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 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.

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 used for emergencies Under normal circumstances, if 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 built with three safety features. The first is a caution zone marked by yellow boundary lines painted on the corridor floor in front of and behind the hatches. The second safety feature is that when the hatch detects an obstruction in its path, the downward momentum of the hatch will halt and the hatch will move upwards. This movement will be repeated until the hatch is powered off. This is the final safety feature. There is a power access switch box situated close to the left frame. A switch box has a switch and two indicator lamps. Under normal conditions, the switch is turned to on, the lamps glow green, and the hatch has power. In an emergency condition, the switch is turned to off, the lamps glow red, and the hatch has no power. An unpowered hatch can't be lockpicked.

For Vault Security, this last feature is very beneficial to their job. By choosing 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.

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; while other hatches, however, 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 red 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 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. On the inner side of the hatch, there are two circular indicators lit by lamps. When the hatch is closed, both indicators display diagonal red lines on a white background. During the hatch's operation when opening, the indicators display two 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 display 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