- Location
- Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
- Main postcode district
- GL20
- Nearby (straight line)
- Cheltenham (7 miles), Gloucester (9 miles) and Great Malvern (11 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
An inflatable dock shelter is a dock shelter with air-filled fabric cushions at the top and sides of the opening, kept deflated and close to the building until a trailer has reversed in. A fan then inflates the cushions so they press against the trailer roof and sides, giving a close seal that adapts to different trailer widths and heights, and deflates again before the trailer leaves.
Where does this fit at a dock in Tewkesbury?
Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Tewkesbury stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions. Operators replacing foam seals in Tewkesbury that keep wearing out against ill-fitting trailers may find an inflatable shelter suffers far less rubbing.
Frozen food stores in Tewkesbury loading trailers of varying sizes can use inflatable shelters to keep warm outside air away from the open door.
Keeping the dock running is usually the first concern, so we plan around it. After a free survey of your Tewkesbury site and a written quote at a fixed price, we agree when each bay can be released and whether any work should happen out of hours. Specialist installation engineers working under our management then fit the equipment, and we test it and hand over the documentation before the bay goes back into use.
What is involved in installing an inflatable dock shelter?
Installing an inflatable shelter involves fixing a steel frame to the building around the dock door, mounting the cushions and fan, and wiring the controls, usually over one to two days per bay.
- The wall is checked and fixing points or a subframe prepared.
- The frame is fixed from powered access equipment in the yard.
- Top and side cushions are fitted, with protective covers where specified.
- The fan unit is mounted and the control panel wired, including interlocks to the door, leveller or restraint.
- Inflation, deflation and cushion retraction are tested with a trailer in the bay.
You will need to provide a clear yard area in front of the bay, take the bay out of use and arrange a power supply near the door, or ask us to include one. At cold stores we plan the work with the dock door kept closed, so the store stays at temperature while the shelter goes up outside.
How does an inflatable shelter work with the dock door and leveller?
An inflatable shelter is the first step in the dock sequence: it seals around the trailer before the door opens and only deflates once the door has closed. Getting that order right is what makes it effective.
- The trailer reverses onto the bumpers, guided by dock lights and wheel guides.
- The trailer is secured by restraint or key control, and the outside light shows red.
- The cushions inflate around the top and sides of the trailer.
- With the trailer sealed, the door opens and the leveller is deployed.
- After loading, the leveller is stored and the door closed.
- The cushions deflate and retract, and the light turns green.
Deflated cushions must sit clear of the door and leveller, and internal straps or weights pull them back so trailers do not catch them. Interlocks make each step depend on the last, so staff cannot open the door onto an unsealed trailer.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
Survey checklist for your dock
- Asbestos register and any other site hazard information
- Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
- Drainage on recessed or sloping dock approaches
- Control positions, isolators and any existing interlocks
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
Options to discuss
Top cushion only
A single inflatable cushion across the top of the opening, paired with fixed side pads or curtains, for docks where trailer heights vary more than widths.
Interlocked controls
Controls linked to the door, leveller and restraint so the shelter inflates before the door opens and deflates only once it has closed.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Tewkesbury, 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 inflatable dock shelters in Tewkesbury
What details do you need from us to quote for inflatable dock shelters?
To get started, send the site address in Tewkesbury, the number of bays or openings, approximate sizes, and photos of the dock from inside and outside. Tell us what vehicles you load, what goods you handle and any temperature requirements. Drawings help on new builds. We then arrange the free survey and confirm the details before the written quote is issued.
Do you cover Tewkesbury for inflatable dock shelters?
Yes. We take on inflatable dock shelters for businesses in Tewkesbury and across Gloucestershire. We survey the site, provide a fixed written quote and manage the installation, with specialist installation engineers working under our management. Visits are arranged in advance at a time that suits your operation, and the same single contact stays with the job through to handover.
What warranty comes with new loading bay equipment?
New equipment comes with the manufacturer's warranty, which varies by product. Our workmanship terms are set out in writing in the quote for your Tewkesbury site, so you can see what is covered before you commit. Check the warranty terms for any servicing conditions, and we can quote for planned maintenance once the installation is complete.
Does an inflatable shelter work with containers and double-deck trailers?
Yes, provided the shelter is sized for the tallest and widest vehicles you receive. The cushions adapt to each vehicle's dimensions, which is a key reason inflatable shelters suit sites handling containers, standard trailers and double-deck units at the same bays.
What happens to an inflatable shelter if the power fails?
If the power fails, the fan stops and the cushions gradually deflate, so the trailer can leave once loading has been brought to a safe end. At a cold store, the dock door should be closed by hand where possible to protect the store. We explain the power failure routine at handover.
Inflatable dock shelters near Tewkesbury
Businesses outside Tewkesbury may find their nearest town in this list: Cheltenham (7 miles), Gloucester (9 miles) and Great Malvern (11 miles). Each page covers doors, docks, repairs and servicing.
Other loading bay services in Tewkesbury
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Tewkesbury
Call us or request a quote online to talk through loading bay work at your site in Tewkesbury.