Guides
IPS Panels Explained
Integrated plumbing systems hide the pipework and carry the sanitaryware. Here is what the panels are made of, how they are sized and how they open.
- Made in Bolton since 1998
- Free UK mainland delivery
- Constructionline Gold
- SSIP accredited
- Trade prices exc VAT
An Integrated Plumbing System panel is the boxing that closes off the wall behind a run of WCs, urinals or basins. It hides the pipework, cistern and isolation valves, carries the flush plate and often the brackets for the pan, and gives maintenance a way back in without a hammer.
Most IPS problems are specification problems, not fitting problems. The wrong board in a wet zone, an access panel that cannot be lifted once the pan is in, or a duct set out before the sanitaryware was chosen. We make IPS panels and units to order in Bolton on an eight to ten working day lead time.
What we supply
-
Duct panels
The fixed run that boxes in the service void behind the sanitaryware. Cut to your surveyed height and width, with cut-outs machined for pans, flush plates, taps and waste. Fixed, not removable.
View IPS panels -
Access panels
The removable section that lets maintenance reach valves, traps and cistern internals. Sized so it clears the pan and the flush plate, and fixed with lift-off or screw-and-cap detail as specified.
Specify an access panel -
IPS units and vanity fronts
Where the duct also carries a basin, the panel becomes a unit: framed, braced and made to take the load. Vanity units are built on the same lines with a seven to ten working day lead time.
View vanity units -
Replacement panels for FM
We remake single damaged IPS panels to match an existing run. Send sizes, cut-out positions and a photograph of the decor and we will match the board and the finish.
Replacement washroom parts
Specification
| Element | Typical build-up | Where it belongs and what to watch |
|---|---|---|
| 13mm CGL | Solid compact grade laminate, machined and polished edge, no banding | Wet zones, showers, changing rooms and vandal-prone blocks. The only board that tolerates standing water at a cut edge. |
| Laminated MR MDF | 18mm or 25mm moisture resistant core, laminate faced, ABS or PVC banded edge | Standard commercial WC and urinal ducts where splashing and steam are expected but the panel is not sitting in water. |
| Laminated FR MDF | 18mm or 25mm fire retardant core, laminate faced, banded edge | Where the project specification calls for a fire retardant core. Performance depends on the laminate and core specified — certificate on request. |
| MFC | 18mm melamine faced chipboard, ABS or PVC banded edge | Dry-side boxing, office washrooms and low-traffic areas. Not for shower zones or anywhere the base of the panel gets wet. |
| Cut-outs | CNC machined from your setting-out | Pan brackets, flush plate, tap holes, waste and valve access. Give us the sanitaryware make and model, not a nominal hole size. |
| Access opening | Lift-off, magnetic catch or screw-and-cap | Set the opening so it clears the pan, the seat and the flush plate when lifted. Check the swing before the panel is made. |
| Panel height | Full height to ceiling, or duct height with a capping detail | Full height hides more services but needs a coordinated ceiling line. Half height needs the capping specified up front. |
| Lead time | 8–10 working days | IPS panels, IPS units and replacement washroom panels, all made to order in Bolton. |
Why buy direct from the manufacturer
-
Cut-outs machined, not drilled
Pan brackets, flush plates and tap holes are CNC machined from your sanitaryware setting-out, so the panel arrives ready to fix rather than ready to modify.
-
Right board for the zone
We will specify MR MDF where it works and CGL where it is needed. Putting compact laminate across an entire dry-side duct run is money spent for no benefit.
-
One-panel replacements welcome
We remake single damaged panels for facilities teams, not just full fit-outs. Send the sizes and a photograph and we will match the board, decor and cut-outs.
Common questions
What is the difference between a duct panel and an access panel?
A duct panel is the fixed boxing that closes the service void. An access panel is a removable section within that run, sized and detailed so maintenance can reach valves, traps and cistern internals without cutting anything. Most runs need both. The common mistake is specifying a full duct with no access and then drilling into it later.
Which board should an IPS panel be?
It depends on the zone. Compact grade laminate for wet areas, showers and pool surrounds, because it is solid through the thickness. Laminated MR MDF for standard washroom ducts with splashing and steam. MFC on the dry side only. FR MDF where the project specification calls for a fire retardant core.
Can you machine cut-outs for my sanitaryware?
Yes. Send the make and model of the pan, cistern, flush plate, tap and waste, or the manufacturer setting-out drawing. We machine the cut-outs on CNC in Bolton. A generic hole size taken off a layout drawing is the single most common cause of a panel arriving that will not fit.
How long do IPS panels take to make?
Eight to ten working days from order. That covers IPS panels, IPS units and replacement washroom panels, all made to order. Vanity units run at seven to ten working days. If the panels need to land alongside a sanitaryware delivery, tell us at enquiry stage so we can plan the run around that date.
Do IPS panels have a fire rating?
Fire performance depends on the laminate and the core specified, so we do not publish a single figure. If the project requires a fire retardant core we build the panel on FR MDF and send the certification that applies to that build-up. Raise the requirement at enquiry stage, not after the panels have been made.
Can you match panels to an existing washroom?
Usually. Send the panel sizes, the cut-out positions and a photograph of the decor taken in daylight. We will match the board type and get as close as the current decor range allows. On older installations an exact match is not always available, and we will tell you that before manufacturing rather than after delivery.
Related guides
Send the setting-out and we will price the run
IPS panels and units are made to order in Bolton on an eight to ten working day lead time, priced exc VAT.