How to Find Custom Access Panels for Canada’s Most Complex Builds Posted by Best Access Doors Canada on 17th Feb 2026

The best way to find custom access doors for Canada’s most complex builds is to determine where standard panels will no longer meet your requirements, then partner with a supplier who can tailor sizes, materials, and hardware to your specific assemblies, services, and maintenance needs.

Canada’s commercial and institutional projects are getting more complex every year. Larger footprints, tighter energy targets, and dense mechanical systems all put pressure on coordination and detailing.

As a result, if your access panels don’t align with unique layouts, envelope details, or service requirements, your team can end up cutting, patching, and renegotiating approvals late in the project.

In this article, we’ll look at when standard access panels fall short on large or technical builds, how early coordination helps you avoid costly rework, and how BAC-UAP gives your team a flexible option when it comes to commercial access panel solutions.

When Do Standard Access Panels Fall Short on Large or Technical Builds?

Standard access panels fall short when your wall and ceiling conditions, services, or performance expectations don’t match “catalogue” sizes or details, especially when planning access for complex commercial construction projects.

On small, straightforward interiors, a set of 12" x 12" or 24" x 24" panels in typical gypsum partitions can be enough without any custom sizing. But on complex projects, that’s rarely the case.

You’re more likely to run into challenges when:

• Wall and ceiling assemblies are non-standard: Thick shaft walls, multi-layer acoustic partitions, or specialty masonry details often demand different frame depths, clear openings, or mounting methods.
• Services are dense and multi-trade: Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and controls often share the same risers and service zones. A standard panel size may not provide safe working clearance or inspection
• Aesthetics matter: In public-facing spaces such as healthcare or civic projects, owners expect clean finishes and minimal visual clutter. Oversized or poorly located panels can undermine this design intent.
• Energy and air-barrier continuity are critical: Canadian codes and energy standards emphasize continuous air barriers and controlled leakage across the building envelope. A generic panel at an exterior or semi-conditioned wall can compromise those targets if it’s not properly detailed or gasketed.

How Can Early Construction Coordination in Canada Prevent Access-Related Rework and Delays?

Early design and trade coordination can prevent access-related rework by integrating access openings into your design and construction planning rather than treating them as a last-minute patch.

This means:

• Documenting access needs in design development: As you define MEP routes and equipment locations, you also map out required access to valves, cleanouts, dampers, junction boxes, and controls.
• Linking access to code compliance: Confirming how openings interact with fire separations, acoustic requirements, and energy performance lowers the risk of surprises at permit or occupancy.
• Using procurement to lock in details: When you identify custom access panel requirements early, you can send complete information to suppliers, secure pricing and lead times, and avoid emergency orders mid-construction.

What Makes an Access Panel “Custom” on Complex Canadian Projects?

On complex Canadian projects, an access panel becomes “custom” when it’s configured to match your specific assembly, service, and operational needs rather than pulled straight from a standard size chart.

Access panel customization can involve one or more of the following:

• Sizing for real clearance, not just access opening dimensions.
• Adapting to non-standard assemblies.
• Choosing materials and finishes that match the environment.
• Selecting lock and latch options for security and operation.
• Integrating gaskets or seals where needed.

Want to see how our custom access panels can support your complex commercial projects? Use our request form to share your dimensions and project details so our team can recommend the right configuration for your build.

What Information Should Contractors Provide When Sourcing Custom Access Panels?

Contractors should provide clear details on the assembly type and rating, location and orientation, required clear opening and obstructions, service type and access frequency, and environmental conditions.

They should also confirm the finish requirements and any relevant code or owner standards to support specification accuracy.

