Trench Drain Trap Sediment

We Hate Grates – 8 Reasons Slot Drain is Great!

Grates are a headache for construction professionals, architects, and owners when they run into maintenance, breakage, and safety issues. This construction season, consider why professionals are switching to drainage systems that are free of grates. Learn why Slot Drain Systems hate grates.

8 Reasons We Hate Grates

High-heel-stuck-in-grates

Trench-Drain-Trap-Bacteria

Rusty-Grates

— Grates are Difficult to Clean
Grates need to be removed when cleaning, which can take a lot of time and money. For industries such as food processing, there are strict protocols and guidelines in cleaning and maintaining drains. Each grate needs to be removed and scrubbed to adhere to the cleaning guidelines. Not only are gratings hard to clean, they are time-consuming to clean.

— Grates are Costly to Maintain
The life span of grated drains depends on the materials and the environment. Considering the cost of cleaning (removing grates and scrubbing them) and you can spend up to $15, 860 per year to maintain your drain.

Trench Drain Cost Breakdown

These figures don’t take into account the costs associated with replacing drain covers after wear and tear. It is worthwhile to consider alternatives to grates.

— Grates can cause Injury
Grates can be hard to remove. An iron grate section can weigh 40 to 50 pounds per foot. During the cleaning process, this weight can result in injuries, workers compensation claims and other lost revenue.

Also, it’s important to consider ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Compliance when planning your drainage system. ADA compliance requires the slot space be no wider than ½ inch.

— Grates can Trap Bacteria
The rough and porous materials cause bacteria to be trapped within the grating of drains. It’s important to choose drainage materials that are polished or smooth to prevent this.

— Grates can be Smelly
We hear from construction owners that foul odours are often emitted from trench drains. Many grated trench designs have wide channels and are not sloped so standing water and sediment build up. The by-product of poorly cleaned or neglected drains is bad odours.

— Grates take longer to Install
When you add up the costs of the drain channel, grates, end caps, basins, outlets, connectors, locks, there are a lot of accessories and components that can increase the cost of the drain and the time it takes to install it.

— Grates can be Damaged by Heavy Traffic
If you have a forklift in your warehouse or facility, heavy traffic can damage the grating on your trench drain. The cost of the drainage system increases every time a new grate has to be purchased to replace an old one.

— Grates Rust and Corrode
In facilities that use harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures, its important to find a drainage system that will not break down, rust or corrode.

Industries/Buildings Affected by Grates

Car Washes – Grates corrode due to cleaning chemicals
Fire Stations and Warehouses with Forklift – Grates bent by heavy traffic
Food Processors – Grates trap bacteria and are hard to clean
Educational and Public Facilities – Grates are not pedestrian friendly
Wineries and Breweries – Grates corrode from acidic chemicals

No Grates are Actually Great

Find out how your drainage system can evolve when you eliminate grating. Join the ‘we hate grates’ movement by switching to a slotted trench drainage system.

What is a Slotted Trench Drain?

Further Reading: The Skinny on Slot Drains

hate grates hate grates

Slotdrain Guide