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We manufacture customized floor drain covers, and basin lids, for vehicular traffic in variety of sizes, shapes, loads and drainage. In fact these covers are our most popular product line as they replace traditional casted drain covers and casted basin lids that you can find in warehouses, factories and parking lots. As damages to casted traditional covers start progressing and the casting falls apart piece by piece, the hazard of open drain or open basin increases. The open drain creates a hazard for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in factories, warehouses, parking lots, underground garages and variety of shops. These places form a secondary market aside of primary market formed by our highways and roads. We are the leaders in Canadian market for replacement of drain covers and basin covers in secondary market.

As we need more information to quote please contact us here. When you land on contact us please fill out the initial info. and then chose drain cover, then select quantity, location in your facility and what drives on the cover. Then provide other details and images of drain(s) as they refer to your present situation. Since we are asking for specific measurements, and you have difficulties measuring things, than please visit the page that will instruct you how to measure more precisely.

Replacement of old drain cover or old basin lid

The replacement of old casted drain cover or old casted basin lid with new ones requires participation of heavy equipment due to their significant cover weight. Additionally, it involves extensive concrete work that takes time and requires sufficient space. Unfortunately. the workspace in secondary market is not a highway or a road with plenty of space to park necessary heavy equipment. The secondary market workplace has often extremely limited space with no headroom and it has to be done fast due to scheduled business activities. Therefore such cover replacement could become impractical, challenging or simply impossible.

We provide the relatively inexpensive replacement of damaged traditional casting of drain cover, casted basin lid, at about 40% – 60% discount to the traditional solution. As the traditional solution involves not only replacement of a casted cover and also the drain’s concrete vertical channel, our drain covers do not require replacement of concrete underneath as long as the concrete is in good shape.

Customization is the key

In Canada, every drain has a different size as standards has evolved for years. To make things worse many builders have not followed the standards creating drains of less regular sizes. Therefore clients with aging infrastructure face problems in replacement of covers or basin lids.

As different sizes of drains create problems for Chinese made castings of covers and lids, our custom production allows for adjustment of size and shape to fit your old drain. We manufacture custom, rectangular, square and circular covers and basin lids in sizes that will fit your drain even if it has less regular shape.

Our covers and lids are fully customized

As the dynamic and static loads have increased in last 30 years, we are able to adjust the depth of the drain cover, drain cover thickness, to the new standards. We can manufacture drain covers and basin lids in increments of 1/4″ of depth therefore we can adjust your new cover to the old seat.

Client’s cover structure depends on static load, dynamic load and flow

Most importantly, we can adjust the cover structure and its depth to sustain higher loads whether they are static or dynamic. As our vehicles got larger and heavier with tires gripping increased, the static loads of passenger vehicles have increased by about 30% in last 20 years. Additionally, heavy trucks got also bigger and heavier, but our infrastructure is aging fast and it has never been built for these loads. On factory floors the new forklifts must turn in place due to lack of space causing dynamic loads the old drains simply cannot handle. Our empirical observation conclude that dynamic loads of vehicular traffic has increased at least 40%-50% in last 20 years not only due to increase weight of vehicles and increased quality of tires but also due to the way how we drive.

The traffic congestion, volume of delivery and productivity pressures cause increased frequency of maximum load testing on old casted covers and casted lids. And the results are clearly visible

More about JW Investrade Inc.

JW Investrade Inc. is a mother company of JW Portable Welding & Repairs. We have more than 20 years of combined company’s experience in designing, manufacturing & fabrication of customized floor drain covers. At JW Investrade Inc. in Lucan shop we often fabricate from metal grating but bar grating for vehicular traffic is our specialty. We also work on weldment fabrications that are much lighter than our covers and provide much better flow. Surely, we also fabricate for pedestrian traffic in cases you need more sophisticated project or catwalk repair. We strive on steel grating improvement.

Structure of our drain cover or basin lid

Our drain covers and basin lids consist of top steel plate and plate support structure. We manufacture these covers from plates 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, 7/8″ and 1″. The plate support structure is welded to the bottom of the steel plate and consist of steel flats, HSTS or HSTR, or mixed composition.

The structure of our cover depends on static load, dynamic load, and existing depth of steel support in your old drain. As the dynamic loads increase we opt to use heavier steel plates. Same refers to static loads, as static loads increase we opt to use heavier plates, thicker walled plate’s support structure, and more congested arrangement of plate’s supported structure. The existing restrictions of the old cover’s depth impacts the selection of plate thickness and plate’s support specification along with flow of liquid restriction.

Our designs often restrict the flow of liquid

The steel plate can be drilled or slotted. The slotting of steel plate increases the flow through the drain cover but it reduces the dynamic loads the drain cover can carry. Therefore the covers and lids for vehicular traffic often have holes in the rows. As we strive to provide the client with highest possible flow, we must balance it with dynamic and static loads. The sizes of holes and slots depend on the sizes of elements forming the steel plate support.

All covers and lids are hot deep galvanized after fabrication.

Drain covers and basin lids for vehicular traffic

Our drain covers and basin lids sustain static half axle loads of predominant vehicular traffic. The top plate ranges from 3/8″ to 1″ in increments of 1/8″. The total depth of the cover ranges from 1.5″ to 5″, therefore the remaining depth aside of steel plate thickness is taken by steel plate’s support structure. As mentioned above the drainage of our covers for vehicular traffic can be increased by slotting but in order to meet the load standards we often must increase the depth of the cover.

Our floor drain covers for vehicular traffic sustain

• high loads,
• high impact & vibration,
• abuse of drivers and
• corrosion.

We manufacture covers and basin lids for vehicular traffic in 3 structurally distinct styles: supported, unsupported/dropped in, and chamfer

Supported style drain cover or basin lid

We install supported style drain cover or basin lid directly on top of steel or cast support. This steel support is usually formed by steel angle frame embedded into concrete. In fact, many basins with broken leads still have their lids support in good shape, therefore we always try to use them.

In cases where steel angle frame has been compromised by rust, we can install a new frame of the same size or with size that provides grater depth and therefore accommodates covers of higher loads.

Some clients in the attempt to reduce cost decide to install the supported style drain cover directly on the concrete without any angle frame. The higher grades of concrete could support the vehicular traffic for many years but sooner than later the concrete will crumble under the dynamic loads of the vehicles. Some owners of mechanical shops with very low dynamic loads of vehicular traffic have surprisingly good results in this regard.

The installed cover’s top surface is flush top of surrounding concrete.

Unsupported style drain cover or basin lid

Unsupported style drain cover or basin lid does not have any steel support positioned directly under the cover therefore the cover hangs by the cover’s lid or frame structure. The old drains and basins in older facilities with designated low loads have these options as the supported cover versions were more expensive to install. It is very common for unsupported casted lids to develop cracks first especially in drains of larger spans.

The supporting load structure for unsupported cover style

The supporting load structure hangs inside the drain, that is why we call it drop in style. Therefore, the importance of plate’s thickness is paramount for unsupported style. The supporting load structure prohibits the bent of the top plate.

The supporting load structure that is welded to the steel plate could consist of structural components such steel angles for light loads, heavy flats, channels, or hollow structural tubes. These hollow structural tubes could be square ( HSTS) or rectangular (HSTR ). The supporting load structure supports the load as the name suggest. It also prohibits the horizontal movement of the cover.

We position the cover flush with concrete surface

In order to position the unsupported cover flush with surrounding concrete we must create a step down to sink in the cover. The depth of the step down should be at least as deep as thickness of the top plate. The sunk in plate additionally prohibits horizontal movement of the cover.

The major components of our unsupported cover for floors include top steel plate and supporting load structure that is welded to the top plate. The top steel plate’s thickness varies from 3/8″ to 3/4″. Thickness depends on the span, load and impact as well as minimum drainage factor. Pending client’s request we can use mild steel or Q&R steel for the plate.

Chamfer style covers and lids

Chamfer style drain cover and basin lids are combinations of supported style and unsupported style. They are basically supported style of cover that has increased depth of plate support in the middle of the cover. We very rarely manufacture these covers since it is very difficult to establish their loads. They presence is only justified in situation when the steel support has insufficient depth for a cover that must sustain much higher loads, and replacement of steel support that will offer depth is imposible.

Client receives lifters free of charge

Our drain covers or basin lids for are very heavy. They weight depends on their size and thickness of materials used. Therefore they can create heavy lifting and pinching hazards. We eliminate or reduce significantly these hazards by providing our covers with lifters. Our lifters not only help you and your partner lift the cover and then also help you install it properly. Our cover lifters make removal and installation of floor drain covers comfortable during maintenance and inspection of drains..

When ordering

Our customized floor drain covers and basin lids resist high loads, high impact, vibration and abuse. Therefore while ordering them we need to know where you are going to install them. And what kind of loads they will carry. Please specify in our contact page to where you will be installing our floor drain cover with following options available:

• Warehouse
• Mechanical shop
• Factory
• Detailing shop
• Carwash
• Yard
• Other

This simple selection will allow us to predict the frequency and size of loads and possible flow issues. This selection will also indicate if drivers turn wheels while vehicle stands on the cover.

Additionally, we need to know what kind of vehicles will drive on our drain covers. Therefore, you will have to chose from following selection

• Nothing
• Pedestrian traffic
• 1 Ton Forklifts
• 2 Ton Forklifts
• 5 Ton Forklifts
• Heavier than 5 Ton Forklifts
• Passenger Vehicles
• Pickup Trucks
• H-10
• H- 15
• H – 20 / HL- 92
• H – 25
• Heavier

The above selection will allow us to estimate the maximum load and maximum impact on our cover.

Shapes of our drain covers

Square sizes of our floor drain cover

We not only accommodate our floor drain covers to subjected loads and impact but also to size of drain openings. Most popular shapes are squares 12″ x 12″, 11 1/2″ x 11 1/2″, 17 1/2″ x 17 1/2″, 18″ x 18″, 19″ x 19″, and 24″ x 24″. We also accommodate sizes of fabricated floor drain cover to other sizes for clients with older drains. These older drains have openings in many untraditional sizes such as 13″ x 13″, 14 1/2″x 14 1/2″, 161/2″x 16 1/2″. Please visit grating steel measurements to become familiar with cover measurements and additional information we require prior quoting your project.

Rectangular floor drain covers suit narrow trenches.

These narrow trenches create headache for managers. Heavily damaged old grating damages tires of vehicles and driving over collapsed cover could create some hazards to vehicles. Additionally, workers could trip over the damaged drain cover.

Our floor drain covers that feature 3/8″ thick steel plate provides perfect resistance to impact coming from multiple directions. This steel plate also responds very well to turning of wheels standing on the cover. We manufacture these covers to meet the requirements of trenches including their length that will reach 3 feet.

The structural support under the plate prohibits bending the plate. It also allows for transfecting the load to angle steel support structure in the concrete. Since we use hollow steel tubes as structural support, we have increased the surface of load bearing acting on angular steel support. Therefore, we have reduced significantly concentrated load acting on steel angles support. That is why our drain cover extends the useful live of the steel angle support in the concrete.

Additional benefits of our floor drain cover for narrow drains/trenches

Additional benefit of increased surface for load transfer which in our case is at least 1″ or 1 1/2″ is the possibility to place it in spots where steel angle support is rusted out. Although we do not recommend placing them directly on concrete. But in emergency, you could do it to buy yourself some time. However, we still recommend to fix the angle support while our floor drain cover will do its job.

Having flexibility in thickness of the plate and flexibility of sizes for hollow structural tubes we can adjust the depth of our drain cover. This depth adjustment will eliminate the impact of wheel going from higher elevation of concrete to lower elevation of the drain cover. Our drain cover also provides the sufficient drainage.

Circular shapes

We also fabricate circular shapes for this model in variety of radiuses but they are not as popular as square and rectangular shapes. Additionally, we produce circular angle supports to accommodate circular shapes of the cover.

In most cases, the steel support in the concrete disintegrates much faster for circular shapes floor covers. Our clients must replace not only the floor drain cover but also its structural support.

Floor drain covers for pedestrian traffic

The floor drain covers for pedestrian traffic include drain covers from mild steel, stainless steel and from composite materials. Both types have its advantages and disadvantages. When considering installation of floor drain covers for pedestrians such factors as cost, strength, safety, corrosion resistance should be considered. And, sometimes clients must make compromising decisions that will affect their operation for a long time.

Supported drain covers for pedestrian traffic

We produce drain covers for pedestrian traffic for drains. They are very similar heavy bar grating trench covers. These drain covers feature usually traditional heavy steel banding bars instead of our banding tubes. The steel grating suitable for sidewalks provides good support for pedestrians and it welds well under our stringent welding procedure.

Most importantly, these drain covers have extended utilization time since the steel angle support of the drain provides sufficient load support to the cover.

Unsupported drain covers for pedestrian traffic

We produce also unsupported drain covers for pedestrians. Our clients place them on drains that do not have traditional steel angle support. Instead of heavy steel plate, we use again heavy bar grating that is welded to the reversed angle frame. We weld each bearing bar of the grating to the vertical toe of the reverse frame. The angle horizontal toe put on top of concrete provides the load support. Please note* that they cannot sustain any vehicular traffic what so ever.

Floor drain cover accommodates permanent concentrated load

In many warehouses, mechanical shops and factories, space is very valuable. Sometimes the drain location does not suit your layout for leg placement of heavy shelving, toolboxes or steel work tables. Also, the drain location does not allow for wheels placement of small equipment, and carts or even forklift’s wheels.

Our floor drain cover provides a solution to your layout problem since you can permanently place concentrated loads on top of it. The 1/2″ steel plate with support of bottom structure will carry the significant concentrated load and it will not bend due to supporting structure under it.

Stainless steel drain covers for pedestrians

The stainless steel floor drain covers are popular in commercial facilities where corrosion can contaminate production process or final product. The food processing and food production facilities prefer stainless steel drain covers. Additionally, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries also prefer stainless steel drain covers. In many of these industries galvanized steel is not allowed due to zinc contamination. That is why only stainless steel products are approved.

Stainless steel floor drain covers are rather expensive. Canadian suppliers do provide limited selection of light grating for these drain covers. Some American manufacturers run occasionally production line with stainless steel grating. Therefore, clients must wait a long time for specific stainless steel grating or they must import it from other countries. Our stainless steel drain covers come from China.

Going cheap is expensive

In most cases, clients decide to compromise the ideal stainless grating panels for stainless grating panels with much thinner bearing bars. Also, many clients decide to sacrifice the quality of stainless steel in order to move the project ahead. As a result these clients settle for stainless steel drain covers made from grating with very thin bearing bars. And, drain covers with lowest quality stainless steel.

The grating panels made with lower quality stainless steel tend to corrode in some harsh environment. Additionally, thinner than expected bearing bars do not resist impact sufficiently. Consequently, projects are consistently compromised by impact and corrosion. Therefore, patience and proper planning makes sense in projects involving stainless steel floor drain covers.

Proper engineering also impacts the success of the stainless steel floor drain cover. Wider surfaces for drain cover support minimize bowing of drain cover especially in presence of grating with thinner bearing bars.

Our involvement in stainless steel drain covers

We occasionally have been involved in customization of stainless steel drain covers. We have imported the stainless steel grating directly from offshore producer and then waited almost 5 months for import delivery. Finally, we have got what we wanted.

Our client’s layout did not allow for any vehicular traffic going on these stainless steel drain covers with drains located on lower level close to stainless steel boilers and no ramp. The drains opening had traditional angle supports made also from stainless steel for supporting the stainless drain covers. Our involvement was reduced to welding of stainless steel banding and precise cutting.

Since warpage risk is a well known issue when welding stainless steel, we have reduced our anti vibration welds present on each side of bearing bar to welds present just on one side of bearing bar. But, we have welded the whole depth of the each bearing bar. Due to lack of vehicular traffic in this area such approach was justifiable. In this way we have also met the industry standard welding procedures.

Contact us to quote

When you land on contact us please fill out the initial info. and then chose drain cover, then select quantity, location in your facility and what drives on the cover. Then provide other details and images of drain(s)