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Shelters and seals · Scunthorpe

Inflatable dock shelters in Scunthorpe

A clear scope, an agreed plan and a single contact who manages the work: that is what sites in Scunthorpe can expect when they come to us for help with inflatable dock shelters.

Guide £6,800–£12,800 per shelter ex VATFree site surveyDN15
Book a free survey0800 088 6248
Location
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
Main postcode district
DN15
Nearby (straight line)
Brough (11 miles), Goole (13 miles) and Thorne (13 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.

Is this right for your site in Scunthorpe?

Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Scunthorpe stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions. Frozen food stores in Scunthorpe 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 Scunthorpe is the ideal time to design inflatable shelters in with the doors and levellers, so controls are integrated from the start.

Here is what happens after you contact us about a site in Scunthorpe. We arrange a free survey, measure up and send a fixed written quote. If you go ahead, we manage the whole job, including ordering, delivery and coordination with your site team. Specialist installation engineers working under our management do the fitting, at times built around your loading schedule, with out-of-hours work by arrangement. Testing and handover documents close the job.

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.

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, Scunthorpe
£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?

  • Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
  • Asbestos register and any other site hazard information
  • Traffic routes for vehicles and separation of pedestrians
  • Temperature requirements for chilled, frozen or ambient goods
  • Whether planning, building control or a building warrant may be needed
  • Wind exposure at the dock, which affects door and shelter choice

Options to discuss

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.

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.

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 Scunthorpe. 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 Scunthorpe

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 Lincolnshire 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.

Do you cover Scunthorpe for inflatable dock shelters?

Yes. We take on inflatable dock shelters for businesses in Scunthorpe and across Lincolnshire. 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.

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

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.

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.

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 Scunthorpe

Close neighbours of Scunthorpe with their own pages here: Brough (11 miles), Goole (13 miles) and Thorne (13 miles). Choose one to see coverage details for that town.

Other loading bay services in Scunthorpe

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

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