Factory-direct steel gratings & stair treads, shipped worldwide
Metal Channel Drain
Channel drain bodies and grating covers made together, so they fit first time.
Itemized quote within 24 hours · Free drawing review included
Bodies & grates, one factory
Channel and cover quoted and made as one spec
Certified & tested
Reports on request, MTC with every order
Samples in 5–7 days
Production in 15–25 working days
FOB Tianjin
Shipped worldwide, EXW / CIF negotiable
Channel drain basics
What Is a Metal Channel Drain?
A metal channel drain is a linear drainage assembly with two working parts: a formed channel body that captures water along a line, and a grating cover that lets the water in while carrying whatever crosses it. Buyers call the same product a metal channel drain, a steel channel drain, or a C channel drain — the "C" being the profile of the body, the "channel" being the open trough it forms. Here is how the parts fit together.
1 · The channel body
A U-profile trough cut, formed and welded from Q235B plate — or SS304 / SS316 for washdown duty. Width and depth are set to the water volume your run must carry, and a formed seat at each shoulder receives the grate.
2 · The grating cover
A removable steel grate spans the opening — welded bars at 30/40/60 mm centers, or press-locked close mesh down to 11/11 mm where heels and small wheels cross the line. Water enters through the open mesh; the bars carry the traffic.
3 · End caps, outlets & frames
Every run closes with an end cap and hands its water to an outlet or sump. Frames and fixings are sourced companion items, supplied alongside our channel bodies and grating covers so nothing is improvised on site.
Because body and grate come from one factory, the seat width, banding and bar direction are decided together — send your run lengths and we will spec both in the same quote.
Run planning
How a Metal Channel Drain Run Is Planned
Map the water path first
Find where water actually collects — door thresholds, kerb lines, yard low points — and draw the run along that line. A channel drain intercepts a sheet of moving water, so alignment with the flow matters more than channel size.
Set width, depth and length
Width and depth follow the water volume; a fall along the invert keeps water moving to the outlet. Runs are made to length in panels up to 6 m, banded to your drawings — no filler pieces, no stock-list compromise.
Choose the grate by traffic
The channel carries water; the grate carries loads. Pick the load class from the traffic that crosses the line, then the mesh — open bars for water, close mesh where heels and casters follow. The grate options table below maps the common classes onto our real bar ranges.
Planning a longer line? The metal trench drain and steel trench drain system pages carry the same logic into full system specifications.
Grate options by load
Grate Options by Load, Referenced to EN 124
Load class comes from the traffic that crosses the drain, not from the channel. Match the class first, then choose the grate geometry that fits it — here is how the common classes map onto our real grating ranges.
| Class (referenced to EN 124) | Test load | Typical traffic | Grate options in our range |
|---|---|---|---|
| A15 | 15 kN | Pedestrian paving, patios, entrances | Bearing bars 20×3 to 25×3 mm at 30/40 mm centers · press-locked 11/11 mm close mesh for heels |
| B125 | 125 kN | Driveways, kerbside parking | Bearing bars 30×3 to 40×4 mm at 30/40 mm centers, plain or serrated |
| C250 | 250 kN | Kerb lines, delivery yards | Bearing bars 40×4 to 50×5 mm at 40 mm centers, banded edges |
| D400 | 400 kN | Road crossings, truck lanes | Bearing bars 60×5 to 100×8 mm at 40/60 mm centers in an anchored frame |
Classes and test loads are public EN 124 parameters, referenced here for selection only. We produce to the class you specify — certified & tested, reports on request.
Not sure which class your site needs? Send your run lengths — we will spec channel and grate together inside the 24-hour quote.
Why factory-direct
Why Buyers Order the Metal Channel Drain from the Mill
Channel and grate made together
Body and cover leave the same workshop as one matched spec — seat widths, banding and bar direction decided together, so the line assembles first time instead of being adjusted on site.
Flow fast, clear of clogs
Open-mesh grating gives runoff a straight path into the channel along the whole line — no puddles in front of the drain. Lift-out grates make seasonal clearing a two-minute job, and serrated bars stay walkable when wet.
Made to length, documented, FOB Tianjin
Runs cut and banded to your drawings, bulk orders and small trial orders alike, quoted itemized FOB Tianjin — and every shipment carries its mill test certificate to EN 10204 Type 3.1.
