The average loading dock height is between 48 and 52. 1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005-4950 | (202) 289-7800 With greater displacements loading is made more economical, safer, and easier. The 9' high door provides improved access to the maximum trailer and load height. function scrollFunction() { Typically the minimum displacement for doors is 12 on center of the opening. Weather Protection for Users and Goods: Open loading docks should be covered at least four feet beyond the edge of the platform over the loading berth to protect users and goods being loaded and unloaded. References: Understanding the Workplace: Ramps and Grades. OSHA. This space type must be able to accommodate large vehicles, forklifts, and pedestrian traffic. Disclaimer With careful planning many of the risks and expenditures associated with a design lacking proper safety features can be alleviated. For a complete list and definitions of the design objectives within the context of whole building design, click on the titles below. mybutton.style.display = "block"; Order 5 or more for free shipping, DB-13 Molded Dock Bumper Factors which ensure the safe function of those pieces of equipment is relative to dock door displace-ments from each other as well as adequate staging space within the facility. United States Postal Service uses the open loading dock design for its delivery trucks with an overhead canopy covering the dock. Still, its crucial to rely on heavy-duty ramps with gentle grades and steel curbs. The figures speak for themselves in 2004 the National Safety Council reported that direct costs from accidents was a $85 billion dollar industry; letting insurance companies cash in on costs associated with medical costs, wage indemnity, and claims administration fees. The goal of 'Whole Building' Design is to create a successful high-performance building by applying an integrated design and team approach to the project during the planning and programming phases. Open docks without predetermined docking positions, are best suited to a combination of several bumper sizes and placements (Fig.3). The staging area between docks is typically non-usable. If a facility has special requirements for a loading ramps size or location, it is usually best to have a custom loading dock designed to suit the circumstances. Dock leveler and board length that can accommodate the height difference from dock to truck, and truck/trailer "float" during loading/unloading. a truck with an overall length of 70' requires a minimum apron space of 150). Improper size of the loading dock doors can create extra-labor for loading/unloading trucks, reducing efficiency causing product/package damage and possible employee injury. if (document.body.scrollTop > 1000 || document.documentElement.scrollTop > 1000) { Forklifts: All forklifts should be equipped with front and back lights and a horn. Locate normal and emergency fuel storage areas away from loading docks. Allow space for your plate legs and mount vertical bumpers at the desired distances on either side. Architects, engineers, and consultants should consider exceeding the applicable requirements whenever possible. Due to the diversity and variations that may exist at the loading dock, any specification, drawings or other material pertaining to the loading dock should be developed and approved by an experienced professional architect and reviewed by an experienced loading dock professional. See also Air Barrier Systems in Buildings. Use 3/4" "J" bolts with a minimum length of 8" with 1 1/4" projection. To provide customer service that will "save" you money. Consider these for docks that accommodate panel and pebble trucks as well as over the road trailers. The maximum grade capability of a pallet jack is 3%, electric pallet jack 7%, electric lift truck 10% and gasoline fork tucks is 15%. Use combinations of bumpers for optimal protection, When installed properly all bumpers are maintenance free, Always verify the types of trucks being received before planning aloading dock. (Note: when raising the nose of the truck to couple with a tractor the grade is changed, the dock bumper projection must be able to accommodate this change in incline) Different facilities have different requirements for the loading ramps that they use. BHS Dock Ramps are 84-inches wide by 30 feet-long from dock to ground. Common problems on the loading dock are often rooted in initial design elements which do not take into consideration future dock uses or the evolution of manufacturing and production. The 30-foot length allows for a steady grade that makes controlled forklift loading or unloading simple. This is necessary due to asphalts tendency to become malleable under heat, resulting in depressions changing your truck differential to the dock. This can prevent damage to the building wall, should a dock bumper fail. This allows for the production of 20, 24, & 36 high bumpers. 2.) Steep grades increase wear on loaders and can make certain types of equipment like motorized pallet jacks inoperable. Knowing the maximum grade capability of your material handling equipment can help determine the dock height and dock leveler length. See also WBDG SustainableEnhance Indoor Environmental Quality. This allows a variety of trailer heights to be accommodated without the risk of trailers coming in below the 10 bumper centered in the opening. However if full access to the back of the truck is required consider the following formula; with the determine the fixed dock height you choose, subtract that height from the maximum trailer height, and round up by the foot, (example: 13'6" maximum trailer height minus 4' dock height equals 9'6"; consider a 10' high door) for full access to the back of the truck. For Adjustable Dock Boards If the bed height of vans and trucks varies more than 18 inches, at least one loading berth should be equipped with a dock leveler. The open-steel grating on the rest of the ramp increases traction and draining. The loading dock space type described here includes a shipping and receiving dock for trucks and vans, a staging area, and at least one office space for dock supervisors or managers. Factors to consider are the direction of traffic flow, total vehicle lengths received, and materials used for the landing and leading up to the dock. Level dock approach