- Location
- Ebbw Vale, Gwent
- Main postcode district
- NP23
- Nearby (straight line)
- Merthyr Tydfil (8 miles), Blackwood (8 miles) and Pontypool (9 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.
Is this right for your site in Ebbw Vale?
Pharmaceutical distributors around Ebbw Vale working to tight temperature limits may want the close seal an inflatable shelter gives during every load. Specifying a new temperature-controlled warehouse in Ebbw Vale is the ideal time to design inflatable shelters in with the doors and levellers, so controls are integrated from the start.
Frozen food stores in Ebbw Vale loading trailers of varying sizes can use inflatable shelters to keep warm outside air away from the open door.
We never ask you to commit before you have a fixed price. A free survey at your Ebbw Vale site comes first, followed by a written quote. When the order goes ahead, we plan the installation around your operation, book any out-of-hours working you need and manage the specialist installation engineers on site. The job ends with a full test, a run-through for the people who will use the equipment and a set of handover documents.
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 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.
The same published guide range applies across Wales; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What does the free survey cover?
- Wall and steel structure for door, shelter and bumper fixings
- Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians
- Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
- Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
- Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
- Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
Options to discuss
Protective outer covers
Hard-wearing covers over the cushions that shield the fabric from weather, sunlight and trailer contact, extending cushion life on exposed docks.
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?
HSE regulates workplace safety in Wales. Loading bays in Ebbw Vale need doors that meet regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, work equipment maintained under PUWER, and safeguards that stop vehicles leaving the dock too early. We check what applies at survey and build those measures into the design.
Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Ebbw Vale
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 Ebbw Vale 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.
Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Ebbw Vale?
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 Ebbw Vale, we check what applies at survey and design to it.
Do you cover Ebbw Vale for inflatable dock shelters?
Yes. We take on inflatable dock shelters for businesses in Ebbw Vale 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.
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.
Is an inflatable shelter worth it at an ambient dock?
An inflatable shelter works at any dock, but at ambient bays a curtain shelter or dock seal usually gives enough sealing for less cost. Inflatables make most sense where temperature, hygiene or energy use makes the closest practical seal worth paying for.
Inflatable dock shelters near Ebbw Vale
Distances are measured from Ebbw Vale. Nearby towns we cover include Merthyr Tydfil (8 miles), Blackwood (8 miles) and Pontypool (9 miles), and other towns in the area are covered too.
Other loading bay services in Ebbw Vale
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Ebbw Vale
Have photos of the door, leveller or shelter? Send them with your enquiry and we can give a clearer answer for your Ebbw Vale site.