Quick answer
Wind and rain blowing through the loading bay at your Dorchester site every time a trailer backs on? A retractable or inflatable dock shelter seals the opening around the vehicle and keeps the weather outside where it belongs.
- Town
- Dorchester
- Postcode district
- DT1
- Area
- Dorset
- Survey
- Free for new installations
Options that matter on site
- Replacement curtains. Damaged curtains can be swapped without replacing the whole shelter.
- Inflatable seals. Once the vehicle is in place, inflated bags press against its sides and roof.
- Temperature control. Helps hold heat or cold inside the building with dock doors open.
- Retractable frames. Spring-loaded scissor arms fold back on impact and return afterwards.
- Guidance aids. Driver aids help trailers line up straight, which protects the shelter and improves the seal.
Typical scopes of work
- Installing inflatable dock shelters at a chilled goods-in to help hold temperature while trailers are unloaded.
- Adding rain gutters and guide lights to dock shelters so water stays out of trailers during loading.
- Fitting retractable dock shelters across a run of bays that serve a mixed fleet of vans and trailers.
What the law expects at a loading bay
Across Great Britain, including Dorchester, loading bays bring together several duties: maintained work equipment under PUWER 1998, safe traffic routes under the Workplace Regulations 1992, and safe powered doors under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Dock levellers should meet BS EN 1398, and the site's risk assessment should cover vehicle creep and drive-aways.
Keeping your site running during the work
Downtime matters on a working site, so the programme is set around your shifts. For a single door the opening is usually needed for a day; multi-door jobs are done one bay at a time so deliveries keep moving.
Guide prices
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dock shelter (retractable) | £2,195 – £5,495 |
| Inflatable dock shelter | £6,495 – £11,995 |
Guide prices for supply and installation unless stated, excluding VAT, which is added at the current rate where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after a survey, before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does dock shelter installation take in Dorchester?
Typically half a day to a day per shelter, depending on size and fixings. We schedule work bay by bay so loading can continue at the others while each shelter is fitted.
How much does a dock shelter cost in Dorchester?
Our guide prices are £2,195 to £5,495 ex VAT for a retractable dock shelter and £6,495 to £11,995 for an inflatable one, supplied and fitted. Once we have surveyed your bays in Dorchester, at no charge, the fixed price follows in writing.
Do you repair dock shelters in Dorchester?
Yes. We straighten or replace bent frames and arms, replace curtains, repair inflatable shelter blowers and bags, and renew bumpers. Repair visits are chargeable, and we quote before ordering any made-to-measure parts.
Dock shelters and seals near Dorchester
Besides Dorchester, we can survey and quote for sites in Weymouth, Yeovil, Poole and the rest of Dorset.
- Dock shelters and seals in Weymouth
- Dock shelters and seals in Yeovil
- Dock shelters and seals in Poole
- Dock shelters and seals in Bournemouth
- Dock shelters and seals in Christchurch
- Dock shelters and seals in New Milton
Other services in Dorchester
- Bollards and door protection
- Dock leveller and loading bay repairs
- Industrial door motor replacement
- Industrial door replacement
- Cold store and freezer doors
- Complete loading bays
- Impact traffic doors
- High-speed doors
More about Dock shelters and seals · industrial doors in Dorchester. Last updated 19 October 2026.