The most effective approach grade for a loading dock is approximately a 1%-2% incline. A simple guideline for determining apron space is to take the sum of the longest possible combination of truck and trailer and multiply the total length by two, then adding an additional safety factor of 5'0" to 10'0" on the outcome. Fig 8 shows damage from "short spacing". For inclined approaches the problem is similar, with the ICC bar coming closer to the wall under the bumpers. Keep in mind that a dock receiving box trucks and trailer jockey trucks today may not be using these in later years. In the event of improper product selection by the Buyer, Loading Dock Supply makes no warranty or guarantee of results to be obtained since use and application by the Buyer are beyond our control. Typically when continuous protection is necessary overlapping angles can provided economical benefits by reducing the number of holes drilled and the number of materials used for installation (Fig. Web. When considering your clients application determine the highest and lowest truck received, in addition find the average truck bed height (note whether the trailers are refrigerated or not). For these reasons the ideal dock door width is 9 wide, this reduces the possibility of door track damage, and also provides more room for acquiring pallets seated in the rear of the trailer. Bill Vertical units with steel faces are particularly applicable with truck leveling devices that raise the entire truck to dock level. of Restraining Force Note that the codes and standards are minimum requirements. Indoor Environmental Quality: The entrances and exits at loading docks and service entrances should be provided with a means to reduce the infiltration of outside exhaust, fumes, and debris into the building. 1) or the lower steel members of trailer bodies. If you frequently unload and load cargo from your shipping yard, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, loading ramps can often be a necessity. Fig 9 shows "lateral safety zone" impact absorption advantage provided by longer bumpers. Forklifts could bottom out or lose traction with a steep grade. Aluminum Hardware bumpers should always be a minimum of 4.5 from the wall, if the wall projects 1 past the foundation where bumpers are mounted, then the bumper will need to have at least one more 1 of projection. Dock bumper heights are relative to the recycled tire pads used for manufacturing, typically these come in 6, 10, & 12 Heights. See also WBDG Secure/SafeSecurity for Building Occupants and Assets. When determining the number of loading bays needed to support your product flow, consider the number of trucks received per day, delivery schedules, how many pallets can be loaded or unloaded per hour at one opening, and the number of trailers typically staged at your dock. uuid:402ef7ea-55d4-472a-82cf-822d3989aa7b (See Acoustic Comfort.). Open loading docks cannot be heated or cooled and it provides little protection for materials, packages and employees. Divide the height by the length measured, using inches (e.g. Note: Greater door widths should be considered if wide-load permitted trucks are to be serviced, and at least one door should allow for the greater width, if a future need may require it. With shelters, the rubber surface of the bumper must extend under the vertical members of the Shelter pad to complete the seal. Adjacencies: Loading docks must be located for easy access by service vehicles and should be separate from public entrances to the building, public spaces, and other light industrial or warehouse zones. Loading docks must be convenient to freight elevators so that service is segregated from the main passenger elevator lobbies and public corridors. For every percent of slope figure 1 of additional projection on a standard 4.5 bumper projection. For refrigerated docks, extra length dock bumpers work as a vital component of the door seal effectively controlling air flow from the base of the door when used in conjunction with a dock seal. Refrigerated doors generally require a, solid one-piece construction, bumper for a complete seal around the truck and dock (Fig. For open docks or wide bays, extra-length, one-piece dock bumpers can also be used for maximum coverage and appearance (Fig. The service route from the elevator should accommodate the transport of large items. For best results always choose bumper heights which will best accommodate your traffic and facility. (c) 2015 Dura-ramp | Privacy Policy | Website by FirstPage Marketing. 1999-10-28T09:40:12Z endstream endobj 643 0 obj <> endobj 677 0 obj <> endobj 679 0 obj [/View/Design] endobj 678 0 obj <>>> endobj 646 0 obj <> endobj 645 0 obj <> endobj 647 0 obj <> endobj 648 0 obj <> endobj 649 0 obj <> endobj 134 0 obj <> endobj 141 0 obj <> endobj 148 0 obj <> endobj 157 0 obj <> endobj 164 0 obj <> endobj 171 0 obj <> endobj 178 0 obj <> endobj 185 0 obj <> endobj 192 0 obj <> endobj 199 0 obj <> endobj 201 0 obj <>stream Bottle necks inside and outside your facility should always be avoided. The "right" bumpers for the application at hand. This allows a dock to receive standard trailers at a 48 dock height and box trucks which would come in below the operating range of many boards and levelers. The 10' high door height typically provides the best access to the maximum trailer height. NOTE: A decline / incline dock approach grade should never exceed 10%. All rights reserved. For 8', 9' or 10' Bays }. The loading Dock is a key component of any facility, whether it is a warehouse, grocer, retail outlet, plant, or other material handler. Follow best practices for compliance to traffic engineering conventions in design to meet state and local codes. See also WBDG Secure/SafeFire Protection. If this is not possible, the service area should be hardened for blast. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of Labor, n.d. For example, an 8 wide bay door receiving trucks at a straight approach are best protected by 24 high bumpers on either side and a standard 10 high bumper in the center. Here are some highlights: Do not use ramps with slopes that exceed the recommended maximum. Always look in the direction you are driving. The determinant of bumper thickness is either the slope of dock approach or various obstructions protruding from the dock face. Most boards adequately handle 4.5 & 6 bumper projections without impairing lip penetration into truck opening. Determination of the suitability of any product and any application contemplated by the Buyer is the sole responsibility of the Buyer or User. It is the most expensive loading dock design requiring greater initial investment and maintenance. Web. Should you have any questions or comments on the WBDG, please feel free to contact our team at wbdg@nibs.org. Ensuring that forklift operators are well-trained and attentive is a good first step. Use mats or a drying agent to prevent slippage. If you are interested in finding out more about loading dock ramp slope requirements, or if you would like to learn more about the services and products offered by Dura-Ramp, feel free to contact us by filling out a form on our website and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Saw tooth loading dock designs are effective where dock apron space needs to be minimized. 2009-04-23T08:03:45-05:00 This space type does not include light industrial spaces or warehouse spaces, although these spaces can be related programmatically. If a wide variety of trucks are to be serviced it may be practical to have several dock heights or one (1) dock position dedicated with a dock scissor lift or a truck leveler to accomplish this. Some of the more general requirements address ensuring a slow, controlled ascent or descent on the ramp. For Portable Dock Plates Typical features of loading dock space types include the list of applicable design objectives elements as outlined below. Improving dock function, employee safety, and effective transfer of goods from your facility to its intended destination should be a primary concern of all conscious business owners and purchasers. 9" - 30" Operating Range, Pit Leveler Seal Brush Seal Kit Cantilever Loading Dock Design It is important to include in the specifications of any project that the selected manufacture must provide; specifications, approval drawings, installation manual(s), owner's manual(s) and employee equipment training, to the owner. A heavy-duty solid-steel approach plate makes the transition from ground to ramp steady and stable. Safety chains hold the ramp in place and the same 8-inch steel curbs guard the sides of the ramp. Additionally, staging areas and associated equipment must not interfere with emergency egress routes from the building. The most common type of loading dock used today is the flush loading dock. Lighting: Each truck position should be equipped with adjustable lighting fixtures for the illumination of the interior of trailers. The above general information about truck can aid in designing the loading dock, it is best to remember that each of the above truck heights can vary as much as 6" to 8" (12" if air-ride trailer suspension) in height from empty to fully loaded, this is know as "float". Through a variety of equipment loading docks can speed up traffic and capture costs that add up if left unattended. When using 36 horizontal dock bumpers maximum spacing should be 24 between units with a minimum of 5 on centers (Fig.6). Open Loading Dock Design This puts the top of the trailer further away from the wall, while also channeling water runoff away from the facility and your product. When conducting proper planning for your dock door always take into consideration the maximum legal truck width of 86 (without permit). National Institute of Building Sciences Innovative Solutions for the Built Environment See also Designing Buildings to Resist Explosive Threats. Install bumpers (Fig 10) 1" to 2" below dock level. 11 Oct. 2017. Overhead and under-floor type systems are both appropriate. Using a line level determine the line drop at 50. Service range of the variety of trucks to be service and mid-point. 7). Always consider long term construction in order to avoid costs in later years. Web. 2009-04-23T08:03:45-05:00 A good forklift ramp will help you meet all of these requirements and, in turn, keep forklift operators safe and in-control of their heavy loads. document.documentElement.scrollTop = 0; There are three standard door heights that are typically specified, 8', 9' and 10' high doors. } 10 dock bumpers are the most widely used for docks where trucks come in at approximately equal heights or when only standard size trucks are received. Declining & Inclining Approaches Note: Greater door heights should be considered if special permit trucks are to be serviced, and at least one door should allow for the greater height, if a future need should require it. Spills and leaks must be cleaned up immediately; damage to flooring must be repaired; dock plates must be properly placed; trash must be removed and disposed of; containers, packaging, and tools must be kept out of circulation paths; and pedestrian and forklift routes should be differentiated and marked. Use 3/4" or 5/8" lag bolts or sleeve anchors; minimum length 3" and use corresponding shield if required. Loading ramps can be perilous places for forklift operation. More than 38,000 lbs. For example, a 5% slop requires a 10 bumper projection. Again, the operator must turn their head to face the direction of travel for maximum safety. // When the user scrolls down 1000px from the top of the document, show the button Understanding the Workplace: Ramps and Grades. Quantity Discounts For approaches sloping down towards the dock greater thicknesses are required. Here are a few specific requirements: 29 CFR 1926.451(e)(5)(ii) No ramp or walkway shall be inclined more than a slope of one vertical to three horizontal (20 degrees above the horizontal)., 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(7) Grades shall be ascended or descended slowly., 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(6) A safe distance shall be maintained from the edge of ramps. See WBDG Materials. Monitoring Ingress / Egress: A dock manager's room or booth should be located so the manager can keep the entire dock area in view and control the entrance and exit from the building. 2022 National Institute of Building Sciences. For docks with multiple loading bays door displacement is crucial to effective loading and as a deterrent to bottlenecking from cramped staging areas. Flush Loading Dock Design These doors should be able to close completely and lock after business hours.