Slot Drain

Dura Trench & Dura Trench TrueRadius™ Slot Drains are an excellent solution when high flows are required, but grates are not desired. Dura Trench is most frequently used in heavy-duty commercial applications and in areas where invisible drainage is needed to blend seamlessly into the landscape, such as in parks. Our standard slot pipe product line is offered in 4″, 6″, 8″, 12″, 15″, 18″, 21″, 24″, and 36″ widths. As with all our Dura Trench linear drainage lines, custom sizes are available.

Heavy-Duty Commercial Applications

Our Dura Trench heavy-duty commercial grade slot drains are installed on major highways, roads, driveway entrances, curbs and gutters, and many other high-speed and high-flow applications. In comparison with traditional culvert metal slot drains, Dura Trench slot drains offer several significant advantages.

• Dura Trench’s smooth channel increases the flow velocity. This increased flow velocity positively affects how the linear drain functions, making it possible to use a smaller diameter smooth pipe to carry the same amount of water as a larger culvert metal slot drain.
• Dura Trench’s variable height creates a built-in slope that keeps velocities high and debris flushing through the system. This high-velocity flow flushes the drain regularly, removing debris before it collects in the bottom of the slot drain. As a result, less maintenance is required.
• Dura Trench’s load-bearing frame is scientifically engineered to transfer the load away from the slot drain body and into the surrounding concrete. This significantly improves the load-bearing capacity of our system, resulting in a linear drainage system that is worthy of your project’s investment.
•  To simplify and aid in installation, every Dura Trench slot drain system includes integral couplers and devices to make setting, leveling, and anchoring easier. Each slot drain comes in standard lengths of 10’ and is available in shorter and longer lengths. Every Dura Trench slot drain system includes factory-installed outlets, clean-out ports, and factory-fabricated turns and tees!
• Every Dura Trench slot drain system is fully customizable to your project site’s needs; including frame material, width, length, depth, slope, outlet stub size/material, turns, and tees.

Landscape Architecture Applications

Dura Trench and Dura Trench TrueRadius™ are increasing in popularity among landscape designers because of their function and their adaptability to any existing infrastructure. Eric’sons Manufacturing was the first to introduce the industry’s first curved linear drains and has been leading the pack ever since!  With graceful curves and features that allow drainage to be seamlessly integrated into hardscape and landscapes, it’s no wonder Dura Trench TrueRadius™ slot drains are sought after by top designers.

• Dura Trench’s smooth channels provide increased flow velocity. This allows smaller diameter pipes to be used in areas where the use of a larger system may be prohibited.
• Dura Trench’s variable height creates a built-in slope that keeps velocities high and debris flushing through the system. This high-velocity flow flushes the drain regularly, removing debris before it collects in the bottom of the slot drain. As a result, less maintenance is required.
• Dura Trench TrueRadius™ slot drains are fully customizable, allowing you to incorporate nearly invisible drainage that navigates site conditions. This includes your choice of including frame material, width, length, depth, slope, outlet stub size/material, turns, and tees. If you can dream it, we can build it!
• Our off-set slot drains paired with a modified frame allow your Dura Trench system to abut directly against a wall.
• To simplify and aid in installation, every Dura Trench slot drain system includes integral couplers and devices to make setting, leveling, and anchoring easier. Each slot drain comes in standard lengths of 10’ and is available in shorter and longer lengths. Every Dura Trench slot drain system includes factory-installed outlets, clean-out ports, and factory-fabricated turns and tees!

For curved slot drains click here! 

For stainless steel slot drains click here!

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 0.25 cfs (110 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  Our slot drains with a wide selection of frames and opening sizes.  This size slot drain is most often used in patios, parks, swimming pools, and for light commercial applications.  Note that this product is also offered in a radius.

This specialty slot drain is typically used against walls or other fixed objects.  It can handle flows in the 0.25 cfs (110 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  Our slot drains with a wide selection of frames and opening sizes.  This size slot drain is most often used in patios, parks, swimming pools, and for light commercial applications.  Note that this product is offered in a radius​.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 0.8 cfs (350 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  Our slot drains with a wide selection of frames and opening sizes.  This size slot drain is most often used in patios, parks, swimming pools, and for light commercial applications.  Note that this product is also offered in a radius​.

This specialty slot drain is typically used against walls or other fixed objects.  It can handle flows in the 0.8 cfs (350 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  Our slot drains with a wide selection of frames and opening sizes.  This size slot drain is most often used in patios, parks, swimming pools, and for light commercial applications.  Note that this product is offered in a radius​.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 1.75 cfs (775 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, and some high flow pedestrian areas.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 5 cfs (2250 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, and some high flow pedestrian areas.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 9 cfs (4000 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, industrial areas, curb and gutter applications, and some high flow pedestrian areas.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 15 cfs (6750 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, industrial areas, curb and gutter applications, and some high flow pedestrian areas.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 23 cfs (10,300 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, industrial areas, curb and gutter applications, and some high flow pedestrian areas.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 32 cfs (14,250 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, industrial areas, curb and gutter applications, and conveying water from structure to structure.

This general purpose slot drain can handle flows in the 96 cfs (43,000 gpm) range.  All Dura Trench slot drains have variable height risers standard.  The standard slot drain section is 10′ long.  Installation aides are standard.  The Dura Trench slot drain has a smooth invert for superior flow velocity.  The smooth interior creates self cleaning velocities keeping the slot drain cleaner.  This and larger size slot drains begin offering our heavier duty line of frames for high speed traffic and extreme duty loads.  This size slot drain is most often used in parking lots, roadways, driveway entrances, industrial areas, and conveying water from structure to structure.

