Before new lorry wash equipment can be installed, most depots require civil works of some form. This can be as straightforward as basic levelling and site preparation, to complex rerouting of drainage and water utility locations in some cases. As each site has different needs, it’s important to plan the civil works in advance before equipment installation. In this article, we take you through the steps you need to avoid unpleasant surprises and keep your lorry wash system installation project on budget and on schedule.
Your first step is to check whether the proposed wash bay area can support the equipment, fleet vehicles using it, and the installation activity needed to put the system in place. So, start by reviewing the existing surface, slab thickness where known, and identify any signs of cracking or movement, previous repairs, soft spots, drainage defects, and any areas likely to need breaking out or rebuilding. The slab must be suitable not only for normal vehicle loading, but also for the lorry wash equipment itself – including fixings, frames, pumps, plant, and any lifting equipment used during installation. If the existing slab is unsuitable, your project may need localised repairs, a new reinforced slab, foundation pads, or a redesigned equipment layout before works can proceed.
The next step is to understand how water will move across the wash bay. Ideally, a lorry wash system needs controlled gradients so that wash water flows towards the intended channels or collection points. Your initial site survey should confirm the existing levels, proposed gradients, sump locations and pipe routes in your depot. If the site does not already slope appropriately, you may need to install new channels, curbs, or raised edges, or make suitable pumping arrangements. This stage is critical because insufficient gradients can leave standing water on your site, increasing the slippage risk, reducing wash efficiency, and creating pollution-related control problems.
Step three delves into the details of pollution-control planning and containment. The golden rule is to keep dirty wash water, contaminants, detergents and other effluent within the correct collection and treatment route, from the moment it leaves the vehicle. This may involve installing settlement tanks and water recycling/reclamation equipment adjacent to your wash bay, or adding connections to an approved discharge point. Your design should also consider overspray, vehicle run-off, and sludge removal access – and what happens during a blockage, heavy rain, or equipment failure!
On to step four – the civil works also need to make provision for service routes. For example, a lorry wash system may require external power, water, control cabling, frost protection, or water reclaim pipework between the bay and plant equipment. These routes should be fully planned and agreed before concrete is poured or reinstated. Trenches, ducts, cable routes, isolation points etc all need to align with the final equipment layout. Insufficient service planning can lead to exposed cables, awkward pipe runs, or unsafe access routes, requiring modifications or cutting into finished surfaces after installation.
Now, consider installation access during your implementation. Your vendor’s installation team will need safe and practical access to deliver, lift, position, and secure the lorry wash equipment. This should be planned around the size of the equipment and vehicle access requirements, as well as the available working space, nearby buildings, and any overhead height restrictions. It’s worth planning any temporary closures, lorry diversions or parking restrictions well in advance, as a wash system installation can involve multiple heavy components and specialist lifting activity. Your civil works plan should make it clear how contractors will work safely without disrupting your central depot operations more than necessary.
Civil works requirements can shape the success (or failure) of an entire wash bay installation project. To set your project up for success, talk to Britannia Wash Systems today about what needs to be considered before your plant arrives, from drainage and services to access and commissioning readiness.
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