Patricia's Construction and Contracting Blog: Tips for Novices to Experts

Factors to consider before designing heavy duty drainage systems

by غزل موسوی

If you are a plumber working for a company that plans to install a heavy duty drainage system, it is important to realize that there are a number of factors that should be considered before installing the system. A Proper grasp of these parameters spells the difference between the heavy duty drainage system functioning efficiently or failing altogether. The following are the major factors to be considered.

Traffic loading – Traffic is the number one reason why plumbers and engineers prefer heavy duty drainage systems over conventional drainage systems. Drainage grates are exposed to a varying range of loads – from foot traffic to airplane weight. Therefore, when specifying a drainage system or grate, it is critical to identify the type of loads the system or grate is likely to be exposed. The kind of pressure, static or dynamic, determines the type of material to be used on the grate and drainage channel, as well as design of the heavy duty drainage systems. 

Hydraulic performance – As a plumber, it is important to calculate, accurately, hydraulics to ensure the drainage system to be installed can intercept, collect the necessary volume of liquids, and evacuate water as fast as possible and within the set period. Before, plumbers of heavy duty drainage systems assumed that water flow was uniform and as such did not put into account water that entered from other sources. This assumption led to another misconception that water volume and height remained constant along the drainage channel.  By making accurate calculations on hydraulics, plumbers can design and construct heavy duty drainage systems that can handle whatever pressures they are exposed to.

Durability – When designing heavy duty drainage systems, the durability of the components rank high up on a plumbers' list. The type of material used for the drainage body and the grate determines how long the drainage system will last. Factors such as climate, strength, chemical, and fire resistance are all considerations that plumbers look into before making the final decision. As such, it is common to find heavy duty drainage systems made from polymer concrete material, fiberglass, or High-Density Polythene. Grates for this type of drainage system are made from iron, composite materials, or stainless steel. Since grates are more exposed compared to other parts of the drainage system, they are made of materials that have better tensile features to enable them tolerate heavy loads.   

For more information, contact companies like HYDRO CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS. 

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