The First National Bank of Bellevue, Ohio had been feeling the brunt of Mother Nature’s wrath in the form of flooding. Standing water caused customers to make wide paths around the deep puddles or power through, only to end up with soggy shoes for a quick escape from the weather. Unfortunately, the problem became more challenging as the water would sometimes rise to the point of entering the building under the doorways. The bank’s senior vice president/construction project manager, Deb Hawkins, was ready to find a permanent solution. She called on a trusted construction company whom she’s worked with for many projects, Janotta & Herner out of Monroeville, Ohio to resolve the situation.
Cause and Effect
While she couldn’t solely blame the weather for the water damage, Hawkins was aware of all of the factors that contributed to the flooding. The first and biggest cause of the situation comes from the surrounding surface area of the parking lot. However, it’s not just the bank’s own parking lot that captured runoff. Additionally, considerable amount of watershed comes from parking lots of neighboring businesses. The parking area’s slight incline which directed rainfall toward the bank’s entrance didn’t help either. Although the bank had an existing drainage system; it contributed to the problem as well. During every rainfall, Hawkins would watch on as the water would consistently rise above the grates and beyond the curbs. She also believes that there has been a recent cycle of excessive rainfall that hasn’t been seen for many years.
Out with the Old
Derek Guerra, Project manager at Janotta & Herner, said that one of the initial challenges was that there wasn’t a record of how the existing system was structured. No one could definitively say where the water runoff was being directed. Another challenge was that they were not able to tie the new channels into the the city of Bellevue’s drainage system. They also needed to be mindful of the traffic; in this case, pedestrian and light vehicular. Hawkins mentioned that the previous grates were appropriate with solid covers where pedestrians walked and grates with large openings in rest of the 140′ run. However, with a recent addition to the building, the parking configuration changed causing more pedestrian traffic over the grates that aren’t safe for all types of footwear.
In with the New
Obviously, Janotta & Herner can’t control the weather but the best defense is a good offense. Guerra considered the amount of water they needed to redirect, the sloped surface along with the pedestrian traffic and reached out to Trench Drain Systems for a recommendation on a system that could handle the application’s criteria. The knowledgeable staff at TDS recommended the FP1200 with a flow capacity of 6700 gallons per minute, it would take a storm of biblical proportions to cause a flood in the bank’s parking lot. The accompanying grates are made of ductile iron with a class E load rating and its narrow slotted design makes it ADA compliant for wheelchairs and heel friendly as well.
Installation
John Anderson, Superintendent for the project, indicated that the FP1200 was easy to work with and the overall project went well. They had three people working on the drainage system but having a fourth person as a “runner” was helpful when someone was available.
With several delays due to the weather, the project was completed within a week. The channel sections assemble easier from outlet to inlet and are similar to shiplap since they rest on each other and overlap. Anderson explained that they handled the run in three separate sections and with two concrete pours, three for the deepest sections. Having a shallow, first pour allowed for any last minute channel adjustments. Having plywood placed within the frames, keeps concrete residue from falling inside and foam blocks in the channels assist in supporting the sides during the finishing concrete pour. Anderson said that the foam was a real lifesaver for them.
Plywood is cut into sections and placed in the frame to protect the channel during the concrete pours.
Successful Results
Anderson shared that it was important that they get the job done right, especially since water was seeping into the building. Having the right drainage system is only part of the challenge. Just as important is where the water is directed and in this case, a 162′ sinkhole was built to meet city requirements. They also added side outlets in the channels to accommodate downspouts which ensure that stormwater from the roof is properly redirected. Hawkins reported that they were impressed by how the system handled a recent heavy rainfall. Having watched the water stay well below the grates, she said “It was a site to see; the difference was amazing.”
Do you have a project that could benefit from the FP1200 drainage system? Visit Trench Drain Systems and check out the selection of high-capacity drainage solutions. We have industry experts including an inhouse engineering department that are happy to assist with layouts, drawings and/or submittal packages. Our professional staff can assess your project requirements and quickly offer you competitive pricing and information regarding the products you need. Contact us for a free quote or for further information on drainage solutions visit TrenchDrain.com or DrainageKits.com
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