BK Resources BKS-1-18-12-18L 1-Compartment Stainless Steel Sink - 18x18x12 Bowl, 38-1/2" with Left Drainboard
BK Resources BKS-1-18-12-18L 1-Compartment Sink with 18" Left Drainboard
The BK Resources BKS-1-18-12-18L is a one-compartment stainless steel commercial sink with a single 18" drainboard on the left of an 18" x 18" x 12" bowl. Overall length runs 38-1/2" with a 23-13/16" front-to-back depth and a 43-3/4" working height including the 9" rear backsplash. The deep 12"-bowl handles full sheet pans, hotel pans, sauce pots, prep boards, and stockpot soaks that a shallower 10"-deep restaurant sink will not accommodate, and the left-side drainboard gives cooks and dishwashers a dedicated landing zone for soiled-in or clean-out staging next to the wash bowl in tight kitchens where a dual-drainboard 54" sink will not fit.
Prefer to pick up locally? Will call pickup is available at 11 US warehouses (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Boston, Newark, Atlanta, Houston, Cleveland) on the 39" 1-compartment will-call sink with left drainboard. This BK Resources sink ships nationwide.
T-304 18-gauge stainless steel deck and bowl, galvanized steel legs with adjustable high-impact corrosion-resistant feet, 1-1/2" rolled front and side edges, 1/4"-pitched drainboard for proper drainage, and a basket drain (BKDR-4) included in the carton make this a true commercial-duty sink ready for daily front-of-house and back-of-house service. Pre-punched 8"-on-center splash-mount faucet holes accept any standard 8" OC commercial faucet. NSF listed.
Best Uses for the BKS-1-18-12-18L
- Bar and back-bar wash sinks for glassware, mixing tins, and bar tools
- Prep stations for vegetable washing, marination, and produce staging
- Pot and utensil sinks in tight kitchens where a 3-compartment sink will not fit
- Coffee shops, smoothie bars, and juice operations needing single-bowl wash with one-side drying space
- Auxiliary wash stations supplementing a main 3-compartment dish line
- Bakeries and butcher shops where pan and tool soaking dominates
- Concession stands, food trucks, and pop-up operations with limited width but real wash demand
- Galley-style and corner kitchens where a 38-1/2" footprint clears doorways and reach-in equipment
Single Left Drainboard for Tight Kitchens
The 18L variant places a single 18" drainboard on the left side of the wash bowl, with the bowl flush to the right end of the deck. That layout sets up a left-to-right workflow: soiled items land on the left drainboard, get scraped and pre-rinsed there, drop into the bowl for the wash, and exit out the right side of the bowl onto an adjacent drying rack, prep table, or transfer cart. Operators who need the opposite handedness should order the 18R variant (right drainboard) - same dimensions, mirrored layout. Both single-drainboard variants give up the dual-drainboard footprint of the 18T (54" overall) for a tighter 38-1/2" overall footprint that fits galley kitchens, undercounter alcoves between reach-in equipment, and corner installs where a 54" sink simply will not clear adjacent walls or appliances.
The 18" drainboard pitches 1/4" toward the bowl so wash water and rinse runoff drain back into the compartment instead of pooling on the working surface. Combined with the 1-1/2" rolled front and side edges that contain splash inside the deck, the BKS-1-18-12-18L behaves like a self-contained wash station with no surrounding water management required - drop it against a wall, plumb it, and the surface manages its own drainage.
18" x 18" x 12" Deep Bowl - Full Sheet Pan Capacity
The 18" wide by 18" front-to-back by 12" deep bowl is sized to accept a full-size sheet pan (18" x 26") on a diagonal soak, a 12" x 20" hotel pan flat, a stockpot up to 11"-12" diameter standing upright, and most commercial bus tubs and prep buckets. The 12" depth matters: shallower 10"-deep bar sinks force dishwashers to soak tall items in two flips, which doubles labor on a busy line. A 12" depth also gives enough water column to fully submerge a sheet pan or sauce pot under suds or sanitizer without overflowing during agitation.
T-304 18-Gauge Stainless Construction
The deck and bowl are formed from T-304 18-gauge stainless steel - the same grade used in restaurant prep tables, work tables, and food-contact equipment for its corrosion resistance and food-safe surface. The 18-gauge thickness (about 1.2 mm) is the commercial standard for compartment sinks and survives daily abuse from heavy pots, knife edges, and wire-bristle scrub brushes without denting or warping. The galvanized 1-5/8" round legs handle the load with adjustable corrosion-resistant feet that allow leveling on uneven floors and absorb impact from delivery carts and cleaning equipment.
