Author Archives: Hannah Schroer

How to Replace 1 Inch Thick Grates

1 in Thick Bar Grate

Let’s just say it: 1” thick grates aren’t considered heavy duty anymore. Standards change. Architects once specified one inch thick iron grates for loading docks, warehouses and industrial areas. Typically, contractors installed them in an angle iron frame using the old wooden box form method. Why can’t I replace my 1” iron grates? Increased traffic […]

TDS 3000 Series empowers art at Newark electric station

3000 Series, TDS 3000 Series, plaza drains, fiberglass trench drain

Hurricane Sandy took its toll on many things, including Newark’s grid reliability. PSEG decided to invest $277 million into a new switching station in the Fairmont Heights neighborhood of Newark to improve the city’s grid reliability after Hurricane Sandy. Switching stations re-route electricity to backup lines in case of failure. So if the main distribution […]

The Trick With Trench Drains in Suspended Slabs

suspended slabs, trench drain second floor,

Suspended slabs are trickier to pour than on-grade floors. Likewise, installing a trench drain in a suspended floor requires more thought than does an on-grade drain installation.  I’ve come up with a few considerations to help prevent your suspended slab drain install project from going sideways. DISCLAIMER: For fork truck traffic on suspended floors, don’t […]

3 Things I learned about trench drain at BrewExpo America

brewery drains, trench drains in breweries, brewery floors

I attended BrewExpo America in Philadelphia this spring. I learned a little about brewery floors and drains, and I’d like to share the experience. Stainless Drains Were Out in Force Stainless drains were all the rage at the Expo. Typically, they were 6” wide with a V-shaped interior. The channels sloped to an outlet or […]

Controlling Highway Runoff: Linear Drainage vs. Inlets

highway drains 101

Without containment, storm water can cause traffic hazards on highways. Rain storms send water rushing across highways and bridges, leading to increased runoff into the environment and a greater risk of hydroplaning due to sheet flow. Highway engineers use two types of drains to control surface water on highways: Linear Drainage Systems Catch Basins (Inlets) […]

Project Profile: Yergey Brewing trench drains

ABT drain, brewery drains, vinylester brewery drain,

A new brewery opened in the Lehigh Valley this fall. Yergey Brewing, owned and operated by Jim Yergey, is a nano-brewery specializing in strong ales and stouts. I visited the opening weekend to sample some of the eight beers on tap. Yergey Brewing opened with a solid offering that includes three IPAs, three stouts and […]

There’s no such thing as the best brewery drain.

brewery drains, trench drains for breweries, brewery floor drains

A craft or microbrewery is a labor of love. Just as with the mash tun and fermentation vessels, owners want the best brewery drain for their brewhouse. If you are a brewer – or even a contractor planning a brewery construction – you understand that big decisions are made at every stage of construction. One of […]

3 Reasons To Consider Heel-Proof Grates

heelproof road drains, heel-proof grates, heel proof grating

Dear Construction Industry, don’t worry so much about heel-proof grates! Architects and contractors come to me all the time looking for trench drains – but with a catch! The grates need to be heel-proof. As in, no openings wider than .25 inches in the direction of traffic. But let’s get real here. 1. Heel-proof grates […]

Polycast 500 – A Polymer Concrete Deck Drain

poly 500, polycast drain, polycast trenchdrain, 500 deck drain, poly deck drain

The Polycast 500 is proof that not all commercial drains are the same. Hubbell Power Systems manufactures the Polycast Trench Drain Systems product line, which is geared toward commercial applications.  The Polycast 600 and 700 are well known polymer concrete trench drain brands commonly seen throughout the industry. Polycast 600 is a pre-sloped channel drain […]

The Skinny on Slot Drain

trench drain system, slot drain system, trenchdrain, iron grating, trench drain grates

Slot drains are a growing segment of the drainage market, but they haven’t broken into popular use – in America at least. Compared to trench drain systems, little is known about this type of drainage system. There are a few slot drain systems in the American market. More likely, trench drain manufacturers offer accessories that […]