- Location
- Bishopstoke, Hampshire
- Main postcode district
- SO50
- Nearby (straight line)
- Eastleigh (1 mile), Hedge End (4 miles) and Southampton (5 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 Bishopstoke?
Driving rain and wind at an open bay in Bishopstoke can wear cushion fabric, so a protective outer cover is worth considering on exposed docks. Operators replacing foam seals in Bishopstoke that keep wearing out against ill-fitting trailers may find an inflatable shelter suffers far less rubbing.
When a chilled dock in Bishopstoke sees condensation and ice around the door, the seal at the trailer is often where improvement starts.
We do not give a fixed price without seeing the site. A free survey in Bishopstoke lets us check the details that affect the job, and the written quote that follows is a fixed price for the agreed scope. We plan the work around your operation, arrange out-of-hours access if you need it and manage specialist installation engineers throughout. Handover includes testing, a demonstration and the paperwork you need for your records.
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.
What safety rules affect inflatable dock shelters?
An inflatable shelter is powered dock equipment, so it must be suitable, maintained and correctly marked, and it should be controlled so a trailer cannot pull away with the cushions inflated around it.
- Work equipment: PUWER 1998 in Great Britain and PUWER (Northern Ireland) 1999 require it to be maintained in a safe condition and inspected where deterioration could lead to danger.
- Marking: in Great Britain powered dock equipment may carry the UKCA or the CE mark. For Northern Ireland, the CE mark or CE with UKNI applies.
- Drive-away: HSE workplace transport guidance (HSG136), followed by HSENI in Northern Ireland, calls for safeguards against drivers driving away too early, such as traffic lights, vehicle or trailer restraints, or keeping keys until it is safe. Linking deflation to these controls protects both the cushions and the driver.
- Regulator: HSE in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.
A vehicle restraint interlocked with the shelter and door is a common way to make the whole sequence dependable.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What we look at on site
- Asbestos register and any other site hazard information
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
- Age and condition of the equipment already in place
- Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
- Control positions, isolators and any existing interlocks
- Clear opening width and height for each door
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.
Which rules apply in England?
Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Bishopstoke, 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 Bishopstoke
How do you price inflatable dock shelters for a site in Bishopstoke?
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.
Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Bishopstoke?
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.
Which building and safety rules apply to a site in Bishopstoke?
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 Bishopstoke, we check what applies at survey and design to it.
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.
Can a punctured cushion be repaired?
Small punctures and tears can usually be patched, and a badly damaged cushion can be replaced on its own without changing the frame or fan. Repairs are carried out on a chargeable visit, with the price agreed before anyone attends.
Inflatable dock shelters near Bishopstoke
Other towns within reach of Bishopstoke on our coverage list include Eastleigh (1 mile), Hedge End (4 miles) and Southampton (5 miles), all covered on the same terms.
Other loading bay services in Bishopstoke
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Bishopstoke
If a loading bay in Bishopstoke needs attention, call us or send photos and details online.