Applications
Where a Metal Channel Drain Works
Anywhere water moves across a surface in a sheet — a metal channel drain set along the flow line collects it before it pools, in material and load ratings to match the setting.
Pedestrian paving & entrances
A15 lines with close-mesh grates at thresholds — fast drainage underfoot.
Driveways & kerbsides
B125–C250 duty across the wheel track — see the driveway channel drain page for load framing.
Yards & washdown areas
Long runs across hardstandings; SS304 / SS316 bodies where cleaning chemicals flow.
Building perimeters & forecourts
A run at the drip line keeps façade runoff off walkways and loading doors.
Specifications
Channel and Grate Specifications
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Grate bearing bar | 20×3 mm to 100×8 mm, plain or serrated |
| Bar spacing | 30 / 40 / 60 mm centers · 11/11 mm close mesh in press-locked |
| Grate width | Cut to channel width, panels up to 1.25 m |
| Run length | Panels up to 6 m, banded to your drawings |
| Channel body | U-profile from plate, formed and welded to your section drawing |
| Materials | Q235B carbon steel · SS304 / SS316 stainless |
| Surface | Black or hot-dip galvanized (ASTM A123 / ISO 1461) |
| End caps, outlets, frames | Sourced companion items, supplied alongside our channels and grates |
Materials & test documents
Every heat of Q235B, SS304 or SS316 enters production with its mill test certificate verified at goods-in — the first of our five QC stages. Metal channel drains leave with documentation, not promises:
- Mill test certificate to EN 10204 Type 3.1
- Factory inspection report with every shipment
- Declaration of Conformity prepared per order destination
The full channel width × grate schedule is provided with your quote — cut lists are confirmed per drawing before production starts.
Standards & compliance
Produced to Recognized Standards — Documents on Request
EN 124 load classes
Grates referenced to classes A15–D400 for selection; produced to the class you specify, with documents on request.
ASTM A123 / ISO 1461 HDG
Galvanized coating thickness checked by sampling on every galvanized batch before channels and grates are released.
CE & SGS tested
Certified & tested, reports on request — we show documents you can verify, not a certificate wall.
Custom made
Channel Runs Cut and Banded to Your Drawings
Send your run layout
Run lengths, channel width, load class and grate mesh — or just photos and a sketch. Drawing review is free.
Quote within 24 hours
Itemized, FOB Tianjin as standard — EXW or CIF on request. Small trial orders welcome; bulk runs priced by the loading plan.
Samples in 5–7 days, production in 15–25
Working days after drawing confirmation, hot-dip galvanizing included. Installation drawings and fixing layout ship with the order.
Factory-direct quote
Get a Factory Quote
Send your run lengths for a quote — the reply lands within 24 hours, and samples ship in 5–7 days. Channel bodies and grating covers are spec'd together, so they fit first time.
- Five-stage QC, from MTC verification at goods-in to final inspection
- DoC, MTC EN 10204 3.1 and inspection report with every order
- Factory audits welcome — see the lines before you commit
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp us or sales@dtsteelladder.com
Request your quote
Five fields — we do the rest.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a metal channel drain?
A linear drainage assembly made of two parts: a U- or C-profile steel channel body set along the water path, and a matching grating cover that lets water in while carrying traffic. Buyers also call it a steel channel drain or a C channel drain after the profile of the body — we make bodies and grating covers together, so widths and seats line up first time.
How long do metal channel drains take to make?
Samples ship in 5–7 working days and mass production runs 15–25 working days after drawing confirmation, hot-dip galvanizing included. Rush production in 10–15 days is possible with a surcharge — ask in your quote.
How are metal channel drains shipped and priced?
Shipped worldwide from Tianjin Port — FOB Tianjin as standard, EXW or CIF negotiable. Pricing is itemized per m² or per ton in your quote; we do not publish a fixed price list.
Related pages
Related Drainage Pages
Metal Drain Grating
The drain grating line overview — grates across every drain format.
View page →Galvanized Channel Drain
The hot-dip galvanized version of this channel for outdoor and civil duty.
View page →Metal Channel Drain For Driveway
Driveway load framing — wheel-load class to channel and grate choice.
View page →Galvanized Drainage Channel
The system view — channel, grating and accessories specified as one package.
View page →Metal Trench Drain
Metal trench drain framing for longer open runs and yard lines.
View page →Steel Trench Drain System
System spec: channel body, grating, end caps and outlets.
View page →