There are a growing number of trench drain installations being made using decorative or ornamental grating.  I have written a number of blog articles on the topic.  Traditional slotted trench drain grating may be functional, but let’s face it:  if you are going to use trench drain in a commercial or residential drainage project, you might as well make it look nice.  A number of companies are in the marketplace that supply truly top-shelf ornamental grating.  However, from everything I’ve seen, I think IronAge Designs has the most versatile product line at the most affordable pricing.

In this article, I’m not going to discuss grate pricing.  Contact www.trenchdrain.biz  for product pricing.  I am going to show you 10 ductile iron ornamental grating products manufactured by Ironage Designs.  The designs are unique and creative.  All the grates are ADA (American Disability Act) compliant and are strong enough to be used with vehicular traffic.  Each grate displays a casting quality and detail that could someday be architecturally significant in identifying a style used in the early third millennium.  More importantly, each grate is made to fit a trench drain channel size that has become the industry standard.  And, to this point, I will briefly discuss trench drain channel standardization in the United States market. 

Let me begin by sharing a little history.  ACO was the first prefabricated, pre-sloped polymer concrete trench drain manufactured in the United States and, possibly, in Europe.  When  the ACO Group (of Germany) first introduced their trench drain product line to the US market, they kept the metric dimensions used in Europe, having a standard channel length of 1 meter (approx. 40 inches) and the standard interior channel width of 100 millimeters (or about 4 inches).  A cast iron grate to fit this channel is about 4.8” x 19.6” (or 122mm x 498mm).

ACO was very successful in the US market and quickly became the company to emulate.  For instance, ABT developed a 1000mm x 100mm polymer channel to compete with ACO called PolyDrain.  Plumbing giant Josam began distributing MEA products (also from Europe), which we currently know as the Mea-Josam product line.  Even plumbing fixture company J.R. Smith licensed ACO technology to develop their Smith/ACO polymer concrete channel and EnviroFlo HDPE channel product lines.  Other manufactures followed suit.  All of these products have a 1000 mm (1 meter) polymer concrete channel with a 100 mm interior width.  In essence, this channel sizing has become the industry standard in the US, although there are other trench drain manufacturers, such as Zurn and Polycast, that have ignored the “me too” mindset and gone their separate way with the dimensions of the products they developed.

All this market imitation has led to a “standardization” of trench drain channel sizing, at least in the smaller products.  All of the 1 meter x 100mm channels will support, essentially, the same grates between brands.  Companies like ACO have tried to devise quick grate locking technology to separate themselves from the other manufacturers.  But, in the final analysis, all these channels can accept grating from competing manufacturers. 

This grating interchangeability and the “coming of age” of surface water control in the United States have allowed IronAge Designs to develop a niche product line.  IronAge has developed a number of attractive ornamental grates that measure 5” x 20” and fit the ACO, MEA, Polydrain and JR Smith 100mm wide channels.  

IronAge is constantly adding to their product line.  In fact, the Riverrock pattern shown at the beginning of this article was added to the IronAge product line after all my photographs were taken.  It is difficult to keep up with their complete product offering because they are always working on new projects.  Their growing product line is an indication of their respected designs and their affordable pricing structure.

I’m not going to give specific pricing on these grates, but I will say they are roughly twice the price of a standard slotted ductile iron grate.  Every grate you see in this article is the same price, though.  There is not one grate more or less expensive than another in this product grouping.

 As mentioned previously, these grates are made of ductile iron. Manganese bronze or brass grating can be made in one of these patterns if you want, but be prepared to pay 5 times the price of a standard iron grate.

Of the 10 grate patterns shown above, the Interlaken is the most versatile.  I’m saying this because IronAge uses this pattern in a number of catch basins and other size trench grating.  So, if you wanted to build a drainage system in your hardscape with more options than a single width trench drain, you will have more drainage structure options available if you use the Interlaken pattern.  The Locust leaf pattern and Oblio are two other patterns that come in different sizes.

If you have questions on any of these products, or want to have your own pattern developed, please contact a drainage specialist at TrenchDrain.Biz by calling 610-638-1221.  You can email us at sales@trenchdrain.biz.  Product cut sheets are available at www.ironagegrate.com.

This article is devoted to one of the NDS catch basin products called the Next Generation Basin or 1200 NGB. The 1200 NGB is a 12” x 12” catch basin that is unique because it allows you the flexibility of adjusting the invert elevations of the catch basin without changing elevation at grade (at the grating). No other residential grade catch basin has this feature. There are other neat features, as well.

The 1200 NGB basin also gives you an option in bottom discharging. In the bottom of every basin is an adapter knock-out (similar to the plug side knock-out), which allows the attachment of solid PVC pipe that feeds your drainage system. By attaching the bottom outlet to a perforated pipe, storm water can be used to recharge the ground water and create a leaching system. Small “weep hole” knock-outs are also located in the corners of the basin for those who are trying to rid the basin of standing water. The fourth option offered by the Next Generation Catch Basin is a total bottom cut-out which allows a maximum amount of storm water to be put back into the ground. As the ground becomes saturated, excess water would reach the pipe elevation and then be taken away in the drainage system. Though this option maximizes the water that remains on site, it is not the best option next to home foundations.

One of the best things about the 1200NGB system, though, is the amount of grating options that are available for it. Standard plastic grating comes in 4 colors: black, sand, green and gray. Also, there are bronze, brass, galvanized steel and cast iron options. Below are examples of the black plastic grating (left) and the standard slotted cast iron grating (right).

Other ornamental cast iron grating options are available through IronAge Designs. Below are four gorgeous patterns that are popular in patio and downspout catch basins. Clockwise from the upper left, the pattern names are Sun Drain, Locust, Interlaken and Oblio.

These grates shown to the right fit perfectly with the 1200 NGB. What makes the designs so fantastic is how each one incorporates a different image of nature into what would otherwise be a simple work of cast iron. At the top left, the Sun Grate exudes warmth and intensity; the sun seems to pop out of the plain background of circles. Consider painting this grate in bright colors prior to installation. On the top right, the Locust Grate provides a breezier feel; the leaf patterns soften the harshness of the material until it seems to flow. With the grate pictured on the bottom left, the Oblio Grate, you can get a sense of water in the concentric circles; the grate is reflecting the distorted surface of water during a rain. The Interlaken Grate on the bottom right has a beautiful yet strict design; it must be a representation of the solid form of earth.

All of these products are available from Trench Drain Systems. Call toll free at 877-570-2333 or email your inquiry to sales@trenchdrain.biz.