Semi Pit Components

PIT COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION

Flooring System

The diamond-tread flooring features a classic pattern that offers both comfort and traction for your pit floor. Made from solid polyvinyl, it's highly durable and long-lasting. This flooring protects your pit floor from corrosive substances like antifreeze, oil, salt, and battery acid, maintaining its pristine appearance. Cleaning is easy, with options including sweeping or hosing down. The flooring is anchored using aluminum angle to ensure it stays in place.

Pit Floor Draining System

A below-ground concrete-formed reservoir is situated at the middle of the pit and is covered by a powder-coated metal grate. Emptying the reservoir is a straightforward process: just insert a sump or shop vac hose.

The pit floor is designed with a gentle slope that directs liquids towards the below-grade reservoir, ensuring positive drainage. This configuration allows liquids to drain into the reservoir either actively or passively. Begin the cleaning process by removing any large debris from the pit, including the chair system track if you have the QuickPit™ system, and then proceed to spray down the floor with water. For grease or oil stains, you may need to use additional detergent. However, it's important to note that harsh chemicals can potentially discolor the diamond plate aluminum, so it's advisable to test them on a small piece of diamond plate aluminum before using them in the pit. Finally, be sure to wipe down the aluminum once the floor is cleaned.

Walls System

The pit walls are clad in robust diamond-plate aluminum sheeting, which is not only durable but also visually attractive, designed to reflect light. Corner pieces of diamond-plate aluminum are custom-bent to cover the pit corners. Securely installed using special concrete anchor bolts, the aluminum can be easily removed for replacement if damaged. This diamond-plate aluminum contributes to the high-tech appearance of the pit, which customers love.

Stairs System

The stairs are constructed to be solid and highly durable, custom-built using sturdy powder-coated bar aluminum for the stringers and steps. Kick plates are crafted from specialty-formed diamond plate aluminum, enhancing the reflective qualities of the pit. Step covers are made from a high-grit safety tread fiber material, providing superior traction, crucial in an oily environment. These steps are designed to be easily removed when access to the area underneath the stairs is required.

Ship Ladder

An option ingress/egress option is to install a ship ladder.  Pits over a particular size (determined by local code) may require an additional point of egress.

Vehicle Guide Safety Rails System

The vehicle guide safety rails are designed to extend 3 inches above the floor surface and are custom-manufactured from powder-coated bar aluminum, securely bolted to the concrete. These rails serve three main functions:  1) The 3-inch raised section helps prevent vehicle tires from entering the pit. 2) The top channel of the rail supports the aluminum pit covers. 3) The lower rail channel facilitates the smooth rolling of the oil pan. Typically, the rails are powder coated in safety yellow for visibility.

In-Wall Storage Niches

From a safety standpoint, it's crucial to eliminate all obstacles from the pit floor that could pose a tripping hazard, especially in the stand-up pit design. Many quick lube operations need to keep essential tools and supplies on the pit floor for servicing customer vehicles. Additionally, as a safety precaution, oily rags left on the floor can potentially combust spontaneously, creating a fire hazard. To mitigate this risk, they should be stored in a special safety can that restricts airflow to the rags, preventing combustion. However, the accessible placement of the can itself can become a tripping hazard or obstacle for rolling chairs in the pit.

The pit system has the option of two standard niches formed out of concrete and positioned near the pit front, where the technician conducts oil changes. The left niche (viewed from back to front) serves as a rags niche, featuring a special cabinet. The top shelf is designed to hold fresh rags, while the bottom area accommodates a safety can for oily rags, keeping it nearby but off the pit floor. The second niche, located on the right (viewed from back to front), is intended to store tools and/or common sizes of oil filters. Each of these cabinets is powder coated for durability.

Waste Oil System Overview

The waste oil system is comprised of the following parts: In-Pit Waste-Oil Tank, Oil Pan, Diaphragm Pump

The in-pit waste oil tank holds roughly 50 gallons of fluid and has a rectangular footprint which allows it to sit strategically atop of the fluid reservoir at the pit front.  The diaphragm-pump is mounted to the top of the waste-oil tank.

The waste-oil pan is designed to easily roll on the rail system.  In order to empty the oil pan, the oil pan is pushed as far as it can go toward the front pit wall. Once the oil pan stops in place, the technician will turn an attached ball-valve and the oil in the oil pan will drain by gravity into an opening in the waste oil tank - the process takes about 15 seconds to drain for a full oil pan.  A screen-tipped suction tube is inserted into the waste-oil tank and the other end is attached to the diaphragm pump.

The diaphragm pump connects the line to the suction tube to the waste oil line, which is connected to an out-of-pit bulk waste-oil tank.

