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Shelters and seals · Yeovil

Dock seals in Yeovil

For operators in Yeovil thinking about dock seals, the starting point is a conversation about the site, the vehicles you load and how the bay is used day to day.

Guide £1,100–£2,600 per set ex VATFree site surveyBA20
Book a free survey0800 088 6248
Location
Yeovil, Somerset
Main postcode district
BA20
Nearby (straight line)
Dorchester (18 miles), Bridgwater (21 miles) and Taunton (21 miles)
Survey and quote
Free, with a fixed written quote
Dock seals, in short

A dock seal is a set of fabric-covered foam pads fixed to the building around a loading bay door, usually a head pad and two side pads. When a trailer reverses in, its rear end presses into the foam, which compresses to close the gaps around the trailer body. Seals give a very tight fit but work best when the trailers using the bay are a consistent size.

What should sites in Yeovil consider?

Heated packing halls next to a dock in Yeovil lose less warmth during loading when the gap around each trailer is closed by compressed foam. A dedicated chilled fleet serving a site in Yeovil can be sealed closely with foam pads, at lower cost than fitting an inflatable shelter.

Hygiene-sensitive sites in Yeovil, such as food processors, can use dock seals to reduce the gaps through which dust and pests might enter during loading.

Here is what happens after you contact us about a site in Yeovil. We arrange a free survey, measure up and send a fixed written quote. If you go ahead, we manage the whole job, including ordering, delivery and coordination with your site team. Specialist installation engineers working under our management do the fitting, at times built around your loading schedule, with out-of-hours work by arrangement. Testing and handover documents close the job.

How are dock seals fitted to a loading bay?

Dock seals are fixed to the outside wall around the dock door, normally on brackets or a frame that sets their projection, and a set usually takes a few hours to fit. No power supply is needed.

  1. The wall is checked for sound fixing points, with a frame or spreader plates added on cladding.
  2. The head pad and side pads are positioned to suit your trailer width and height.
  3. Projection is set relative to the bumpers, so trailers compress the foam by the right amount.
  4. Bumpers are checked and, if worn, replaced at the same time.
  5. A trailer is docked to confirm an even seal along the head and sides.

From you we need the bay taken out of use, a clear area in the yard for powered access equipment and, ideally, one of your usual trailers available at the end of the job so the fit can be checked under real conditions.

How much do dock seals cost?

A set of dock seals typically costs £1,100 to £2,600 per set, excluding VAT, supply and fit. A set is normally a head pad and two side pads for one bay.

The price depends on:

  • Pad size and depth: larger openings and deeper foam cost more.
  • Head arrangement: a fixed head pad, or a curtain head for varied trailer heights.
  • Cover fabric: heavier coated fabric and replaceable wear pleats last longer.
  • Pad shape: tapered side pads that guide the trailer and intrude less into the opening.
  • Mounting: fixing direct to masonry, to a steel frame, or to brackets that set the projection.
  • Site work: removing old seals, adjusting bumpers and powered access equipment.

Where the foam is still sound, new covers can cost less than new pads, and we will say if that is an option. After a free site survey you receive a fixed written price for the work described.

Guide price, Yeovil
£1,100–£2,600 per set, ex VAT

The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.

What do we check at the survey?

  • How often each door cycles during a typical shift
  • Age and condition of the equipment already in place
  • Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
  • Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
  • Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
  • Clear opening width and height for each door

Options to discuss

Tapered side pads

Side pads tapered in section so they guide the trailer in and intrude less into the trailer opening, which extends pad and cover life.

Replaceable wear pleats

Sacrificial fabric strips on the pad faces that take the rubbing from trailers and can be replaced without changing the whole cover.

Regulations and approvals in England

Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Yeovil, that means doors meeting regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, equipment maintained under PUWER and suitable safeguards against vehicles driving away too early. We check what applies at survey and design the bay accordingly.

Questions about dock seals in Yeovil

How long does installation take at a site in Yeovil?

It depends on the equipment, the number of bays, the condition of the dock and whether any building or electrical work is needed. We agree a programme with you after the survey, setting out which bays are out of use and when. Larger jobs are usually phased so that part of the dock stays open, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.

Is the site survey in Yeovil free?

Yes. For new installations, replacements, upgrades, conversions and complete bays, the site survey and written quote are free and come with no obligation. The survey lets us measure the openings, check the dock and structure, and understand how the bay is used, so the quote reflects your site. Repair and servicing visits are different: they are chargeable, with the price agreed before anyone attends.

Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Yeovil?

Yes. For new warehouses and fit-outs, we can supply and install the dock package as part of a wider project, working to the main contractor's programme, site rules and permits. We will need drawings, dock levels and the programme, and we coordinate pit details, power supplies and door openings with the relevant trades before installation begins.

Can dock seals handle trailers of different heights?

Only within a limited range. A fixed head pad seals well on trailers of one height but leaves gaps over lower ones and can be crushed by taller ones. A seal with a flexible curtain head copes better with varied heights, and for very mixed fleets a shelter is usually the better option.

Are dock seals suitable for cold stores?

Yes, for cold stores with consistent trailers a dock seal gives a tight fit at a lower cost than an inflatable shelter. The pads must be kept in good condition, because water in the foam can freeze and stiffen it. Mixed fleets at cold stores are often better served by inflatable shelters.

Dock seals near Yeovil

We also cover towns near Yeovil, including Dorchester (18 miles), Bridgwater (21 miles) and Taunton (21 miles). Each has its own page with the same services and process.

Other loading bay services in Yeovil

Full guide to dock seals · Everything we do in Yeovil

Whether it is a new bay or a fault on an existing one, call us or request a quote for your site in Yeovil.

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