No matter the industry, countless difficult issues can be solved with drainage solutions. Without proper drainage, equipment, products, and even employees are at risk for harm. Avoid these situations by choosing one of the top drainage solutions for industrial use in your manufacturing facility or warehouse. Let’s look at why drainage is essential and how each different type of drainage system works.
Why Drainage Systems Are Necessary
The purpose of a drainage system in industrial use is to channel excess water or any other substance that can safely be drained away from the facility. This is needed for several reasons such as the following:
- Removing water used for cleaning equipment and machinery.
- Removing dangerous chemical spills or chemicals being used in manufacturing.
- Flushing unwanted debris.
- Separating and filter liquids.
When installed correctly, the right drainage system keeps employees, equipment, and the entire facility safe and clean.
The Trench Drain
Trench drains are placed just below the surface and use a channel made of concrete covered with a grate to direct water or other forms of liquid and debris away from a specific area or building. There are two forms of trench drains: precast and cast-in-place. Let’s look at both.
Precast Trench Drain
The precast trench drain for industrial use is premanufactured, meaning it’s molded and cured at a manufacturing facility, then ordered and brought to a location to install. The benefits of a precast drain are as follows:
- Climate-controlled environment (for excellent curing results.)
- Less work onsite when installing.
- Ready for immediate use.
- Strong and fully cured.
- A variety of finishing options.
- Mass production (for greater availability.)
- Quality control (so you know what to expect.)
- Less crew and equipment for installation.
There are a couple of downsides to the precast trench drain as well. They are the following:
- Requires joints for connecting.
- No room for mistakes.
- No room for modifications.
- Transportation is difficult.
Cast-in-Place Trench Drain
The cast-in-place trench drain is just as it sounds: it’s cast onsite. Compared to a precast which is already formed and cured when delivered onsite, the cast-in-place is poured over forms that have been installed to create the trench drain. It’s then cured before it’s used. Here is a list of the pros of the cast-in-place trench drain:
- Formed onsite
- Has flexibility and is easy to modify
- No transportation needs
- Few joints needed
Now let’s look at the cons of the cast-in-place:
- Waiting period for the trench to cure
- Installation crew and equipment
- Fewer finish choices
- Climate affects installation
How To Choose Precast or Cast-in-Place
Both the precast and cast-in-place drainage solutions work well. As we look closer at the pros and cons, there are three important factors to consider when trying to choose between the two. Those factors are time, budget, and climate.
Time
When comparing the precast versus cast-in-place, it’s clear the precast takes less time to get up and running. The reason for this is that a precast trench drain is already formed and cured when it’s installed. Curing is what gives the drain its strength, so once fully cured, a trench drain is strong and ready to handle the drainage coming its way. This saves time if time is an issue.
Budget
If a facility can’t afford to pay for an extra crew and the equipment needed to pour a trench drain onsite, then a precast will most likely save the company money depending on the size of the job. Although the precast still requires skilled installers, there’s no need for a concrete pour, framing to form the concrete and all the equipment that goes along with it.
However, when a trench drain system is a very large project, sometimes the cast-in-place is a better choice because of its lack of flexibility.
Climate
Concrete is finicky, even though it’s very strong once it’s cured. If the industrial site isn’t climate controlled, then cast-in-place isn’t a good option. The greatest benefit of the precast method is its ability to be cured at the perfect temperature in a quality-controlled environment. When the precast trench drain is delivered, climate no longer matters since it’s formed and cured already.
Industries That Benefit From a Trench Drain System
As mentioned, drainage systems are used for more than the channeling of excess water. Let’s look at all of the ways they’re used.
Chemical Spills
During a chemical spill, chemicals must be contained or directed to a different area than stormwater or other water being redirected from the facility. When a trench drain is in place, if a chemical spill should happen, everything and everyone around it, including the water system, is protected.
Wash Water
In many industrial facilities, large machinery and equipment require cleaning on a regular basis. The water from washing has to go somewhere, and a trench drain is the best solution.
Wiring
Trench drains are a convenient solution when wiring and cables must connect to difficult-to-reach machinery. The trenches keep wires and cables safely out of the way. They should not be mixed with liquids.
Debris
Small particles that are washed away with cleaning and production are safely channeled through the trench drain.
Separation and Filtration
Trench drains may lead to filters and separation tanks for the purpose of recycling and cleaning whatever is drained.
Using the top drainage solutions for industrial use, either precast or cast-in-place trench drains, assures an industrial facility that equipment, machinery, and people are protected.
At ABT, we specialize in industrial trench drain systems. Our PolyDrain® polymer concrete trench drains are precast, chemical resistant, and able to meet hydraulic demands. For your cast-in-place needs, the TrenchFormer is a customizable forming system, which allows for precise and quick forming for the trench. The TrenchFormer is unique due to its ability to be removed prior to using the trench. Then, no mistakes are hidden and you’re left with the perfect trench drain.
Contact ABT and our team of specialists will let you know which application for a drainage system suits your needs the best.