If your project involves trench drains, you've got some important decisions ahead of you. How can you select the right trench drain system to meet your needs? Here are the seven most important things to consider when selecting drainage.
#1: Flow Rate
Since a drainage system's primary job is to remove liquids quickly, you'll need to consider flow rate. How much can the drain remove, and how quickly?
Other drain systems have complicated formulas for determining flow rate, with many variables to consider. But with Slot Drains, calculating the flow rate is easy: just look at the width of the slot. The slot opening determines the flow rate.
- 1/2 inch slot opening = 11 gallons per minute per foot of slot
- 1 inch slot opening = 18 gallons per minute per foot of slot
- 1 1/4 inch slot opening = 27 gallons per minute per foot of slot
If your project has other flow rate requirements, we can customize the depth of the trough to increase the flow rate.
#2: Load Capacity
How much weight does your drainage system need to handle? In low-traffic areas, your load capacity requirements might be low. Many of our customers, however, find that they need their drains to be able to handle heavy equipment and high traffic throughout the work day.
With traditional drain systems, you must consider the material of your grate to ensure it meets your load capacity needs. Even with a heavy steel grate, the grate will eventually degrade over time under heavy loads.
Slot Drain removes grates from the equation. Because Slot Drains blend seamlessly into the floor, they stand up to heavy loads without wearing down or breaking. Both our 9000 Series Slot Drain and our 7000 Series Slot Drain are heavy load class and can stand up to stresses of high-traffic environments.
#3: Chemical Resistance
Even if your trench drain system primarily handles water, it still needs to be chemical resistant. You want to be able to clean your drains thoroughly and repeatedly, which means they can't corrode when exposed to cleaning chemicals.
No matter what liquids your system handles, Slot Drain meets your needs with several material choices. All of our Slot Drain product lines come in stainless steel to handle chemicals without corrosion.
#4: Heat Resistance
Remember to consider the temperature of the liquids your system will handle. Industrial plants, breweries, and food processing facilities may need to remove liquids at elevated temperatures. For traditional drains, you'll have to consider the heat resistance of both the trench material and the grate material.
Since Slot Drain systems don't have grates, it's easier to select the right material and have confidence in your selection. All of our stainless steel systems handle extreme temperatures, which gives you the flexibility to select the system you need.
#5: Ease of Maintenance
While you are probably most concerned about your drain during design and installation, don't forget about ongoing maintenance. How will you clean it? What parts will need replacing over time?
Slot Drains come with special tools to make cleaning easy. If you need to flush your drains regularly, we offer the Flush Flo system, which allows you to clean your drains manually or set a timer for regular flushing.
Because Slot Drains eliminate grates, you don't need to worry about those replacement costs over the life of the drain. Slot Drains are built to stand the test of time and require very little ongoing maintenance.
#6: Safety
Your trench drains have to be safe. You cannot have hazards like broken or lose grates or standing water in your facility. With Slot Drains, you can choose the slot opening width that meets your safety needs. Our 1/2 inch slot opening is ADA compliant, while our 1 1/4 inch opening removes liquids quickly, so there's no chance of liquids pooling on your production floor. And you'll never have to worry about the danger of broken grates or open trenches.
#7: Lifespan
Installing trench drains is a major project that you don't want to have to repeat. Over time, many drain systems degrade, developing gaps and leaks. It's worth investing in your system up-front so it serves you well for years to come.
As you are considering which type of drain system to install in your facility, we'd love to answer your questions about Slot Drains. Contact us today to learn more or download our product guide using the button below:
