Vault hatch

The  is a type of electro-mechanical door used in the Vault-Tec Vaults for creating barriers between corridors, rooms, and stairways. The hatch is a heavy steel door, of one or two pieces, that is supported in a heavy steel frame and powered by powerful hydraulic motors. The frames are placed into the walls of corridors and rooms. In Vault 101, many of the hatches are accompanied by signs. These signs either identify the level or room, or direct in a general direction where a level or room is located.

Hatch Model #1
This hatch represents a majority of the hatches used in the Vaults. This is a two-piece hatch with a lower and upper part. The upper part has cones which fit into conical depressions in the lower part. The two parts, when closing, slide together; whereas, when opening, they slide apart. Placed above the seam where the two parts meet, there is an override handle used for emergencies. Under normal circumstances, when a hatch is locked, only an experienced locksmith can lockpick the hatch.

On both sides of the hatch, there is a centrally painted yellow vertical band with black text. Below the Vault number, the text reads, "Warning - Hydraulic Door - 3300 Lbs Pressure". This is the amount of pressure exerted by the hydraulic motors when operating the hatch.

Hatches are designed with three safety features. The first of these safety features is a caution zone marked by yellow boundary lines painted on a corridor floor in front of and behind the hatch. Second safety feature is when the hatch detects an obstruction in its path, the hatch's downward movement stops and the hatch reverses its movement. This back-and-forth movement is repeated until the hatch is powered off. This is the final safety feature. There is a power access switch box placed close to the hatch's left frame. A switch box has a switch and two power indicator lamps. Under normal conditions, the switch is turned to ON, the lamps glow green, and the hatch is powered. In an emergency condition, the switch is turned to OFF, the lamps glow red, and the hatch is unpowered. An unpowered hatch can't be lockpicked.

For Vault Security, they benefit from this last safety feature. By choosing which hatches are powered, the Security officers can corral a person of interest through a carefully planned route towards a location where the person can be detained without endangering the lives of other residents.

Vault 101 Locations

 * Apartments
 * Clinic
 * Physician's Office

Hatch Model #2
This hatch is identical in function and safety features to the first hatch model. Some of these hatches can be unlocked by an inexperienced locksmith; whereas, other hatches require a more experienced locksmith.

On both sides of the hatch, there is a centrally painted white vertical band with red text and symbols. Under the palm of a left hand, there are these words, "No Access - Authorized Personnel Only". There are downward pointing chevrons above and below the text.

Vault 101 Locations

 * Main Entrance
 * Overseer's Office

Hatch Model #3
This is a one-piece, manually operated hatch. Hydraulic motors swing the hatch out and left when opening, and reverse the movement when closing. On one side of the hatch, there are two circular indicators. When the hatch is closed, both indicators display diagonal red lines on a white background. During the hatch's operation when opening, the indicators change. One of the indicators displays the word OPEN in red text on a white background; whereas, in the other indicator, the words STAND BACK are displayed in red text on a black background. When this hatch is closed, the lock can't be lockpicked.

Vault 101 Locations

 * Filter Room
 * Reactor Room
 * Storage Room