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Shelters and seals · Thurso

Inflatable dock shelters in Thurso

For operators in Thurso thinking about inflatable dock shelters, the starting point is a conversation about the site, the vehicles you load and how the bay is used day to day.

Guide £6,800–£12,800 per shelter ex VATFree site surveyKW14
Book a free survey0800 088 6248
Location
Thurso, Highlands
Main postcode district
KW14
Nearby (straight line)
Wick (19 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.

Why do sites in Thurso choose this?

Operators replacing foam seals in Thurso that keep wearing out against ill-fitting trailers may find an inflatable shelter suffers far less rubbing. Pharmaceutical distributors around Thurso working to tight temperature limits may want the close seal an inflatable shelter gives during every load.

Frozen food stores in Thurso loading trailers of varying sizes can use inflatable shelters to keep warm outside air away from the open door.

Step one is a survey at your site in Thurso, which costs nothing and carries no obligation. Step two is a written quote with a fixed price and a clear scope. Step three is installation, scheduled around your operation and carried out by specialist installation engineers working under our management, including evenings or weekends if agreed. Step four is handover, when the equipment is tested in front of you and the paperwork is passed over.

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.

  1. The wall is checked and fixing points or a subframe prepared.
  2. The frame is fixed from powered access equipment in the yard.
  3. Top and side cushions are fitted, with protective covers where specified.
  4. The fan unit is mounted and the control panel wired, including interlocks to the door, leveller or restraint.
  5. 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.

Guide price, Thurso
£6,800–£12,800 per shelter, ex VAT

The same published guide range applies across Scotland; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.

What we look at on site

  • Whether planning, building control or a building warrant may be needed
  • Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
  • Access for deliveries, cranes or lifting equipment during installation
  • Wall and steel structure for door, shelter and bumper fixings
  • Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
  • Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians

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.

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.

Regulations and approvals in Scotland

Energy standards for buildings in Scotland are set out in Section 6 of the Building Standards Technical Handbook. For new or replacement loading bay doors in Thurso, we confirm the figure that applies to your project and check what applies at survey, rather than relying on rules written for elsewhere in the UK.

For Thurso, installation work is planned in advance rather than on a routine round. The survey and quote are free; where we can, we group installation visits with other work nearby, and any travel and accommodation costs for fitting are set out clearly in the quote.

Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Thurso

How long does installation take at a site in Thurso?

It depends on the equipment, the number of bays, the condition of the dock and whether any building or electrical work is needed. We agree a programme with you after the survey, setting out which bays are out of use and when. Larger jobs are usually phased so that part of the dock stays open, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.

Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Thurso?

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.

Is VAT included in your guide prices for inflatable dock shelters?

No. Our customers are businesses, so guide prices exclude VAT, which is added at the standard rate. The same guide range applies in the Highlands as everywhere else: for inflatable dock shelters, it is £6,800 to £12,800 per shelter, excluding VAT. It covers supply and fit for a typical installation. Your fixed written quote after the free survey shows the net price, the VAT and exactly what is included.

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.

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.

Inflatable dock shelters near Thurso

Nearby places we cover, measured from Thurso, include Wick (19 miles). Ask if your own town is missing.

Other loading bay services in Thurso

Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Thurso

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