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[Ostar]

I'm not clear on floor grates. Do they act like doors? If I put a floor grate over a stairway will dwarves still be able to use the stairway at will, or must the grate be linked to a lever or pressure plate to open it?

If not, is there some other construction that acts like doors over a stairway?

[WoobMonkey]

Floor grates are more like constructed floors, except that they allow liquids and gasses through.  You cannot link them to anything.

However, a hatch cover (can be built at a carpenter's, mason's, or metalsmith's) will do what you're looking for.  Just be aware that building a hatch cover on an up/down staircase will block access from above, as well as from below.

[smjjames]

You're thinking of floor hatches

[Ostar]

Ah.  Got it, thanks.

[Quietust]

Just be aware that building a hatch cover on an up/down staircase will block access from above, as well as from below.

No it doesn't - a floor hatch only blocks downward movement.

I just tested the following layout (side view):

Code: [Select]

_____>
_____X_____...
_____<With a floor hatch placed on the "X" tile, dwarves were able to access all 3 floors from the right; upon locking it, only the bottom floor became inaccessible (while the middle and upper floors could still be reached).

[WoobMonkey]

Just be aware that building a hatch cover on an up/down staircase will block access from above, as well as from below.

No it doesn't - a floor hatch only blocks downward movement.

I just tested the following layout (side view):

Code: [Select]

_____>
_____X_____...
_____<With a floor hatch placed on the "X" tile, dwarves were able to access all 3 floors from the right; upon locking it, only the bottom floor became inaccessible (while the middle and upper floors could still be reached).

I stand corrected, good sir/madam.

[Maw]

Floor grates are more like constructed floors, except that they allow liquids and gasses through.  You cannot link them to anything.

Pretty sure this is incorrect.  I've linked floor grates to a lever before, and been able to open and shut the grate.

Of course, the idea was so I could re-channel obsidian as the grate served as my water supply to seal a magma flow, but I couldn't channel under the open grate....

[FallenJoe]

Pretty sure this is incorrect.  I've linked floor grates to a lever before, and been able to open and shut the grate.

Of course, the idea was so I could re-channel obsidian as the grate served as my water supply to seal a magma flow, but I couldn't channel under the open grate....

FlooR grates or FlooD gates?

From what I can tell from the wiki, floor grates always let fluids through, but can be be toggled to permit dwarf passage like a floor hatch with the use of a lever.

[Maw]

Pretty sure this is incorrect.  I've linked floor grates to a lever before, and been able to open and shut the grate.

Of course, the idea was so I could re-channel obsidian as the grate served as my water supply to seal a magma flow, but I couldn't channel under the open grate....

FlooR grates or FlooD gates?

From what I can tell from the wiki, floor grates always let fluids through, but can be be toggled to permit dwarf passage like a floor hatch with the use of a lever.

FlooR

That's correct, I linked a floor grate to a lever and was able to open the grate - as in open access to the below (just couldn't channel where the grate normally stood - checked this is normal behaviour, like bridge constructions).

My comment was in reply to WoobMonkey's 'You cannot link them to anything.'

[PaleBlueHammer]

Curiously, I've also had a few situations where a built floor grate came un-built and set down next to the hole it was previously covering, but I'm not sure why.  I'd channeled down next to a brook to get some running water and then built the hatch over the hole to prevent... well, accidents. 

I think perhaps a caravan wagon rolled over it?  I've had no FBs as yet or trolls.

[Bumber]

Curiously, I've also had a few situations where a built floor grate came un-built and set down next to the hole it was previously covering, but I'm not sure why.  I'd channeled down next to a brook to get some running water and then built the hatch over the hole to prevent... well, accidents. 

I think perhaps a caravan wagon rolled over it?  I've had no FBs as yet or trolls.

Could've been a tantrum.

[Larix]

Does the water freeze in the winter? Buildings on/over "open space" that turns to an ice floor usually deconstruct. Wells over seasonally-freezing water fall apart when directly above the water but will stay intact if there's a level of open space between the well and the water surface.