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Curb Drain

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Curb drains capture and divert surface stormwater where it pools at curbs, driveways, parking lots and roadways, routing runoff to a stormwater outlet before it undermines pavement or floods a low spot. A curb drain is specified by its load rating, channel and grate material, and outlet pipe size — not by brand alone. Northern Hydraulics sources curb drains to spec and cross-references discontinued or odd-size units by dimension and load class: request a quote with your channel length, grate type and outlet size and we will match it.

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How to Choose a Curb Drain

Match a curb drain to the site, not just the OEM number. The specs a buyer checks:

Load / traffic rating — pedestrian and light-duty through heavy vehicle; roadway and lot installs are commonly rated to AASHTO H-20. Confirm the load class against expected wheel loads.
Channel material — polymer concrete, HDPE or galvanized steel for the body, chosen for corrosion resistance and load.
Grate material & type — cast iron, galvanized steel or polymer, in slotted, grated or ADA heel-proof patterns.
Outlet / connection size — typically a ~3 in to 12 in pipe connection; this must match your downstream drain line.
Flow capacity — sized to the surface area and design storm draining into the channel.
Length & modular sections — run length and whether the system couples in modular sections to span a driveway or curb cut.

Which Curb Drain Is Right for the Job?

Start from the load class and the surface it serves. A pedestrian walkway or residential driveway takes a lighter grate and a smaller outlet; a parking lot entrance or roadway curb cut needs an H-20-rated channel and a larger outlet pipe to clear a heavier design storm. Where the curb drain feeds equipment wash-down, a fuel island or a shop bay, the runoff often needs to pass a water separator before discharge to keep oil and grit out of the storm line — spec that stage in alongside the drain.

Complete the System

A curb drain is only as good as its connections. The outlet ties into the downstream drain line with hydraulic fittings sized to the channel outlet, and quick-connect runs for temporary or wash-down discharge use cam latch fittings so a hose can be coupled and broken without tools.

Cross-Referencing an Obsolete Curb Drain

When a curb drain is discontinued or the original supplier is gone, the dead catalog number does not matter — the channel length, load class, grate pattern and outlet size do. Northern Hydraulics matches a replacement by those dimensions and the traffic rating, so a section that bolts up and carries the same load drops into the existing run instead of forcing a full system tear-out. Supplying the storm infrastructure trade since 1963, we will identify an equivalent unit from the spec even when the OEM is no longer in business. Send the channel measurements, grate type and outlet size and request a quote.

Curb Drains – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure a curb drain for replacement?

Record the channel length (and section count if modular), the internal channel width, the grate pattern and material, and the outlet pipe size and position (bottom or end outlet). Those dimensions plus the load class let us match a unit by spec rather than by a discontinued part number.

What load rating does a driveway or roadway curb drain need?

Pedestrian and light residential areas use a lighter-duty grate, while parking lot entrances and roadway curb cuts are commonly specified to AASHTO H-20 for heavy vehicle wheel loads. Always confirm the load class against the heaviest traffic the channel will see; over-spec the grate before under-spec it.

What outlet pipe size do curb drains use?

Curb drain outlets typically range from about 3 in to 12 in, sized to the flow and matched to the downstream storm line. The outlet must couple cleanly to your existing pipe, so confirm both the diameter and the connection type before ordering.

What grate materials are available, and which should I pick?

Grates are commonly cast iron, galvanized steel or polymer. Cast iron handles the heaviest vehicle loads, galvanized steel resists corrosion at moderate load, and polymer is light for pedestrian and ADA heel-proof patterns. Pick the grate to the traffic class and the corrosion environment.

What is the difference between a curb drain and a water separator?

A curb drain collects and diverts surface stormwater at the curb or pavement edge; it moves water, it does not clean it. A water separator removes oil, grit or free water from the flow before discharge. Where runoff carries fuel or oil — wash bays, fuel islands — you often need both: the drain to capture, the separator to treat before it reaches the storm line.

How does the curb drain connect to my existing drain line?

The channel outlet ties into the downstream pipe with hydraulic fittings matched to the outlet size. For temporary or wash-down discharge that needs to be coupled and broken by hand, cam latch fittings let a hose connect without tools.

Can you cross-reference an obsolete or discontinued curb drain?

Yes. The discontinued part number does not control the match — the channel length, load class, grate pattern and outlet size do. Send those dimensions and we will identify an equivalent unit that fits the existing run, even when the original maker is out of business. Request a quote to start the cross-reference.

Do you stock curb drains, or are they sourced to order?

Curb drains are sourced and cross-referenced to your spec rather than pulled from a fixed grid. Provide the load class, channel length, grate type and outlet size and we will source the unit or match an equivalent — request a quote with your measurements.