Self-Grip Seals

Self-grip seals, also known as edge trims, are commonly used to seal inspection hatches on boats, road tankers and industrial machinery to stop the ingress of water, air or dirt. These products comprise of two parts; a solid rubber self-grip trim and a sponge rubber sealing bulb. The self-gripping trim contains a metal ribcage that allows the seal to hold itself onto the panel edge without the need for additional adhesive. The sponge sealing bulb can be located on either the top or side of the self-gripping trim, depending on the angle in which the hatch door closes against the section. It is manufactured from a closed-cell sponge rubber so will not absorb water.

To identify the best seal for your hatch, you will need to select a product that tightly fits onto the panel edge and sufficiently compresses when the hatch is closed. To determine this, you will need to measure the thickness of the panel that the seal will be clipped over as well as measuring the diameter of the sealing bulb on your existing seal.

We recommend compressing the sponge bulb on self-grip seals by approximately 30%. This allows you to create a reliable watertight seal but also reduces the chance of compression set. It may be necessary to manufacture ‘stops’ around the edge of the hatch to ensure that the lid does not apply excessive compression onto the seal.