Waste Oil Evacuation Methods

Top of the Waste-Oil Pan

After each vehicle oil change, the waste-oil pan requires emptying. This task involves a technician removing the expanded-metal screen from atop the oil pan, lowering a suction tube to its bottom, and then activating a portable pump/tank to extract the contents.

Waste-Oil Pan via Below-Slab Waste-Oil Line

After each vehicle oil change, the waste-oil pan requires emptying. This task involves a technician disconnecting the input end of the waste-oil line from a bracket on the pit wall and connecting it via a quick-disconnect fitting to the bottom of the waste-oil pan. The other end of the waste-oil line runs beneath the concrete slab and connects to an external bulk waste-oil tank. To evacuate the contents of the waste-oil pan, the technician activates a diaphragm pump, typically located near the bulk waste-oil tank. Once activated, the contents of the waste-oil pan are suctioned into the bulk waste-oil tank.

Waste-Oil In-Pit Waste Oil Tank via Below-Slab Waste-Oil Line

After every vehicle oil change, the waste-oil pan requires emptying. The process begins by sliding the waste-oil pan back along the vehicle safety rails until it aligns with the front pit wall directly above the waste-oil tank. Next, the technician operates the ball-valve lever located beneath the waste-oil pan, releasing the oil to flow down by gravity into the waste-oil tank below. Once the waste-oil tank reaches its capacity, the technician activates the air-driven diaphragm pump positioned on top of the tank. This pump connects a suction tube recessed into the waste-oil tank to the waste-oil line, leading to an external bulk oil tank.

Aluminum, Bi-Level Platform

A lightweight aluminum platform, measuring approximately 34 inches wide by 4 feet long (adjustable to ensure sufficient clearance for maneuvering), with two steps, each measuring 2 feet long by 7 inches high. The in-pit platform caters to technicians of different heights, offering ample surface area for servicing while enabling unrestricted movement while working on the vehicle above. If the platform is not suitable for a particular task, it can be effortlessly rolled out of the way to another area of the pit.

OPTIONS

Additional Diaphragm Pump

We typically recommend acquiring an additional diaphragm pump to keep on standby in case the in-pit diaphragm pump malfunctions. This investment is worthwhile as it greatly minimizes downtime.

Low-Voltage LED Lighting

While the LED lights are an optional feature, they offer significant value and are strongly recommended. Pit lighting is essential for safety, particularly in stand-up pits where there's a heightened risk of tripping over items on the floor. These lights are bright enough to illuminate the undercarriage, and for detailed tasks, inexpensive headlamps can be used. Additionally, the lighting serves as a focal point for customers—the LED lights reflecting off the aluminum attract attention and give the pit a modern appearance. If your application requires more intense lighting to illuminate the vehicle undercarriage, there are specialized A/C lighting options available for consideration.

Pit Covers

We produce a lightweight aluminum pit cover available in 3-foot sections, designed to fit seamlessly onto the rail system. Our cover is safe for walking on but not for driving. We utilize high-grip aluminum boards known as dock boards, commonly used in aquatic marinas for their non-slip properties, which are powder coated safety yellow to match the rails. It's worth noting that many insurance companies may require the covering of your pit when not in use.

Diamond Plate Aluminum Pegboard Tank Cover

The diamond-plate tank cover, featuring predrilled peg-board holes, attaches to the waste oil tank located at the front of the pit. This offers two primary benefits: 1) It introduces another reflective surface, enhancing pit lighting (all pit walls are lined with diamond-plate aluminum, but the waste oil tank is flat black); 2) It offers additional storage space for items that are beneficial to have on hand but shouldn't clutter the workspace, such as our supplied battery-operated grease gun.

MISC

Pit Penetrations

The standard penetrations into the pit are as follows:

• Low voltage line (typically run in from the pit rear and under the stairs)

• Waste oil line (typically run in from the pit front)

• Air line (to operate an in-pit diaphragm pump)

• Venting pipe - plumbed at the bottom of the pit.

Venting

Venting may be required by local code.  The venting will typically be run to the pit rear or at multiple points along the side, depending on the pit length.

Concrete Work

We do not handle excavation for existing slabs or concrete work. However, we provide reference drawings and support for your concrete contractor. We recommend selecting a company that uses aluminum forms to ensure precise measurements.

Pit Component Fabrication

For most pits 30' Long or under, we generally allow 6 to 8 weeks for fabrication.  Fabrication times are ultimately dependent on the complexities of the pit requirements.

Installation 

Once the pit fabrication is done, our installation team will work with you to get the installation scheduled.

Pit Project Photos

https://sites.google.com/view/shinnprojects/vehicle-service-pits

Pit Information

https://PitSystems.com

https://sites.google.com/shinnbuildings.com/automotiveservicepits/quick-lube-pits