What Influences Drain Selection?
Before selecting a specific drain style, it is important to understand how the space will be used. A well-planned drainage system considers more than water removal – it accounts for how your facility operates every day.
Factors that influence drain selection include:
- Water volume and runoff patterns
- Facility layout and equipment placement
- Employee, cart, and forklift traffic
- Cleaning procedures and washdown practices
- Maintenance accessibility
- Future expansion or production changes
Operations often change over time as equipment is added, production increases, or processes evolve. Considering future needs during the planning stage can help ensure your drainage system continues to support the operation as requirements change.
The right solution begins with understanding how the space is used, where water is generated, and what the drainage system needs to accomplish.
Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Drain
✔ Where is the water coming from?
✔ How much water needs to be collected?
✔ How often is the area washed down?
✔ Will equipment discharge into this space?
✔ How will maintenance access the system?
✔ Are future layout or production changes expected?
Matching Drain Styles to Facility Requirements
Trench drains, slot drains, and floor drains are designed for different facility layouts and operational needs. Understanding how each style functions can help determine where they fit within a complete drainage plan.
Trench Drains feature a continuous channel designed to collect runoff across larger areas. They are commonly incorporated into processing areas, production lines, and washdown environments where consistent drainage is needed across a wider surface area.
The accessible channel design allows teams to perform routine cleaning and maintenance, making stainless steel trench drains a practical solution for facilities with frequent sanitation requirements.
Slot Drains use a narrow opening to provide continuous drainage while maintaining a streamlined floor profile. This configuration is commonly used near processing equipment, production lines, and spaces where layout efficiency is an important consideration.
The narrow inlet allows them to collect runoff without a traditional grate system, helping maintain an open design throughout the production environment. In hygienic settings, stainless steel slot drains provide a cleanable solution while supporting areas where space, accessibility, and traffic flow are important considerations.
Floor Drains provide collection points in specific areas of a facility. They are commonly used near equipment discharge locations, utility spaces, and areas where runoff is concentrated in one location.
Available in multiple configurations, industrial floor drains can be incorporated throughout a facility to support different processes, layouts, and operational requirements.
Drain Style Considerations
Why Many Facilities Use More Than One Drain Type
Each section of a facility serves a different purpose, which is why a complete drainage system often includes multiple styles. Production processes, cleaning procedures, equipment placement, and daily operations can all influence which solution works best for each space.
Common areas considered during drainage planning include:
- Processing areas
- Washdown zones
- Equipment cleaning stations
- Utility and support spaces
By understanding how each area functions, facilities can incorporate trench, slot, and floor drains in ways that align with daily operations, cleanability, and long-term performance.
Find the Right Drainage Solution for Your Facility
Choosing an effective drainage system starts with understanding your application, environment, and operational needs. Whether your facility requires trench drains, slot drains, floor drains, or a combination of solutions, proper planning can help improve performance and simplify long-term maintenance.
With more than five decades of manufacturing experience, AWI understands that every facility operates differently. That’s why we offer a full line of stainless steel drainage products, with standard options and custom capabilities designed to support a variety of applications.
Explore AWI’s stainless steel drain products and find a solution built around your facility.
Previous
Next
