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Shelters and seals · Jarrow

Inflatable dock shelters in Jarrow

We take enquiries about inflatable dock shelters from businesses in Jarrow and across Tyne and Wear, and manage each job from the first conversation to completion, with specialist engineers working under our management.

Guide £6,800–£12,800 per shelter ex VATFree site surveyNE32
Book a free survey0800 088 6248
Location
Jarrow, Tyne and Wear
Main postcode district
NE32
Nearby (straight line)
Hebburn (1 mile), Wallsend (2 miles) and South Shields (2 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.

Where does this fit at a dock in Jarrow?

Fresh produce cooled at a packhouse in Jarrow stays colder during loading when the gap around the trailer is sealed by inflated cushions. Pharmaceutical distributors around Jarrow working to tight temperature limits may want the close seal an inflatable shelter gives during every load.

Driving rain and wind at an open bay in Jarrow can wear cushion fabric, so a protective outer cover is worth considering on exposed docks.

The survey is free, the quote is written and the price is fixed: that is how every installation in Jarrow begins. We then manage the work from start to finish. Fitting is carried out by specialist installers under our management, phased so the operation keeps moving, and nights or weekends can be booked by arrangement. On the final day we test the equipment with you and hand over the operating and maintenance information.

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.

  1. The trailer reverses onto the bumpers, guided by dock lights and wheel guides.
  2. The trailer is secured by restraint or key control, and the outside light shows red.
  3. The cushions inflate around the top and sides of the trailer.
  4. With the trailer sealed, the door opens and the leveller is deployed.
  5. After loading, the leveller is stored and the door closed.
  6. 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, Jarrow
£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

  • Condition of any existing leveller pit, kerb angles and pit drainage
  • Working hours, shift patterns and windows for out-of-hours work
  • Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
  • Forklift and pallet truck loads crossing the leveller platform
  • Headroom above the opening and which track type will suit it
  • Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles

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.

Which rules apply in England?

Workplace safety in England is regulated by HSE. For a loading bay in Jarrow, 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 Jarrow

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

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.

How do you price inflatable dock shelters for a site in Jarrow?

Guide budgets for supply and fit are £6,800 to £12,800 per shelter, excluding VAT. The figure moves with size, insulation, the operator, electrics, access, any pit or groundworks and out-of-hours working. Where levellers are involved, the guide assumes an existing, sound pit. After the free survey you receive a fixed written quote, and that is the price for the agreed scope.

What details do you need from us to quote for inflatable dock shelters?

To get started, send the site address in Jarrow, 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.

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 Jarrow

If your site is not in Jarrow itself, it may be near one of these: Hebburn (1 mile), Wallsend (2 miles) and South Shields (2 miles). Pick the closest.

Other loading bay services in Jarrow

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