Inflatable dock shelters in Hedge End

Location: Hedge End, Hampshire
Main postcode district: SO30
Nearby (straight line): Bishopstoke (4 miles), Eastleigh (4 miles) and Southampton (5 miles)
Survey and quote: Free, with a fixed written quote

Inflatable dock shelters, in short

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 Hedge End?

Specifying a new temperature-controlled warehouse in Hedge End is the ideal time to design inflatable shelters in with the doors and levellers, so controls are integrated from the start. When a chilled dock in Hedge End sees condensation and ice around the door, the seal at the trailer is often where improvement starts.

Pharmaceutical distributors around Hedge End working to tight temperature limits may want the close seal an inflatable shelter gives during every load.

How does an installation in Hedge End work? First, a free, no-obligation survey to measure up and understand the operation. Next, a fixed written quote. Then a programme agreed with you, so the work fits around deliveries, with out-of-hours slots if needed. The installation itself is carried out by specialist engineers who answer to us, and it finishes with testing, a walk-through for your staff and a handover pack.

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 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.

Guide price, Hedge End

£6,800–£12,800 per shelter, 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 we look at on site

Wall and steel structure for door, shelter and bumper fixings
Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay
Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
Age and condition of the equipment already in place

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.

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.

Regulations and approvals in England

Powered doors and dock equipment installed in England may carry the UKCA or the CE mark, and doors are covered by the product standard BS EN 13241. We hand over the relevant documentation for each item fitted in Hedge End. Planning and Building Regulations questions are never assumed either way: we check what applies at survey, so you know before work is booked.

Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Hedge End

How do you price inflatable dock shelters for a site in Hedge End?

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.

Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in Hedge End?

We check at survey whether the work is likely to need approval. Forming a new opening or dock pit may need Building Regulations approval, a building warrant or building control approval, depending on the nation, and external structures such as loading houses can need planning permission. Where approval is needed, we explain what is involved, work with your designer or agent, and build it into the programme.

Do you cover Hedge End for inflatable dock shelters?

Yes. We take on inflatable dock shelters for businesses in Hedge End and across Hampshire. 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.

Do the cushions touch the trailer as it reverses in?

No, the cushions stay deflated and pulled back against the building while the trailer reverses in, so there is no rubbing as it docks. They inflate only once the trailer is in position and secured, which reduces wear on the fabric compared with foam seals and curtain shelters.

Will we need to change the rest of the dock?

Usually not. Most inflatable shelters fit around an existing door opening, though the leveller, bumpers and door controls are reviewed so the cushions clear them and the interlocks work. Where the wall cannot carry the frame, a subframe is added. We confirm what is needed at survey.

Inflatable dock shelters near Hedge End

Other towns within reach of Hedge End on our coverage list include Bishopstoke (4 miles), Eastleigh (4 miles) and Southampton (5 miles), all covered on the same terms.

Other loading bay services in Hedge End

Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Hedge End

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