- Location
- Caerphilly, Gwent
- Main postcode district
- CF83
- Nearby (straight line)
- Risca (6 miles), Pontypridd (6 miles) and Blackwood (6 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.
How does this suit sites in Caerphilly?
Driving rain and wind at an open bay in Caerphilly can wear cushion fabric, so a protective outer cover is worth considering on exposed docks. Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Caerphilly stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions.
Mixed fleets arriving at a cold store in Caerphilly, from rigids to double-deck trailers, are exactly the situation inflatable cushions are designed for.
Your loading bay stays our responsibility from the survey to the handover. In Caerphilly, the survey and written quote are free, and the quoted price is fixed for the agreed scope. Installation is carried out by specialist engineers working under our management, at times planned with you to protect your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work is available by arrangement. We finish by testing the equipment and handing over its documentation.
How much does an inflatable dock shelter cost?
An inflatable dock shelter typically costs £6,800 to £12,800 per shelter, excluding VAT, supply and fit. It costs more than a curtain shelter or foam seal because of its cushions, fan and controls, and the closer seal it gives.
Costs are driven mainly by:
- Size: door width and height, and the range of trailers to be sealed.
- Cushion layout: a top cushion only, or top and side cushions.
- Fan and controls: standalone push-button control or full integration with the door, leveller and restraint.
- Frame and covers: the steel frame and any protective outer curtains.
- Cold store features: insulated frames or heating where ice is a concern.
- Site work: wall fixings, power supply, powered access equipment and removal of an old shelter or seal.
We fix the price in the written quote after a free site survey, which also confirms whether your trailer range suits an inflatable shelter.
Inflatable shelter, curtain shelter or dock seal: which suits a cold chain dock?
For a cold chain dock that receives trailers of different sizes, an inflatable shelter usually gives the best balance of close sealing and flexibility. A dock seal can match it on a uniform fleet, while a curtain shelter is better suited to ambient bays.
- Inflatable shelter: cushions adapt to each trailer's width and height and seal close to the body, with the full opening left clear.
- Dock seal: a tight, lower-cost seal when every trailer is the same size, but it can leave gaps on other vehicles and the pads can intrude into the opening.
- Curtain shelter: flexible and robust, but leaves small gaps that matter more at chilled and frozen docks.
Inflatables also stand clear of the trailer until it has docked, avoiding the rubbing that wears foam pads and curtains. The trade-off is the fan and controls, which need power and servicing. For frozen docks we specify the shelter alongside cold store dock doors so the two work together.
The same published guide range applies across Wales; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
Survey checklist for your dock
- Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
- Access for deliveries, cranes or lifting equipment during installation
- Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
Options to discuss
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.
Three-sided inflatable
Top and side cushions that inflate around the trailer for the closest seal, the usual choice for chilled and frozen docks with mixed trailers.
What do the rules in Wales mean for the work?
Equipment fitted in Wales may carry the UKCA or the CE mark. For each door, leveller or shelter installed in Caerphilly, we hand over the documentation that comes with it. Permissions are never assumed either way: whether planning permission or Building Regulations approval is needed, we check what applies at survey and tell you before dates are agreed.
Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Caerphilly
Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Caerphilly?
It depends on which UK nation the site is in. England and Wales use Building Regulations approval, Scotland uses building warrants and Northern Ireland uses building control approval from the council. Workplace safety is regulated by HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland, and energy rules differ between nations. For your site in Caerphilly, we check what applies at survey and design to it.
Do you cover Caerphilly for inflatable dock shelters?
Yes. We take on inflatable dock shelters for businesses in Caerphilly and across Gwent. 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.
How do you price inflatable dock shelters for a site in Caerphilly?
Guide budgets for supply and fit are £6,800 to £12,800 per shelter, excluding VAT. The figure moves with size, insulation, the operator, electrics, access, any pit or groundworks and out-of-hours working. Where levellers are involved, the guide assumes an existing, sound pit. After the free survey you receive a fixed written quote, and that is the price for the agreed scope.
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 Caerphilly
Businesses outside Caerphilly may find their nearest town in this list: Risca (6 miles), Pontypridd (6 miles) and Blackwood (6 miles). Each page covers doors, docks, repairs and servicing.
Other loading bay services in Caerphilly
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Caerphilly
For a written price on loading bay work in Caerphilly, request a quote and include photos of the bay if you can.