Let’s look at these details more closely:

• Assembly type and rating: Clarify whether the panel is going into non-rated gypsum, masonry, or other interior partitions. For fire-rated or insulated assemblies, you’ll typically need a different, rated product line to maintain NBC compliance.
• Exact location and orientation: Note whether the panel will be in a wall or ceiling, an interior corridor, a service room, or a tenant area. This will inform hinge orientation, latch selection, and how visible the access door will be to occupants.
• Required clear opening and obstructions: Provide dimensions for the opening you need to reach any equipment that might sit behind the panel, and call out nearby pipes, conduits, or framing that might limit swing.
• Service type and access frequency: Let the supplier know whether the panel provides access to plumbing, HVAC, controls, or electrical systems, and whether access is monthly, quarterly, or only during rare shutdowns.
• Environmental and durability considerations: Flag any moisture, cleaning, or corrosion risks so the supplier can recommend steel, stainless, or gasketed options that will perform over time.
• Finish and integration requirements: If the panel needs to blend into painted surfaces, a high-quality white powder coat primer finish is often ideal for field painting or can remain as-is for a clean look.
• Relevant code or owner standards: Note any NECB energy targets, provincial energy code adaptations, or owner-specific standards that influence airtightness, access control, or inspection

How Does BAC-UAP Support Customization Across Different Applications?

The BAC-UAP Universal Access Panel supports customization by acting as a universal, non-rated access solution that can be adapted to many interior applications without sacrificing durability or appearance.

The panel is designed for non-rated masonry and gypsum drywall structures where you need reliable access to concealed services. As a hinged access door, you can install it in walls or ceilings to cover exposed utilities while still providing straightforward access for maintenance.

Key features that make BAC-UAP an ideal option for complex projects include:

• Construction built for heavy use: The panel is fabricated from 16-gauge cold-rolled steel. This gives you a robust frame and door leaf that can withstand repeated opening and closing in busy commercial and institutional buildings.
• Simple, consistent installation: A 1" exposed flange helps you achieve clean, repeatable installations in non-rated assemblies, reducing the chance of cracked finishes or misaligned doors.
• Hidden, reliable hinging: A hidden pin hinge keeps the door profile clean, while doors over 24" in height or width use a continuous piano-type hinge for added stability and smooth operation.
• Secure yet practical latching: The standard screwdriver-operated cam latch offers controlled access for maintenance staff. For projects with heightened security or access control needs, BAC-UAP can be specified with key-operated cylinder latches, hex or pinned hex cam latches, handle-operated latches, or mortise preparation for cylinders.
• Finish options that work with your interiors: The high-quality white powder coat primer gives you a neutral, durable finish that can either remain exposed or be field-painted to match surrounding surfaces. Where you require corrosion resistance or a more premium look, you can specify stainless steel 304 with a #4 brushed finish.
• Optional gasketing for better control: You can add a neoprene gasket to help control odors and air movement between interior zones.

Ready to move from standard catalogue sizes to a project-specific layout? Request a quote for a BAC-UAP access panel configured to your wall assemblies and performance requirements.

Also, if you regularly specify or install access doors, consider joining our Pro Club to get member-only pricing, dedicated support, and perks tailored to frequent commercial buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions on Custom Access Panels in Canada

1. Are custom access panels more expensive than standard panels in Canada?

Custom access panels usually cost more per unit than off-the-shelf sizes, but the overall project impact is often positive. When you factor in reduced rework, fewer change orders, and smoother inspections, the total installed cost can be lower than repeatedly modifying walls or swapping products late in the schedule.

2. How early should I decide if I need custom access doors?

Ideally, you should identify custom access panel needs during design development or early coordination, alongside your MEP routing and major equipment selections. This gives you time to confirm code requirements, coordinate with authorities having jurisdiction, and secure supplier pricing and lead times before tender or GMP.

3. Can I use a universal panel like BAC-UAP in fire-rated walls or ceilings?

No. BAC-UAP is intended for non-rated wall and ceiling systems. Fire-rated assemblies governed by the NBC and provincial codes must use fire-rated access doors that have been tested and labelled to maintain the required fire-resistance rating.

To Sum It Up

Non-standard assemblies, dense MEP layouts, and strict energy and code requirements often mean your team needs custom access solutions planned, documented, and coordinated from the start.

By incorporating access details into your early coordination and clearly defining the custom access panels your project needs, you can reduce rework, improve inspection readiness, and protect both schedule and budget.

If you’re overseeing a complex commercial project and want to reduce access-related risks, contact our team or call +1-888-327-5471 for recommendations on custom access panel solutions.