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Shelters and seals · Deal

Inflatable dock shelters in Deal

From a single bay to a full row of docks, we can help with inflatable dock shelters in Deal and at sites elsewhere in Kent.

Guide £6,800–£12,800 per shelter ex VATFree site surveyCT14
Book a free survey0800 088 6248
Location
Deal, Kent
Main postcode district
CT14
Nearby (straight line)
Dover (8 miles), Ramsgate (8 miles) and Broadstairs (9 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.

What matters for inflatable dock shelters in Deal?

Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Deal stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions. When a chilled dock in Deal sees condensation and ice around the door, the seal at the trailer is often where improvement starts.

Mixed fleets arriving at a cold store in Deal, from rigids to double-deck trailers, are exactly the situation inflatable cushions are designed for.

A single contact at Loading Bay Doors handles your project in Deal from start to finish. The free site survey and fixed written quote come first, with no obligation to proceed. We then book the installation for times that suit the operation, including out of hours by arrangement, and manage the specialist engineers on site. At the end we commission and test the equipment, walk your team through it and provide the documentation.

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, Deal
£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 do we check at the survey?

  • Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
  • Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
  • Whether planning, building control or a building warrant may be needed
  • Scope to convert ground-level doors into docks or add lift tables
  • Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
  • Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face

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.

Top cushion only

A single inflatable cushion across the top of the opening, paired with fixed side pads or curtains, for docks where trailer heights vary more than widths.

Planning, building control and safety law 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 Deal. 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 Deal

Can you work outside our normal operating hours in Deal?

Yes, by arrangement. Evening, night and weekend working can be planned so the installation causes as little disruption as possible to your loading schedule. Out-of-hours work can affect the price, so mention it at the survey and we will include it in the written quote. The agreed times are confirmed in the programme before the job starts.

Do you cover Deal for inflatable dock shelters?

Yes. We take on inflatable dock shelters for businesses in Deal and across Kent. 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 you remove and dispose of the old equipment?

Yes, where it is part of the scope. When we replace doors, levellers, shelters or seals at a site in Deal, removal and disposal of the old equipment can be included and is itemised in the quote, so it is clear what is covered. If anything should be kept, such as a frame or motor that is still serviceable, we agree that at survey.

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 Deal

The same survey, quote and repair service is available in towns around Deal, such as Dover (8 miles), Ramsgate (8 miles) and Broadstairs (9 miles).

Other loading bay services in Deal

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

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