Trench Drain Forming System

Original Cast-In-Place Forming System

TrenchFormer is the original expanded concrete cast-in-place channel drain forming system. Completely customizable forming sections allow designers to select the width, depth, shape, and slope for any specification and project conditions. The resultant high precision monolithic trench is faster and easier to install when compared to traditional hand-formed cast-in-place trenches.

Significantly, the concrete former is entirely removed prior to service allowing complete inspection of the workmanship and quality of the final product. Other systems conceal concrete voids, which could lead to frame collapse and other failures.

TrenchFormer TFX
U Leg Adjustable Clamp Anchor Studs EPS Former Deforming Groove Intrinsic Trench Sediment Control and Safety Cross Ties Structural Rail Prefabricated Assemblies Color Coded Labels

U Leg

No-float U-Legs eliminate subgrade barrier penetration common with most competitors systems and the concrete anchoring slab holds the forming system firmly in place.

Adjustable Clamp

The adjustable clamp allows the formwork to be micro-adjusted once the anchoring slab is poured over the bottom of the u-legs and prevents uneven joints.

Anchor Studs

Welded concrete studs independently anchor the frame into the surrounding concrete delivering structural load transfer and maximum service life.

EPS Former

Expanded Polystyrene formers can be cut with any desired custom slope and are used to create our standard radius bottom TFX systems, or any custom shape, cast-in-place concrete trench.

Deforming Groove

The center V-shaped section aids installation alignment with the adjoining former sections.  After concrete placement, the deforming "V" will break free and enables easy deconstruction of the trench.

Intrinsic Trench Sediment Control and Safety

EPS Formers ensure there are no open trenches during concrete placement and curing. Formers can support light pedestrian traffic and remain in place during construction to serve as an EPA sediment and trash control BMP (best management practice).

Cross Ties

Metal cross ties hold structural steel rails tight to the foam former for consistent horizontal spacing.

Structural Rail

Most manufacturers use sheet metal overlay rails.  Our structural steel angle is independently anchored to maximize load transference into the encasement concrete.

Prefabricated Assemblies

Prefabricated turn and tee assemblies are available and allow quick and easy field installation.  Unlike our competitors, load bars come standard in all of our assemblies to reinforce the unsupported rails located at the joint. 

Color Coded Labels

Color-coded labels allow easy matching with other system components.

Concrete Trench Drain Forms 

At ABT, we use precision engineering to produce concrete trench drain forming systems our customers can depend on. When you combine expert cast-in-place pouring methods with the TrenchFormer TFX channel drain forms, the end result is a concrete U-shaped drainage channel that’s made to last. Pre-engineered support simplifies the installation process and helps each channel maintain its structural integrity. 

TRENCHFORMER – GREEN ASPECTS

LEARN HOW TRENCHFORMER IS GREEN

The expanded polystyrene forms are manufactured without CFC’s and can be disposed of safely and easily.  It’s also recyclable and makes a high-quality fuel for commercial incinerators.  The TrenchFormer TFX concrete trench drain forms reduce the amount of landfill materials associated with cast-in-place or liner systems.

DOWNLOADS


TrenchFormer® Cast-in-Place Forms Product Data

TrenchFormer  6″- 24″
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
TrenchFormer is a pre-engineered, cast-in-place concrete forming system for forming surface drainage trenches, catch basins, utility chases, and voids in concrete placements. The system includes expanded polystyrene (EPS) form profiles, steel inlay rails, patented no-float legs, grates, and grate retainers. TrenchFormer is available in various width, depths, slopes and trench bottom configurations. TrenchFormer replaces hand-forming, heavy materials, keyways and waterstops normally required with trench drains and utility chases.
Its components are made in the most commonly constructed sizes. TrenchFormer consists of 8 ft. (2.4 M ) pre-sloped form segments.  Former sections are available in a variety of slopes.
The segments have integral deforming grooves for easy removal and full length longitudinal grooves for coplanar rail spacing.
The steel components are angle rails with anchoring studs welded on 11 in. (280 mm) centers to the outside corners. 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) threaded U-shaped no-float legs attach to horizontal tabs on each rail. Each rail end is designed to accept a Rail Alignment Clip which retains adjacent rail segments.
Prefabricated L-rail and T-rail assemblies allow for field installation of 90° turns anywhere in the pre-sloped layout.  These assemblies have rail reinforcement built into the areas where the grates are unsupported in other systems. This reinforcement provides load capacity for AASHTO H2O load ratings.

Outlet piping is butted to an annular groove made in the EPS form prior to concreting. For trench junctions or for large outlet sizes, four catch basins are provided. A selection of gratings and solid covers is available for various loadings.

 

TF Schematic Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms

 

Precision Engineering

Precision is engineered into the TrenchFormer cast-in-place trench drain system, eliminating the need for highly skilled and expensive labor. Accurate to within 1/16″ (1.5 mm), the former shapes have longitudinal grooves for proper rail spacing, and integral deforming grooves for easy removal.

