When the Sart-Tilman fire department needed to replace the gutters of its station, EnCoRe Liège was assigned the job. And to ensure quality products, the company naturally turned to Deschacht.
After years of service, the old gutters of the Sart-Tilman fire station were no longer up to the task. It was time to replace them and find a durable solution. To ensure this, the fire department called upon the Liège-based construction and renovation company EnCoRe, which was recently acquired by the national group XLG.
Efficiency and daring go hand in hand
“Because fire trucks have been driving over it every day for years, the grating above the gutters has shifted and deformed,” says Vincent Distexhe, work supervisor at EnCoRe Liège. “I discussed this with Vincent Brehl from Deschacht, and he suggested replacing the system with one-piece concrete drainage channels. For sewerage, I work exclusively with Deschacht because they almost always have what I am looking for. Quotations and purchase orders are always sent quickly, and the service is good. The salespeople always let me know when the equipment is in stock, and the communication is very professional. That is why I have complete confidence in Deschacht.” “For this specific product, we called upon a supplier we are not used to working with, but who responded very quickly,” continues Vincent Brehl. “My colleague Adrien Cimino wanted to give it a try because the offer seemed attractive. He contacted the supplier in the Netherlands and received a quote and technical data sheets. It was a risky gamble, but the customer was won over by the offer and confirmed quickly. We placed the order and the product arrived on time. Afterward, I went to the construction site to provide advice on the installation of the product and to explain how it should be poured into concrete, because that too is part of the service that Deschacht offers with every order.”
Why a one-piece concrete drainage channel?
It concerns a concrete structure measuring 2 m x 40 cm x 40 cm, with a diameter of 200 mm. A slot a few centimetres wide runs along the entire length to allow water to drain away. This drainage system is particularly appreciated for its sturdiness. “It collects less water than conventional gratings, but one-piece drainage channels are virtually indestructible,” adds Vincent Brehl. “It is normal for a channel to fail after 15 or 20 years, but if it is in poor condition after just a few years, it leads to avoidable maintenance costs. In this case, it can also put lives at risk. During the replacement, the fire engines cannot enter or leave the fire station.” “It went quickly and easily,” says Vincent Distexhe. “The day before the installation, the workers poured the base, and then it was simply a matter of passing a metal tube through the channel to put it in place. We then concreted the area and renewed the joints with Parabond.”
EnCoRe Liège
construction, renovation, interior design, disaster recovery
