- Location
- Burnley, Lancashire
- Main postcode district
- BB11
- Nearby (straight line)
- Nelson (3 miles), Colne (5 miles) and Accrington (6 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 Burnley?
Frozen food stores in Burnley loading trailers of varying sizes can use inflatable shelters to keep warm outside air away from the open door. Specifying a new temperature-controlled warehouse in Burnley is the ideal time to design inflatable shelters in with the doors and levellers, so controls are integrated from the start.
Mixed fleets arriving at a cold store in Burnley, from rigids to double-deck trailers, are exactly the situation inflatable cushions are designed for.
We keep the process simple for sites in Burnley. A free survey tells us what the dock needs; a fixed written quote tells you what it will cost and what is included. We then organise the installation, with specialist engineers under our management and a programme agreed around your shifts. Night and weekend work is available by arrangement. Before we leave, the new equipment is tested, demonstrated and handed over with its documentation.
What maintenance does an inflatable dock shelter need?
An inflatable shelter needs regular checks on its fabric, fan and controls, because a puncture or a weak fan stops it sealing properly. Planned servicing catches most faults before they affect the cold chain.
- Cushion fabric: inspect for punctures, abrasion and failed seams, and patch or replace cushions as needed.
- Fan unit: check filters, motor and airflow so the cushions inflate fully and promptly.
- Retraction system: straps, weights or springs must pull the cushions back clear of the trailer.
- Controls and interlocks: confirm the sequence with the door, leveller and restraint still works.
- Frame and fixings: look for impact damage and corrosion.
Snow and ice on the top cushion can stop it retracting, so a check before winter is worthwhile. Service and repair visits are chargeable, and the price is agreed before anyone attends.
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.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
Survey checklist for your dock
- Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
- Wind exposure at the dock, which affects door and shelter choice
- Clear opening width and height for each door
- Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
- Access for deliveries, cranes or lifting equipment during installation
- Bumper position and wear or damage on the dock face
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.
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.
What do the rules in England mean for the work?
Sites in Burnley fall under the rules for England. Structural changes such as forming a new opening or a dock leveller pit may need Building Regulations approval, and external structures such as loading houses, canopies or new dock approaches can need planning permission from the local planning authority. We check what applies at survey and build any approvals into the plan.
Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Burnley
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 Burnley 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.
Can you work alongside our main contractor on a new build in Burnley?
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.
What details do you need from us to quote for inflatable dock shelters?
To get started, send the site address in Burnley, the number of bays or openings, approximate sizes, and photos of the dock from inside and outside. Tell us what vehicles you load, what goods you handle and any temperature requirements. Drawings help on new builds. We then arrange the free survey and confirm the details before the written quote is issued.
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.
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.
Inflatable dock shelters near Burnley
Close neighbours of Burnley with their own pages here: Nelson (3 miles), Colne (5 miles) and Accrington (6 miles). Choose one to see coverage details for that town.
Other loading bay services in Burnley
Full guide to inflatable dock shelters · Everything we do in Burnley
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