Low Cost Trench Drain Construction

The ABT TrenchFormer cast-in-place trench drain system requires no heavy machinery (except for excavation) and is in place in a fraction of the time of previous cast-in-place trench drain construction methods, reducing installed costs by at least 33%.

 

Easy Installation

A non-structural anchoring slab placed over the no-float legs holds the form work firmly in place without elaborate anchoring. Concrete can then be placed monolithically, eliminating cold joints, keyways, and waterstop material between the trench drain floor and walls. Forms can be removed in 24 hours or can be left in place indefinitely, preventing unsafe open pits on the job site. There are no piping alignment problems because piping is butted to the form work and cast-in-place.

 

Environmentally Sound

The TrenchFormer EPS forming medium is manufactured without chlorofluorocarbons for easy and safe disposal. The forming medium is recyclable, makes a high quality fuel for commercial incinerators.

 

Low Maintenance

The ABT TrenchFormer cast-in-place trench drain system components are designed for long service life. The steel rails are either powder epoxy coated or galvanized. Drain grates and covers are of uncoated ductile iron, grey iron, or galvanized steel. The trench drain built-in slope and radius bottom features help to eliminate debris buildup make the trench drain system virtually maintenance free.

 

Versatility

The strength of the TrenchFormer System is its ability to be economically modified to provide the correct solution. Trench width, depth, cross section shape, rail size, rail material, invert slope, system strength, etc. can be changed to meet the application’s requirements.

The TrenchFormer cast-in-place concrete forming system for forming trench drains, catch basins, utility chases, and voids in concrete placement is manufactured by ABT Inc., the industry leader in modular drainage systems for commercial and industrial use.

TrenchFormer® TFX 6″ – 24″ Grates

Banded Bar Grating – 200 Series

Image Part Number Additional Info Documents
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
12.208C.FG

Old Part No: 1468.14

Load Class: C

Trench Width: 12″

Grate Width: 13.75″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc

High Intake Slotted – 502 Series

Image Part Number Additional Info Documents
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
08.502E.GB Load Class: E

Trench Width: 8″

Grate Width: 10.5″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
12.502D.FB

Old Part No: 1502

Load Class: D

Trench Width: 12″

Grate Width: 13.75″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • pdf

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
18.502E.GB Load Class: E

Trench Width: 18″

Grate Width: 20″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • pdf

Spec Sheet:

  • doc

Longitudinal Slotted ADA – 504 Series

Image Part Number Additional Info Documents
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
08.504E.FE Load Class: E

Trench Width: 8″

Grate Width: 10″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
12.504G.FB

Old Part No: 1504.14

Load Class: G

Trench Width: 12″

Grate Width: 13.75″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc

Standard Slotted – 603 Series

Image Part Number Additional Info Documents
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
06.603D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 6″

Grate Width: 8″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
10.603D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 10″

Grate Width: 12″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
18.603D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 18″

Grate Width: 20″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
24.603D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 24″

Grate Width: 26″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

Slotted Heel Proof ADA – 606 Series

Image Part Number Additional Info Documents
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
06.606D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 6″

Grate Width: 8″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
08.606D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 8″

Grate Width: 10″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
12.606D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 12″

Grate Width: 14″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
18.606D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 18″

Grate Width: 20″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc

Solid Cover – 501 & 601 Series

Image Part Number Additional Info Documents
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
08.601D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 8″

Grate Width: 10″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
10.601D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 10″

Grate Width: 12″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
12.501G.FB

Old Part No: 1500.14

Load Class: G

Trench Width: 12″

Grate Width: 13.75″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
18.601D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 18″

Grate Width: 20″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
24.601D.FB Load Class: D

Trench Width: 24″

Grate Width: 26″

Detail Sheet:

  • pdf
  • dwg

Spec Sheet:

  • doc

TrenchFormer® TFX 6″ – 24″ Accessories

Catch Basins

Image Part Number Documents Notes
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
Part# 1900 (12 x 24 x 24) #1900 Detail Sheet

#1900 Detail Sheet

Custom Sizes Available

Call ABT@ 800-438-6057

 

Part# 1901 (12 x 24 x 36) #1901 Detail Sheet

#1901 Detail Sheet

Custom Sizes Available

Call ABT@ 800-438-6057

 

Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
Part# 1610 (21 x 24 x 24) #1610 Detail Sheet

#1610 Detail Sheet

Custom Sizes Available

Call ABT@ 800-438-6057

 

Part# 1611 (21 x 24 x 36) #1611 Detail Sheet

#1611 Detail Sheet

Custom Sizes Available

Call ABT@ 800-438-6057

 

T-Rail Assembly

Image Part Number Documents Notes
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
Varies with trench width

L-Rail Assembly

Image Part Number Documents Notes
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
Varies with trench width

Former Release

Image Part Number Documents Notes
Concrete Trench Drain Forming System - Channel Forms
#1336 (1GL) #1336.5G (5G) Former Release:
non petro based