Trench drains, also called strip or channel drains, are a specific type of floor drains that contain a linear, channel-shaped body and have either grated or solid covering. The trough is rather dominant, hence, they are commonly recommended for the fast elimination of surface water. In some cases, they are used for containing chemical spills or utility lines.
Trench drains may be great for residential use, but largely they are utilized for commercial purposes. Learn about the top 3 major uses for commercial trench drains that will prove valuable to your business or organization:
3 Uses of Trench Drains
Commercial Showers
Infrastructures that require installation of several showers and toilets like hotels and hospitals must use trench drains. The likelihood of simultaneous users is high, so is the likelihood of flooding. In the case of hotels for instance where there are pools, tubs, and jacuzzis, there is a bigger need for quick removal of surface water.
Clogged drains for commercial establishments are not only bad for the business image but also dangerous as they might cause slipping accidents. Installing trench drains, therefore, will prove to be a valuable investment. Particularly, cast-in-place trench drains, grated and modular, are suitable for this purpose.
Airports
The installation of drains in airports is tricky. The designs vary and 
the spaces (e.g., hangars, runways, aprons, terminals, fuel areas, parking areas) are mostly flat without longitudinal slopes. Trench drains are perfect for airports because they can provide the needed slope underneath without complicated grading. The purpose of channels, after all, is not only to collect water from the surface but more importantly to direct the flow of water to the sewage.
Note that trench drains are made up of different materials like fiberglass, steel, plastic, or cast iron. The selection of material depends on the nature of airport activities – international, regional, or military. And which area is to be covered – parking, runway, or another space.
Generally speaking, however, since airports carry heavy loads, fiberglass precast or concrete-forming is evidently the preferred material. These options have larger storage (larger bottoms) and are less sensitive to UV rays, therefore long-lasting.
For proper installation, smaller airports with fiberglass precast must secure the areas surrounding the channel with concrete. Also, most airports drainage systems fail because of poor or constricted bearing area, so make sure that there is sufficient space.
Lastly, sealing the joints properly is essential, especially when the floor area or the pavement will be protected with a chemical-resistant coating. The sealant has to complement that of the pavement coating.
Public Spaces
Parks and sidewalks that require deepwater collectors and fast water absorption utilize trench drains. This especially holds true when there is moderate to heavy rain. No one likes to walk along streets with dirty water under the feet.
Sidewalks of courtyards in private buildings, for example, may use removable trench drains of about 4 to 6 inches wide, depending on space and load requirements. Given the efficiency of trench drains, hotel or restaurant patios won’t likely need wider grates to prevent pooling of water.
Nevertheless, talk to your builder or supplier for options. It’s likely they will recommend prefabricated concrete or steel. The decision is dependent upon several factors, like area elevation, structures surrounding, and expected the load and traffic.
Whatever material and type of trench drain you select, make sure to commission the help of a quality supplier and builder. Installation is critical as well as the coating of channels. Because of rust, bacteria, sunlight, and other elements, the quality of your drains will eventually deteriorate, causing total drainage failure. Extreme industrial coatings are required.
There you have them, the top 3 common commercial uses for trench drains – commercial showers (including pools), airports, and public spaces. Yet still, there are other relevant uses of trench drains, including commercial kitchens, bridges, and ports. Even your dainty community resto-bar may need one.
Contact Extreme Epoxy Coatings for all your trench drain needs across California.
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