Inflatable dock shelters in Woking

Location: Woking, Surrey
Main postcode district: GU22
Nearby (straight line): Weybridge (6 miles), Guildford (6 miles) and Egham (8 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 Woking choose this?

Mixed fleets arriving at a cold store in Woking, from rigids to double-deck trailers, are exactly the situation inflatable cushions are designed for. Pharmaceutical distributors around Woking working to tight temperature limits may want the close seal an inflatable shelter gives during every load.

When a chilled dock in Woking sees condensation and ice around the door, the seal at the trailer is often where improvement starts.

We do not give a fixed price without seeing the site. A free survey in Woking lets us check the details that affect the job, and the written quote that follows is a fixed price for the agreed scope. We plan the work around your operation, arrange out-of-hours access if you need it and manage specialist installation engineers throughout. Handover includes testing, a demonstration and the paperwork you need for your records.

How does an inflatable shelter work with the dock door and leveller?

An inflatable shelter is the first step in the dock sequence: it seals around the trailer before the door opens and only deflates once the door has closed. Getting that order right is what makes it effective.

The trailer reverses onto the bumpers, guided by dock lights and wheel guides.
The trailer is secured by restraint or key control, and the outside light shows red.
The cushions inflate around the top and sides of the trailer.
With the trailer sealed, the door opens and the leveller is deployed.
After loading, the leveller is stored and the door closed.
The cushions deflate and retract, and the light turns green.

Deflated cushions must sit clear of the door and leveller, and internal straps or weights pull them back so trailers do not catch them. Interlocks make each step depend on the last, so staff cannot open the door onto an unsealed trailer.

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, Woking

£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.

Survey checklist for your dock

Scope to convert ground-level doors into docks or add lift tables
Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
Asbestos register and any other site hazard information
Lighting inside trailers and at the dock face
Power supply at each bay, including three-phase availability
Escape routes and pedestrian doors close to the bay

Options to discuss

Three-sided inflatable

Top and side cushions that inflate around the trailer for the closest seal, the usual choice for chilled and frozen docks with mixed trailers.

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 England

Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Woking, that means doors meeting regulation 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, equipment maintained under PUWER and suitable safeguards against vehicles driving away too early. We check what applies at survey and design the bay accordingly.

Questions about inflatable dock shelters in Woking

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

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.

How long does installation take at a site in Woking?

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.

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 Surrey 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.

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.

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.

Inflatable dock shelters near Woking

We also cover towns near Woking, including Weybridge (6 miles), Guildford (6 miles) and Egham (8 miles). Each has its own page with the same services and process.

Other loading bay services in Woking

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

If a loading bay in Woking needs attention, call us or send photos and details online.