Vault hatch

The  is a type of electro-mechanical door used in the Vault-Tec Vaults. The hatch is a heavy metal door, of one or two pieces, that is supported in a heavy metal frame and powered by powerful hydraulic motors. The frames are built into the walls of corridors and rooms. In some Vaults, the hatches to levels and rooms are accompanied by signs. These signs either identify the level or room, or point to where a level or room is located. Vault-Tec architects use the hatches for creating barriers between corridors, rooms, and stairways.

Hatch Model #1
This hatch represents the majority of the doors 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. When opening, they slide apart. Set above the seam separating the two parts, there is an override handle. This override handle is used for emergencies. Under normal circumstances, if a hatch is locked, only an experienced locksmith can unlock the hatch.

On both sides of the hatch, there is a centrally placed vertical band. On the band, in black text on a yellow background, there is the Vault number. Below the Vault number, the writing reads, "Warning - Hydraulic Door - 3300 Lbs Pressure". 3300 pounds is the amount of pressure the hydraulic motors exert when operating the hatch.

Hatches are built with at least three safety features. The first is a safety zone marked by yellow boundary lines on the corridor floor. A second safety feature is if the door senses an obstruction in its path, the door will stop. Finally, there is a power access control panel placed next to the left frame. Normally, the hatch has power and this is indicated by the switch in the ON position. Two lamps beneath the switch glow green. In an emergency, the switch can be moved to the OFF position, with the lamps now glowing red, and the hatch will be powered down. There is an added benefit for the Security personnel stationed in the Vaults. By being able to control which hatches are powered, the Security officers can corral a person of interest towards them and arrest them without endangering the lives of other residents. The reason for this is that the hatches which are powered down can't be lockpicked, thus making the corridors and rooms for which the hatches are blocking inaccessible.

Vault 101 Locations

 * Apartments
 * Clinic
 * Physician's Office

Hatch Model #2
This hatch is identical in function to Hatch Model #1. Some of these hatches can be unlocked by an inexperienced locksmith. Other hatches, though, require a more experienced locksmith.

On both sides of the hatch, there is a centrally placed vertical band. On the band, in red text on a white background, there is the palm of a left hand and these words:"No Access - Authorized Personnel Only". There are red downward pointing arrows above and below the text.

Vault 101Locations

 * Main Entrance
 * Overseer's Office

Hatch Model #3
This is a one-piece, manually operated hatch with an inner side (in the closed room) and outer side (in the user's room). Hydraulic motors swing the hatch out and left when opening, and reverse the movement when closing. An override handle is on the outer side of the hatch. On the inner side of the hatch, there are two circular indicators lit by white lamps. When the hatch is close, both indicators have diagonal red lines. During the hatch's operation when opening, the indicators flip to new displays. The left circle displays red words on a white background which reads, "Open". In the other circle, red words on a black background appear which reads, "Stand Back". When this hatch is closed, the lock can't be lockpicked and the room is inaccessible.

Vault 101 Locations

 * Filter Room
 * Reactor Room
 * Storage Room