Overview
The Series 1400 effectively services varying height vehicles at a wide range of door heights. The vehicle positioned at the dock compresses the resilient foam side pads, while the full-width head curtain conforms to the truck, eliminating the gap between the facility and the vehicle body. This separation of interior and exterior environments allows for a safe loading dock area while ensuring employee comfort and efficiency. The structurally supported head curtain is sloped to ensure adequate drainage while being held taut by tension straps at each end. The airtight barrier that these dock seals provide regulates the facility's atmosphere to be free from air-borne contaminants, insects, and foul weather while enhancing building security.
Unlike a fixed head pad, the full-width curtain drapes across the entire top of the door opening and conforms passively to whatever height the trailer sits at. There is no cable system, no counterweight, and no manual reset. The curtain seals on contact. When the truck pulls away, it returns to position on its own.
Features and Benefits
The dock seal frame is select dimensional lumber of the highest grade, pressure treated and kiln dried before and after treating — with a formed steel frame available as an option. The foam is chemically bonded to the entire contact area of the frame to ensure maximum structural integrity. Each pad is equipped with properly sized air exhaust outlets to allow for free air escape during compression while prohibiting moisture infiltration. Each side pad includes highly visible yellow guide stripes to facilitate accurate truck positioning, with a superior urethane finish to ensure greater stripe durability while maintaining a clean appearance. Hardware carries a heavy-duty galvanized or zinc rust-resistant coating for long-term durability.
The head curtain is held taut by elastic tension straps at each end to ensure it will conform to the top of the vehicle body. Scotchply™ support stays maintain a proper head curtain slope to provide for adequate drainage while guaranteeing the curtain a neat appearance. The head curtain is supported by structural rigid tubing held in place by a continuous fabric sleeve incorporated into the top front edge of the curtain. All stitching is performed by professional seamstresses utilizing bonded, high tensile, multi-cord polyester thread — with lockstitch, proper tension, and sewing techniques throughout. Cover fabric options include Dynalon, warranted against the effects of weathering for five years, including sunlight (ultraviolet radiation), water (atmospheric precipitation), cold, and heat.
Available head curtain options include: Dyna-Armor Pleats at each end of the head curtain to protect against damage caused by protruding corners at the top of the vehicle; vertical splits with pull ropes that enable the head curtain to be adjusted to effectively service varying height vehicles at the same opening, with hook and loop fasteners holding the splits together at each position of adjustment; a weighted member sewn into the edge of the head curtain to enhance conforming to the vehicle body; a foam face incorporated into the head curtain's construction to allow the unit to mold to the vehicle's irregularities; and face reinforcements sewn at each end of the head curtain to further reinforce this critical wear area. Side pad options include reinforced face, reinforced inside, and Dyna-Armor Pleats in 4", 8", or 16" exposure. Beveled side pads and tapered units for inclined or declined approaches are also available.
Applications
The curtain length availability allows for the accommodation of the widest range of vehicle and door height variations, making the Series 1400 the right choice when your dock services varying trailer heights and you need a head curtain rather than a head pad to seal the top of the door opening. It is particularly well suited for taller doors, mixed fleets, or operations where a passive sealing system at the head position is preferred over a mechanical one.
- Taller dock door openings where a foam head pad would not reach a standard trailer roof — the head curtain drapes down to accommodate a wider range of heights
- Mixed-fleet operations receiving carriers of varying heights at the same door opening, especially where optional pull-rope splits allow field adjustment
- Distribution and fulfillment centers where energy efficiency at the dock head is critical to climate control during loading and unloading
- Food and beverage processing facilities where eliminating air-borne contaminants, insects, and outside air at the top of the door opening is an operational requirement
- Operations upgrading from a fixed head pad where trailer heights have changed or vehicle diversity has increased over time
- Warehouses with graded drive approaches where tapered side pad options compensate for inclined or declined truck angles at the dock
Selection Assistance
The Series 1400 is the right fit when your dock needs a full-width head curtain to seal the top of the door opening against varying trailer heights. Before specifying this seal, confirm your door height and width, the typical range of incoming trailer roof heights, and your drive approach grade. It is recommended that the head curtain or side pads be compressed no more than a maximum of 6", nor more than 45% of total projection. A minimum of 4" compression is advised to compensate for vehicles not evenly spotted against the building. Check the heights of incoming carriers at each door to ensure that the head curtain is of proper elevation to accommodate the height range of those vehicles.
Barron Equipment's team of service technicians has been installing dock seals and shelters for over 43 years. Our experts can replace old seals with new ones or install new seals on openings that have not previously had dock seals. Along with installation, our team is experienced with repairing all types of dock seal equipment. Contact us for a recommendation based on your door dimensions, vehicle fleet, and facility requirements.