Selecting Loading Dock Bumpers
The Selection Of Loading Dock Bumpers
Dock bumpers are essential for protecting the loading dock from the backing impact force of a vehicle and absorb over 80% of the impact force. The impact force of a backing vehicle can be as much as 100,000 lb. of impact force and an improperly selected dock bumper could allow damage to the building, backing vehicle and even injure employees.
There are three types of bumpers to choose from; molded dock bumpers, laminated dock bumpers and steel face dock bumpers.
• Molded dock bumpers provide an attractive look, but can be chipped or gouged.
• Laminated dock bumpers provide greater wear capability than molded dock bumpers and can provide greater thickness, length and height.
• Steel faced dock bumpers provide the greatest wear capabilities, normally four times greater than laminated dock bumper and are the best choice for a busy loading dock.
Dock Bumper Projection
For a typical level approach (0% grade) application, bumper projection should be specified at not less than 4″. For decline/incline approach application total bumper projection should be as follows;
Note: You can either provide the above dock bumper projection with cantilever pit projection or use a fabricate steel build-out with dock bumper for the total projection required. If yard jockeys or spotted trailers are used, it is necessary to have the bumper projection required for the temporary raised nose of the trailer due to the greater grade it creates.
Dock Bumper Height
Special consideration should be given to the dock bumper height if air-ride equipped vehicles are to be serviced, due to the ability of the air-ride trailers 12″ of vertical travel. For this type of application a vertical dock bumper should be considered with a minimum of 18″ vertical height (Note: A greater vertical height may be required).
Loading Dock Planning
- Loading Dock Design
- Loading Dock Safety
- Loading Dock Apron Space
- Loading Dock Truck Bays
- Loading Dock Types
- Loading Dock Approach
- Loading Dock Truck Types
- Loading Dock Height
- Loading Dock Door Sizes
- Dock Seal & Dock Shelter Selection Criteria
- Dock Seal & Shelter Selection Guide
- Selecting Dock Leveler Capacity
- Selecting Dock Leveler Size
- Selecting Loading Dock Bumpers
FIND THE RIGHT DOCK SEAL/SHELTER
At Chalfant finding the right dock enclosure for your application just got easier. Whether its a dock seal, hybrid dock seal, flexible dock shelter, rigid dock shelter or or rail shelter, we can help guide you in making the right selection for your application.
SELECT A TOUGH DOCK LEVELER
Chalfant dock levelers and edge-of-docks are made of tough diamond tread plate design that assures a non-slip surface for greater safety and stops that lock the board firmly in place, for easy loading. Find out which “tough dock leveler” is the right choice for your application.
CHOOSE THE BEST TRUCK RESTRAINT
At Chalfant finding the right dock enclosure for your application just got easier. Whether its a dock seal, hybrid dock seal, flexible dock shelter, rigid dock shelter or or rail shelter, we can help guide you in making the right selection for your application.
Proper Loading Dock Equipment Selection
Contact us today for help you with proper loading dock equipment selection for your loading dock equipment application. We can help you in properly select and specify dock seals, dock shelters, rail shelters, dock levelers; hydraulic dock levelers and mechanical dock levelers, truck restraints, and your loading dock equipment needs, to meet your unique needs.
