Editing v0.34:Hatch cover

{{Quality|Superior|15:35, 22 October 2013 (UTC)}}
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A '''hatch cover''' (also called a '''floor hatch''' or just '''hatch''') is, in effect, a [[door]], but controlling the passage between Z-levels instead of along the same Z-level. They can be placed over [[stairs]] or [[ramp]]s, or open space as long as they are supported by an adjacent floor tile.

Like doors, they can be linked with mechanisms, locked, or kept tightly closed to keep out water, pets and foes alike.  They can be set as internal, but as [[room]]s cannot occupy multiple Z-levels, this has no effect.

When closed, hatches appear as {{Raw Tile|¢|0:7:1}}; they are not visible when open. A hatch cover's color is determined by the [[material]] it is made from.

As [[building destroyer]]s can only destroy buildings on other z-levels under [[Building destroyer#Destroying from underneath|certain conditions]], hatch covers can be quite effective at keeping out enemies if used properly.

They can be constructed from a [[Mason's workshop]], [[Metalsmith's forge]], [[Carpenter's workshop]], or [[Glass furnace]] from [[stone]], [[metal]], [[wood]], or [[glass]] respectively. Once {{k|b}}uilt, they may be placed with {{k|H}}.

A dwarf falling down stairs will be stopped by a closed floor hatch. A dwarf standing on a floor hatch over stairs will not start falling if the hatch is opened. A dwarf standing on a floor hatch above a ramp or open space will start falling if the hatch is opened.

Using a hatch cover, a garbage dump can be designed to drop items on the same Z level as the dwarf doing the dumping, thus removing risk of falling items causing injuries. This is done by channeling one square, and then constructing the hatch over the hole.  Designate a dump zone over the hatch, and haulers will neglect to open the hatch, leaving the hauled items on the floor nearby instead.

It is currently impossible to decend through a hatch cover in adventure mode, so remove them ahead of time.

{{buildings}}
{{Category|Furniture}}