Vault hatch

The Vault hatch 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 hydraulic motors.

Vault hatches are often associated with corridor walls and often accompany them. 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. They create barriers between corridors, rooms, and stairways.

A hatch's path can be blocked by a strategically placed item. By placing an item in the path of the hatch, it isn't able to close because it doesn't have enough pressure to crush the item, or this may be a safety feature. Regardless, this event occurred in 2277 in Vault 101. On August 17, 2277, an unknown benefactor shoved a locker in the path of a hatch to the Upper Level facilitating the Lone Wanderer's escape.

Common Use Hatch
This is a two-piece hatch with a upper and lower 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 continues, "Warning - Hydraulic Door - 3300 Lbs Pressure". Three thousand three hundred (3300) pounds is the amount of pressure the hydraulic motors exert when operating the hatch.

Power to the hatch can be controlled by an access control panel positioned near the left frame. Most times the switch is set to on with two indicator lamps glowing green. The switch can be set to off by a flick of the switch. In that case, the lamps glow red. A zone of safety, approximately eight feet in length and three feet in width, has been established around each hatch. This zone is defined by yellow border lines.

Locations

 * Apartments
 * Clinics
 * Physician Offices

Restricted Access Hatch
This hatch is identical in appearance and function to the common use hatch. However, there is one major difference. 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 hand and these words:"No Access - Authorized Personnel Only". There are red downward pointing arrows above and below the text.

Locations

 * Main Entrance
 * Overseer's Office

Restricted Use Hatch
This is a one-piece hatch with an inner side (in the closed room) and outer side (in the user's room). This hatch functions like a normal door. Hydraulic motors swing the hatch out 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 says, "Open". In the other circle, red words on a black background appear which says, "Stand Back". When this hatch is closed, the lock can't be picked.

Locations

 * Filter Rooms
 * Reactor Level Storage Room
 * Reactor Rooms