Heavy-Duty Aluminium Concertina Loft Ladder with Insulated Hatch – 200kg Treads, 4 Opening Sizes

Most loft ladders are built for an occasional trip up to fetch the Christmas decorations. A loft used as real storage — or a roof void that a tradesperson has to get into with tools every few months — needs something closer to a staircase: wide, flat treads, a high load rating and a mechanism that will still work smoothly after years of use. This heavy-duty aluminium concertina loft ladder is that product. It retracts vertically into a highly insulated, airtight hatch box so it takes almost no space in the loft, and it opens with a spring-assisted action that makes a 200kg-rated ladder feel light in the hand.

It is supplied as a complete, made-to-measure unit: pressure die-cast aluminium ladder, insulated hatch box and door, and the operating hardware, built for your opening size and standard floor-to-ceiling range.

Key benefits

Load capacity of 200kg per step — well above the typical 150kg of standard timber loft ladders, so it suits carrying tools or boxes up and down. A concertina (scissor) action that retracts straight up into the hatch box, so no swing space is needed below the opening and nothing intrudes into the loft. A highly insulated and draught-sealed hatch with a U-value of 0.58 W/m²K, closing one of the most common heat-loss gaps in an insulated roof. Four opening sizes, with a standard 2200–2790mm floor-to-ceiling range that covers most UK homes.

Suitable applications

Homes where the loft is used for regular storage; landlords and housing providers who want a ladder that stands up to heavy use; lofts holding plant such as water tanks, MVHR units or solar inverters that need routine access; and any ceiling opening where a fold-down timber ladder would need more swing room than the landing allows. If your specification also requires a fire rating at the hatch, see our fire-rated timber loft ladder with insulated hatch instead.

Specification

Installation & ordering guidance

Measure the trimmed ceiling opening (length, then width) and your finished floor-to-ceiling height before you order — the hatch box is built to the size you choose. The hatch box is fixed through its frame into the trimming joists and the ladder is then adjusted so its feet sit flat on the floor when fully extended. Because the ladder retracts vertically, check there is clear headroom directly above the opening in the loft for the folded stack. If you are insulating the loft at the same time, our PIR insulation board covers the surrounding rafter-level insulation, and for access onto a flat roof rather than into a loft see our flat roof access hatch.

FAQs

Why choose a concertina ladder over a folding timber one? A concertina ladder folds straight up into the hatch, so it needs no swing clearance below and none of the loft-side space a folding ladder occupies. It also carries a higher load rating, which matters if the loft is used for storage.

Is it hard to open? No — the mechanism is spring-assisted, so the ladder lowers and retracts under control rather than dropping under its own weight.

Does the price include the hatch? Yes. The insulated hatch box and door are part of the unit, not an extra.

My ceiling is taller than 2790mm — can I still order? Taller floor-to-ceiling heights can usually be made to order. Contact us with your measurements before ordering rather than choosing the nearest standard size.

Is it fire rated? This unit is insulated and airtight but is not a fire-rated hatch. Where a fire rating is required, choose our fire-rated timber loft ladder linked above.

Custom, unbranded product. See also our fire-rated insulated loft hatch for hatch-only installations.