Dura Trench slot drains are not like other slot drains on the market.  Our slot drain systems are designed to be different.  Our slot drain systems have a polymer body that will last the life of your project.  Our slot drains have built in slope as a standard feature.  Our slot drain frames have been redesigned to properly transfer loads unlike most other competitive slot drain systems.  We also manufacture our slot drain systems with the installer in mind.  Our slot drains come with rigid metal installation brackets that assist the slot drain installer with getting the slotted drain to the proper elevation and keeping it straight.

The Dura Trench slot drain system is offered in the following sizes:  4″ slot drain, 6″ slot drain, 8″ slot drain, 12″ slot drain, 15″ slot drain, 18″ slot drain, 21″ slot drain, 24″ slot drain, and 36″ slot drain.  Our slot drains are fabricated from fiber reinforced polymer concrete.  This gives the slot drain a smooth interior.  The old style corrugated metal slot drains have a rough interior that slows the flow and causes sediment build up.  The polymer slot drain is also not susceptible to corrosion like metal slot drains.  Metal slot drains corrode and eventually leak.  Most slot drain manufacturers sell non-sloping slotted drains.  While these work, the flow is slow and the slot drain gets clogged with debris.  Dura Trench slot drains can be sloped at any rate by simply specifying the starting and ending depths.  We have manufactured slot drains with throats as deep as 6 feet plus the pipe diameter.  We prefer to keep the slot drain throat closer to a 3 foot max but if you need something special we can help.

​Dura Trench also re-designed the installation process for slot drain systems.  Traditional metal slot drains require a coupler band at the joints.  This band must be installed on the slot drain once the two pieces are installed.  This can be difficult to do down in the excavation.  The Dura Trench slot drain system comes with a built-in female flange.  You simply slip the male end of the slot drain into the female end of the previous slot drain.  Most slot drain systems come with no way to install the drain because they were simply modified pieces of pipe.  This means that the slot drain throat is hard to hold on grade and alignment is also difficult.  The Dura Trench slot drain system comes with rigid metal installation brackets that accept #4 rebar.  You drive the bar into the ground, lift the slot drain on grade, and tighten the set screw to secure the slot drain at the proper height.  These metal installation brackets don’t break off and they also resist the flotation that occurs when you place concrete around the slot drains.  A traditional corrugated metal slot drain acts like a boat with no way to hold the slot drain down.  One other feature that is beneficial to the installer is the reduced weight of the polymer slot drain body.  Many of the metal slot drain systems are so heavy that you must use a piece of equipment to set the sections.  The Dura Trench slot drains are light enough that two men can easily set them in place.

​The grate of the slot drain (often referred to as the frame or throat of the slot drain) was also reviewed during the design phase.  The slot drain grate is what fails on most traditional slot drain systems.  This is traditionally due to thin gauge metals, poor anchoring, and poor load transfer mechanisms on the slot drain frame.  One thing we know at Dura Trench is how to transfer a load from a grate to the surrounding concrete.  We designed heavy duty slot drain frames that can take aircraft, highway, and port duty loads.  Our heavy duty slot drain frames are thick gauge metal, have a bull nose edge protection, concrete anchors, are fully unitized, and properly transfer loads to the surrounding concrete.  Just how a heavy duty, commercial grade slot drain system should be.  We offer these frames in a variety of materials like galvanized steel, epoxy coated steel, stainless steel, and even fiberglass.  We also offer a medium duty frame for our slot drain systems.  The medium duty system is a thin profile at the surface for those architectural projects where you don’t want to notice the slot drain.  These systems do not have the bull nose so they are less noticeable.  This slot drain frame allows for pavers to be installed flush with the side of the frame for an invisible look.  We don’t recommend this slot drain frame for heavy traffic, but it works well for pedestrian areas and occasional vehicular traffic.

​Dura Trench slot drain systems have a proven track record in a multitude of applications.  You can our slot drains in roadway projects, sea ports, airports, parking lots, driveways, curb and gutter applications, industrial sites, truck docks, breweries, food and beverage facilities, swimming pools, fountains, water parks, gas stations, and more.  Let us know if we can help you with your next slot drain project!

Slot Drain FAQs

Difference Between Slot Drains and Tech Drains

Slot drains and trench drains are not the same. The width of a slot drain is narrower than that of a trench drain on average. Slot drains will still accept a high volume of water flow. Trench drains are often left open and slot drains are always covered. Slot drains are often used in situations where debris and refuse cannot end up in the drains at your business or home.

How Does a Slot Drain Work?

Slot drains are made with slotted covers that protect the trench drain beneath them. The slotted covers are made to allow lots of water to flow into them but to block out debris at the same time. Slot drains are common in breweries and other kinds of manufacturing locations that create high volumes of liquid waste each day that includes solids. The solids need to be separated from the liquid wastes to make sure that the drains will not get clogged.

How to Clean a Slot Drain?

Cleaning a lost drain requires that you remove the slot drain cover and then rinse it off. You might need to sweep up the debris in the slot drain with a paddle or a brush and remove it to be disposed of. You can then rinse out the drain and replace the slotted covers to make sure that the drains will not collect any more debris. Slot drains with very small slotted covers can be swept off and the drains beneath them will probably not need to be cleaned as often as larger drains.

How Wide is a Slot Drain?

Slot drains can be sold in many sizes or made to order for a custom size as well. If you have a large drainage system you might want the larger sizes like 21”, 24”, and 36”. These trenches can also be sold in smaller sizes like 4”, 6”, 8”, 12”, 15”, and 18”. Slot drains can be made to fit into almost any kind of space and suit almost any kind of need. You will find that larger slot drains will probably need slotted covers that allows a large volume of water to flow into these larger drains.