Architectural integration, maintaining station finish quality
- Modernised operation, replacing traditional fusible only systems with controllable electro thermal solutions
- Long term durability, suited to a high intensity public transport environment
The project demonstrates Surespan’s capability to engineer, value engineer and deliver complex access solutions on large scale transport infrastructure programmes.
Products featured
- HIAC/E/FR120 Fire Rated Automated Access Hatches
- Electrically Operated Roof Access Hatches with Integrated Guarding
- Heavy Duty Retractable Access Ladders
- Fire Rated and Acoustic Wall Access Panels