The 1-1/2" rolled front and side edges serve two purposes: they stiffen the deck so it does not flex under load, and they create a containment lip that keeps water and food debris from running off the sink onto floors or adjacent equipment. The 9" rear backsplash protects the wall behind the sink and provides the mounting surface for the splash-mount faucet, keeping the faucet body, hose, and supply lines out of the working area on the deck. If desired, holes can be drilled through the riser turn-up section to fasten the sink to the wall - fasteners are not included.
Faucet Holes and Drain Hardware
The backsplash includes pre-punched 8"-on-center faucet holes that accept any standard commercial 8" OC splash-mount faucet - including pre-rinse units, gooseneck spouts, and add-on dish sprayers. A 3-1/2" basket drain (BK Resources BKDR-4) ships with the unit; install it in the bowl with plumber's putty or the included gasket and connect to a standard 1-1/2" drain trap below. A stainless steel basket drain (BKDR-4-304) is available as an upgrade if the install location runs hotter water, harsher chemicals, or longer service intervals between basket cleanouts.
Specifications
| Model | BKS-1-18-12-18L |
| Brand | BK Resources |
| Type | One-compartment sink with single left drainboard |
| Compartments | 1 |
| Drainboard | (1) - 18" left side |
| Overall Length | 38-1/2" |
| Overall Width (front-to-back) | 23-13/16" |
| Overall Height (with backsplash) | 43-3/4" |
| Working Height (deck) | 34-3/4" |
| Bowl Length (left-to-right) | 18" |
| Bowl Width (front-to-back) | 18" |
| Bowl Depth | 12" |
| Backsplash Height | 9" |
| Faucet Holes | (1) set, 8" on-center splash-mount |
| Front and Side Edges | 1-1/2" rolled |
| Drainboard Pitch | 1/4" toward bowl |
| Material | T-304 18-gauge stainless steel deck and bowl |
| Legs | 1-5/8" galvanized steel, round |
| Feet | Adjustable high-impact corrosion-resistant |
| Drain Included | Basket drain (BKDR-4) |
| Drain Outlet | 3-1/2" basket drain to 1-1/2" tailpiece |
| Net Weight | 40 lb |
| Certifications | NSF |
Installation, Plumbing, and Clearance Requirements
The BKS-1-18-12-18L ships fully assembled or with bolt-together legs depending on freight configuration; check the carton on receipt before delivery to confirm. Set the sink against a wall with the 9" backsplash flush to the wall surface, level the four adjustable feet on the floor, and confirm the deck reads level both left-to-right and front-to-back before plumbing the supply or drain lines. The 1-5/8" round galvanized legs accept standard commercial undershelves and crossbraces if additional storage is desired below the deck. Optional wall-mount holes can be drilled through the backsplash riser turn-up section to fasten the sink to the wall (fasteners not included).
Faucet supply lines connect to the splash-mount faucet body installed through the 8"-on-center backsplash holes - run hot and cold supply lines up the wall behind the sink with shut-off valves accessible for service. The basket drain installs in the bowl drain opening with the included gasket; connect the 1-1/2" tailpiece to a P-trap and run the trap waste line to a floor drain or to the building waste stack per local code. Most jurisdictions require an indirect-waste air gap between the sink drain and the floor drain when the sink is used for food contact - confirm with the local health authority before final connection. Allow at least 6" of clearance behind the unit between the backsplash and the wall finish for plumbing service access if drainage is run through the wall instead of down through the floor.
Why Operators Choose BK Resources
BK Resources builds commercial sinks and stainless fabrication the way working operators want them built - T-304 stainless for corrosion resistance and food-safe contact, 18-gauge thickness for daily commercial duty, NSF-listed construction so health inspectors clear the install on the first walkthrough, factory-pitched drainboards and rolled edges for water containment without on-site fabrication, a basket drain included in the carton instead of as a separate purchase, and galvanized 1-5/8" leg construction at the value tier with stainless-leg upgrades available on the same chassis (model number ending in "S"). Browse the full sink lineup for matching 2- and 3-compartment sinks, dual-drainboard variants, hand sinks, mop sinks, and underbar wash equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size pans and pots fit in the 18 x 18 x 12 bowl?
