Overview
The unique L-pad feature of the FPHU seals against the side of the truck, allowing unobstructed access to the trailer and less pressure on the building wall. This is the design distinction that separates the FPHU from all other foam pad dock seals in the series. Standard foam pad seals compress against the front face of the trailer — an approach that works but creates lateral pressure on the building wall and can partially obstruct the door opening. The L-shaped side pad eliminates both issues by sealing against the trailer's side surface instead.
Dock seals can significantly improve the energy efficiency and environment control of buildings, reducing costs. They provide an effective barrier against the elements, keeping loading docks dry, safe, and efficient, and prevent the passage of dust, insects, exhaust fumes, and other airborne contaminates while the loading dock is in use. All NOVA Dock Seal standard frames are made from pressure-treated and kiln-dried wood for greater moisture resistance and enhanced durability — a construction standard that competing dock seal products do not include. And like all FP-family seals, the FPHU is stitched along the sides for cleaner removal of cover fabrics, easier recovers, and less dock downtime compared to competing products that fully wrap the wood backing.
Features & Benefits
NOVA's cover materials and fabrics have undergone rigorous testing and feature the highest puncture, tear, and abrasion resistance in the industry. Standard features include high-density polyurethane compression L-shaped side pads with a 16-inch standard projection, a hood-style head curtain with a standard 24-inch drop that is customizable to any length, a pressure-treated kiln-dried wood frame with foam chemically bonded to it, standard full-height yellow guide stripes, heavy-duty galvanized mounting hardware, vented pads for air and moisture release, Velcro® attachments, and lock-stitched sew lines reinforced with UV-resistant thread. All fabric options pass cold resistance testing at -40°F, and top-grade fabrics provide superior performance and maximum durability.
The 16-inch projection depth — deeper than the 10-inch standard on the FP and FPH Series — reflects the L-pad geometry, which requires more reach to contact the side surface of the trailer rather than the front face. Available options include wear pleats, wear face, scuff guards, bottom door flaps, pull rope for hood, chain-weighted drop curtain, flame-retardant fabric, top corner pleats, 24-inch yellow guide stripe, block outs, galvanized metal backs, 2-inch foam-filled front on hoods, sectional foam front, and customizable hood drop to accommodate various truck heights.
Applications
The FPHU is the right fit where door openings are wider than 9 feet, taller than standard, or where full unobstructed trailer access matters as much as the environmental seal. It performs best where:
- Docks with wider door openings — designed for door openings up to 10 x 12-feet, the FPHU covers the full range from standard to oversize, including 9'-6" and 10'-wide configurations with specific bracket sets provided for each.
- High-cube and refrigerated trailer facilities where trailer bodies are taller and wider than standard dry van dimensions, and the wider L-pad unit width accommodates the full trailer profile without gap.
- Climate-controlled and cold storage operations that need a reliable environmental seal for taller doors across varied trailer heights — the customizable hood drop handles the height variation while the L-pads seal the sides consistently.
- High-throughput distribution centers where forklift and pallet jack operators need full, unobstructed access to the trailer interior. The L-pad feature provides unobstructed access to the trailer and reduces pressure on the building wall, keeping both the loading process and the building structure protected.
- Facilities upgrading from standard front-face foam pad seals on wide door openings where the existing seal never achieved a clean contact across the full door width — the L-pad design resolves that structural mismatch.
Selection Assistance
The FPHU is specified with the same inputs as the FP and FPH Series — door width, door height, dock height, drive approach, and dock bumper/ledge combined projection — with one key addition: the hood width will be 10'4" typically, so confirm your wall has clearance to accommodate the full unit width of approximately 11'3". Bracket hardware varies by door width — up to 9-foot wide doors use 12 L-brackets, while 9'-6" or 10'-wide doors use 6 flat brackets and 6 L-brackets. The hood drop is standard at 24 inches and customizable to any length. If your door opening is 9 feet wide or narrower, the FPH Series is likely the more economical fit. For doors wider than 10 feet or higher than 12 feet, contact Barron to discuss custom configurations. Use the quote form on this page or call us directly — our team has been specifying and installing dock seals for over 40 years.