Access Panels UK

Access Panels UK, an online supplier of access panels and ventilation products

Access Panels UK is an online retailer operating from a distribution centre described as being on the outskirts of London. The company presents itself as a well-established supplier with industry knowledge of access panels and states that it is expanding internationally, with more than 300 product ranges intended to cover customer requirements. Its catalogue is organised around access panels for walls, floors and ceilings, complemented by ventilation grilles, ducting, drainage and metal storage products.

The business trades under the name APUK Limited and lists a registered address in Chigwell, Essex. Orders are handled through the website, which includes a cart, a comparison function and a wishlist, and the company states that many orders are dispatched the same day.

Access panels for walls, ceilings and floors

The access panel range is the core of the catalogue, with 85 products listed at the time of writing. The selection is divided into several families:

• 2hr fire rated panels, presented as a dedicated category and promoted with a discount of up to 17%.
• ASA plastic panels.
• Metal panels, including a metal key lock variant.
• Stainless steel access panels.
• Tiled wall access panels.
• Loft hatches.

According to the company, the panels are designed to give easy access to any void behind a ceiling or wall, are easy to install and are available in a variety of material finishes. Standard sizes are offered for interior and exterior ceilings and walls, and the company also produces custom-made or bespoke panels to suit individual requirements. The catalogue shows individual items priced both excluding and including VAT, with examples ranging from small panels such as the VD-150x150mm to larger fire rated models such as the RDK 800x800 B.

Air vent grille covers and ducting

Ventilation accounts for a second substantial block of the catalogue, with 87 air vent grille cover products. The range covers wooden grilles in VM series, external door grilles, stainless steel grilles (including circular models and versions with a frame), MINI air vent covers, and metal air vent covers in white, antique brown and antique silver finishes. Black square grilles, hit-and-miss grilles, ceiling grilles, circular grilles and the TRU series complete the offer, alongside a separate accessories section.

Aluminium ducting is listed as its own category with six products, positioned as a complement to the grille and panel ranges.

Drainage, mail boxes and metal wall cabinets

Beyond panels and ventilation, the store stocks 29 floor drain products, split into vertical and horizontal floor drains, vertical and horizontal gullies and a waterproof membrane. It also lists 14 mail box products and three metal wall cabinets, which extend the catalogue towards building and property fittings rather than purely access and airflow items.

Distribution, delivery and customer base

The company states that it works from a well-stocked distribution centre strategically located on the outskirts of London, a position it presents as an advantage for fulfilling customer requirements. It describes its products as unobtrusive, easy to install and manufactured to high quality, and refers to a team working on principles of professionalism and customer satisfaction. Large orders are promoted with what the company calls its best deals and offers.

The site refers to more than 6,585 customers who buy from the store on a recurring basis. It also reproduces comments attributed to an operations director, a contracts manager and a project supervisor, which highlight value, build quality and suitability for trade requirements, particularly in relation to fire rated panels.

Product range at a glance

• Access panels: 85 products, including fire rated, plastic, metal, stainless steel, tiled wall and loft hatch options.
• Air vent grille covers: 87 products across wood, metal, stainless steel and coloured finishes.
• Aluminium ducting: 6 products.
• Floor drains: 29 products, including gullies and waterproof membrane.
• Mail boxes: 14 products.
• Metal wall cabinets: 3 products.