The bowl accepts a full-size sheet pan (18" x 26") on a diagonal soak, a 12" x 20" hotel pan flat, a 1/2-size sheet pan flat with room to spare, a stockpot up to 11"-12" diameter standing upright, and most commercial bus tubs and prep buckets. The 12" depth fully submerges a sheet pan under wash water without overflowing during agitation.
What is the difference between BKS-1-18-12-18L, BKS-1-18-12-18R, and BKS-1-18-12-18T?
All three variants share the same 18" x 18" x 12" bowl and 23-13/16" front-to-back depth. The 18L places a single 18" drainboard on the left of the bowl (38-1/2" overall length, left-to-right workflow). The 18R places the same drainboard on the right (38-1/2" overall length, right-to-left workflow). The 18T places drainboards on both sides of the bowl (54" overall length, dual-side workflow with more drying space). Choose the 18L or 18R when footprint matters and one-side staging is enough; choose the 18T when both sides need dedicated drying space.
Does the BKS-1-18-12-18L meet 3-compartment sink requirements for a commercial kitchen?
No. Most local health codes require a separate 3-compartment sink for wash, rinse, and sanitize when manual ware-washing is the primary dish-cleaning method. The BKS-1-18-12-18L is a one-compartment sink intended for prep, bar service, auxiliary wash, pot-and-utensil duty, or as a secondary station alongside a 3-compartment line. Confirm requirements with the local health authority before relying on this unit as a primary dish sink.
What faucet fits the BKS-1-18-12-18L?
Any commercial 8"-on-center splash-mount faucet. That includes deck-mount commercial faucets with 8" hub-to-hub spacing, gooseneck spouts, pre-rinse units, and add-on dish sprayers. The faucet is not included with the sink - purchase separately based on application.
Is the basket drain included or a separate purchase?
The standard chrome-plated brass basket drain (BK Resources BKDR-4) is included in the carton. A stainless steel basket drain (BKDR-4-304) is available as an upgrade for harsher service environments, longer service intervals, or installations where chrome plating is not acceptable.
What is the difference between the BKS-1-18-12-18L and the BKS-1-18-12-18LS?
The "L" model has galvanized steel legs and standard adjustable feet at 40 lb. The "LS" model upgrades to stainless steel legs, stainless steel end bracing, and stainless-over-plastic adjustable bullet feet at 48 lb - the same deck, bowl, and drainboard but a higher-grade chassis for environments where galvanized leg corrosion would be a problem (high-humidity dishrooms, cleaning-chemical splash zones, outdoor or covered-patio installs).
Is the drainboard pitched for drainage?
Yes. The 18" drainboard pitches 1/4" back toward the bowl so wash water and rinse runoff drain into the compartment instead of pooling on the working surface or running off the front of the sink. The 1-1/2" rolled front and side edges contain splash and runoff inside the deck perimeter.
Can the sink be wall-mounted or attached to a wall?
Yes, optionally. Holes can be drilled through the backsplash riser turn-up section to fasten the sink to the wall. Fasteners are not included with the unit. Wall fastening is recommended for installs in high-vibration locations (next to ware-washing equipment, near loading dock walls) or where the sink might shift during heavy active use.
Can I install an undershelf or crossbrace under the sink?
Yes. The 1-5/8" round galvanized legs accept standard commercial sink undershelves, crossbraces, and slant-rack shelves like the BK-SSH (sold separately). Undershelves add storage for cleaning chemicals, scrub buckets, and bus tubs while keeping the deck clear for active wash work.
Does the sink require an indirect-waste air gap?
Most local health codes require an indirect-waste air gap between the sink drain and the floor drain or building waste stack when the sink is used for food contact. The exact air gap distance varies by jurisdiction. Confirm with the local health authority and a licensed plumber before final connection - retrofitting an air gap after the sink is in place is significantly more expensive than building it into the original install.
Is the BKS-1-18-12-18L NSF-listed?
Yes. The unit is NSF listed for commercial food-service use, which is required by most local health authorities for any sink installed in a permitted commercial kitchen, bar, or food-service operation.
Can the BKS-1-18-12-18L be used as a hand sink?
No. Hand sinks require dedicated NSF-listed hand sink units with hands-free operation (knee, foot pedal, or sensor activation) per most health codes. The BKS-1-18-12-18L is a utility/wash sink with manual faucet operation and does not satisfy hand-washing-only requirements. Pair it with a separate dedicated hand sink in any permitted commercial kitchen.