Trench Drains For Breweries
Whether it’s inside the coolers, by the fermenters or in the bottling area
A well designed and planned drainage system is fundamental for a properly functioning brewery. Quality materials, planning and installation can ensure smooth operations for years to come. Trench drain systems in breweries are best to be in durable materials so they don’t corrode or deform. Site considerations include high temperatures, caustic chemicals and hygiene. Stainless steel grates with HDPE channels are optimal for breweries large and small. These materials can withstand high temperatures and caustic chemicals.
Because we are dealing with caustic chemicals, heat and beer is a beverage meant for human consumption, the trench drains in use are made out of materials that are resistant to bacteria, corrosion, chemicals and heat. Stainless steel and HDPE are good examples. A brewery trench drain system is quite extensive and extends over the following areas:
1. The area where the fermentation takes place.
2. The part of the brewery where the bottling takes place.
3. The place where the actual brewing happens.
4. Between the fermenters.
5. The testing area.
6. The bottling packaging area.
7. The warehouse.
Brewery trench drain systems are generally 6" wide, pre sloped and made of hdpe channels and 304 stainless steel grates. Channels are externally sloped .7%-1.0%. Channels have slip joints to extend and create sealed runs and brackets for rebar to prevent floating during the concrete pour and minimize site installation error.
We can guide you through the brewery buildout process
Trench drains are found in breweries in between the fermenters, in the bottling area, the walk in cooler, loading areas and brewery floor.
Brewery trench drains are designed to withstand caustic chemicals, high and low temperatures, forklift traffic, and pallet jacks. Grate options come in stainless steel, ductile iron and HDPE, a high density polymer. Channels come pre sloped and can extend runs upwards of 240 feet. The drainage system of a brewery is an integral part of it's longevity and functionality. A successful trench drain project comes down to proper design, installation and the right product choice. There are two main brewery drainage systems used today: Grated Drains and Slot Drains.
Grated Drains
These types of trench drains come with a trench cut that is 6 to 12 inches in dimension. It is ideal for breweries with two to three floor sloping, tilted at a specific angle. Such stainless steel drains enable you to observe what flows through them, allowing you to quickly notice anything that should not be there in the drains. However, maintaining these drains is quite cumbersome and a little risky for the workers, when compared with slot drains.
Slot Drains
These types of drains, on the other hand, are easier to maintain and can carry a heavier load without being at risk of a breakdown. Slot drains for breweries are designated Class F loan on account of their greater load-bearing capacity. Such systems leverage the force of gravity with the load being able to flow right to the edge of the drain, even while the wastewater is collected in the trench drain positioned below the surface.
The thing about breweries is the fact that they are often housed in converted buildings and may often have inadequate drainage or slope. That is why it is very important to install the right kind of trench or slot drains to help provide extensive drainage surface area, to allow one to keep the floors clean. The right kind of trench drain can last for a long time.
Depending on how big your brewery is, we can formulate how much water you will expect to be using
Sloped systems with 6” wide grates are usually the starting point. Stainless steel, Cast Iron and Polymer have all been used but in areas with chemicals stainless steel is the best solution as it doesn’t react to the chemicals used as much as the others. Other materials may warp over time. There are different things to consider during the brewery buildout process such as grate material choice, channel material choice, width, slope and run length and outlet size.
Factors That Go Into Designing a Brewery Trench Drain:
1. It’s important to consider the storage area as spills may happen.
2. The dimension of a trench drain should be at least four inches in the brewhouse floor. The water usage, for instance, is generally 4-5 times the amount of beer produced.
3. The trench drain should be pre sloped to enable faster drainage. It should also be equipped with a catch basin that will retain any solids and prevent them from flowing ahead with the effluent.
4. Operations of the trench drain system in a brewery, subjects it to high temperatures and harsh chemicals. It is important, therefore, that the trench drain system installed there, can withstand the treatment. This is extremely important because there cannot be any compromise on hygiene and sanitation when it comes to a brewery.
5. There may be heavy loads that will go over the grates covering the channel. This includes people, forklifts and pallet jacks. Both the trench drain and the grates, therefore, need to be sturdy and durable enough to handle the wear and tear. A less than adequate quality installation could lead to much higher expenses in the long run on account of its compromised longevity.
There are also different ideas for the catch basin
Catch basins can be used at the end of runs to collect and filter any debris or buildup that may outlet the drain. These drais are designed to fit with these catch basins. Inline catch basins are 6" wide and 27.5" deep
If it’s just replacement grates for an original system or an entire new system give us a call to go over your options. We have solutions for whatever job.
6" wide Brewmaster Trench Drain
The 6" wide brewmaster 600 is a best in class pre sloped trench drain system. Made out of durable 304 stainless steel grates. Channel options in HDPE and Stainless Steel. Used by large breweries, craft breweries and microbreweries alike.
Durable. Functional. Cost Effective.
