Drainage / Linear Surface Drainage

Zurn Trench Drains

Q: Polymer concrete vs. HDPE trench drain — which is better?

It depends on the environment. Polymer concrete is dense and durable with a smooth interior for efficient flow, which suits heavy-duty and exterior slabs. HDPE is lightweight and highly chemical-resistant, installs faster, and handles frequent washdowns well. For aggressive sanitary or food-acid environments, stainless profiles are often preferred.

Modular Zurn linear trench drain systems — polymer concrete, HDPE, and stainless channels with ductile iron, steel, and decorative grates for commercial, industrial, and sanitary environments. Free shipping.

Zurn trench drains are modular linear drainage systems that collect surface water and carry it to a safe discharge point. Available in pre-sloped and neutral channels and built from polymer concrete, fiberglass, or HDPE, they resist corrosion and chemical damage while standing up to heavy loads — with mechanical interlocking ends, integral rebar clips, and secure grate lockdowns that simplify assembly across parking lots, warehouses, airports, and food-processing floors.

Linear Trench Drains

Trench Drain Catch Basins

Separators

What Is a Trench Drain — and Why Zurn?

A trench drain is a long, narrow drainage channel that collects surface water and directs it to a safe discharge point. In technical terms it's a linear drainage system with a pre-formed channel and a removable grate; in plain terms, it's a "slot in the ground" that keeps walkways, slabs, and floors from flooding or ponding.

Zurn trench drains bring a broad system portfolio, proven load ratings, corrosion-resistant materials, sanitary-friendly profiles, and a full range of reliable accessories — end caps, outlets, catch basins, trash buckets, and more — that help reduce RFIs and rework on the jobsite.

Core System Types & Materials

Zurn offers trench drains in several channel constructions to balance performance, cost, and environment:

Polymer Concrete Channels

Dense, durable channels with smooth interiors for efficient flow — ideal for heavy-duty and exterior slabs.

HDPE / Poly Channels

Lightweight, chemical-resistant channels that speed installation and handle frequent washdowns well.

Stainless & Sanitary Profiles

Preferred in food & beverage or healthcare where hygiene, cleanability, and corrosion resistance are critical.

Grate options: ductile iron, galvanized or stainless steel, and decorative patterns. Each grate carries an associated load class, so you can match pedestrian, forklift, or vehicular demands without guesswork.

Common Applications

Food & Beverage

Hygienic channels, stainless grates, and easy-clean profiles that stand up to sanitation cycles.

Manufacturing & Warehousing

Forklift-rated grates for interior slabs and dock aprons under constant traffic.

Commercial Exteriors

Entrances, plazas, loading areas, and parking where slope and sheet flow require capture.

Hospitality & Sports

Pool decks, locker rooms, stadium concourses, and pedestrian ways.

Infrastructure

Streetscapes and transit environments where durability and maintainability matter most.

Landscaped Areas

Decorative grates for public plazas and landscaped zones that need capture without an industrial look.

Specifying the Right System

Decision Point	What It Means	Typical Options
Channel Width	How much water you need to move.	4", 6", 8", 12"+ channels; deeper sections for higher capacity.
Material	Durability vs. chemical/temperature resistance.	Polymer concrete, HDPE, stainless, coated iron components.
Grate & Load Class	What will roll over it.	Pedestrian (light), forklift (medium/heavy), vehicular (heavy).
Hydraulics	How fast water arrives and must exit.	Slope-built channels, neutral channels with inverts, catch basins.
Environment	Exposure to chemicals, salt, heat, or food acids.	Stainless, coated iron, polymer concrete per risk profile.

Tip: for long runs, plan cleanouts and sediment baskets at strategic intervals to simplify maintenance and extend service life.

Installation Overview

01Layout & Invert

Confirm the run, outlet, and finished floor elevations. Identify high-flow zones and add catch basins where needed.

02Excavation & Base

Excavate to channel depth plus base thickness; place a compacted base or concrete leveling pad per submittals.

03Set Channels

Assemble channels in order, verify slope (or neutral run), align joints, and secure per manufacturer guidance.

04Form & Pour

Brace channels and grate rails square. Place concrete to spec thickness, vibrate to remove voids, protect grate seats.

05Outlets & Seals

Connect to piping, seal penetrations, and install end caps. Verify watertightness where required.

06Grates & Final Checks

Install grates with locking hardware, confirm elevations flush with the slab or pavers, and perform a flow test.

Maintenance & Lifecycle

Trench drains are low-touch when they're sized and detailed well. Build a schedule that includes visual checks after major storms, quarterly sediment removal, and annual hardware inspection of locks, frames, and joints. For sanitary spaces, match cleaning agents to material compatibility to preserve finishes.

Case Study: Food Plant Washdown Corridor

Project: a 120-ft washdown corridor connecting packaging to cold storage. Challenge: frequent sanitation cycles left standing water along the walls, creating slip hazards and audit findings.

Solution: a stainless Zurn trench drain system with 6" channels, neutral sections tied to a central catch basin, and lockable perforated stainless grates. Cleanouts were placed every 40 ft to speed sediment removal.

Outcome (90 days): floor drying time dropped by roughly 60%, and sanitation crews reported 30–40 minutes saved per cycle. No slip incidents occurred in the corridor during the period, audit remarks were cleared, and a weekly rinse plus monthly basket cleanout keeps flows consistent.

Zurn Trench Drain FAQ

How do I choose the right channel width?

Channel width follows the flow you need to move. Light pedestrian and interior runs often use 4" or 6" channels, while high-flow exteriors, wash areas, and vehicular zones step up to 8", 12", or deeper sections. Size to the peak flow at the drain, and add catch basins on long runs to keep the channel from overloading.

Which grate load class do I need?

Match the grate to whatever rolls over it. Pedestrian-class grates suit walkways and plazas; forklift/medium-heavy grates handle warehouse and dock traffic; and vehicular/heavy grates are required where trucks or cars cross the drain. When traffic is mixed or uncertain, step up a class rather than down.

Polymer concrete vs. HDPE — which is better?

Neither is universally better; it depends on the environment. Polymer concrete is dense and durable with a smooth interior for efficient flow, which suits heavy-duty and exterior slabs. HDPE is lightweight and highly chemical-resistant, installs faster, and handles frequent washdowns well. For aggressive sanitary or food-acid environments, stainless profiles are often preferred.

How do I keep debris from clogging the system?

Specify sediment baskets and cleanouts at strategic intervals, and use a grate style that balances open area against the debris you expect. A maintenance schedule — visual checks after storms and periodic basket cleaning — keeps solids from ever reaching the outlet and piping.

Can trench drains be used with pavers?

Yes. Set the channel and grate so the finished grate elevation sits flush with the surrounding pavers, and choose a decorative or paver-in grate where a clean architectural look is required. Confirm the grate load class still matches the traffic across the paved area.

What about sanitary environments?

For food, beverage, and healthcare spaces, use stainless steel channels and grates with sanitary profiles that clean easily and resist corrosion from food acids and sanitation chemicals. Pair with lockable perforated grates and sediment baskets, and match cleaning agents to the material to preserve the finish.