Closing a plasterboard partition or ceiling without planning any access point to the installations hidden inside is one of the planning mistakes that costs most afterwards, when something has to be located and repaired blind.
Which elements need planned access
Water stop valves, trap chambers, important electrical junction boxes, concealed cistern mechanisms or motorised blind motors are usual examples of elements that sooner or later need inspection or replacement, and should remain accessible by design.
Access hatches: the cleanest solution
There are access hatches specific to plasterboard, with their own frame that blends into the finish (paintable or with a grille, depending on use) and let the access be opened and closed without damaging the board each time. Their cost is low compared with chopping into and repairing a finished partition later.
Why plan it before closing, not after
Once a partition has been closed and finished, adding an access point means cutting the already-painted board, with the consequent repainting and sometimes a texture mismatch with the rest of the wall. Asking the plumbing and electrical installers which points will need future access, before closing the partition, saves that extra cost.
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