High-Level Structural Inspections at The OVO Hydro, Glasgow
When it comes to high-profile venues and critical infrastructure, trust is non-negotiable.
We have been entrusted with specialist structural inspections at one of Scotland’s most iconic live entertainment venues — The OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Known worldwide as a premier arena for concerts, sporting events, and entertainment, The Hydro’s complex roof structure requires meticulous inspection and specialist expertise to ensure ongoing safety, compliance, and operational integrity.
Our work highlights the company’s capability in high-level structural inspections and our reputation as a trusted partner for landmark infrastructure projects across the UK.
Complex High-Level Structures
The Hydro’s roof is supported by a rare 3-tier grid system, a highly intricate lattice of interlinked steel levels. This design presents several challenges for inspection teams:
-
Limited access: The multi-tiered roof structure makes conventional inspection methods impractical.
-
Safety concerns: Working at height over a live venue demands strict adherence to safety protocols and specialist access techniques.
-
Complex connections: The numerous bolted and welded steel connections require detailed assessment to identify wear, fatigue, or potential structural risks.
Our engineers were tasked with delivering comprehensive structural inspections while maintaining the highest safety standards and ensuring minimal disruption to the venue’s operations.
Precision, Safety, Expertise
We adopted a structured, multi-faceted approach to address the challenges:
1. Specialist Access with MEWPs
To safely reach each tier of the Hydro’s roof structure, truck-mounted MEWPs (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms) were deployed. This enabled engineers to access the complex steel lattice with precision while minimising risks associated with working at height.
2. Detailed Structural Inspections
The team conducted thorough assessments of:
-
Bolted connections: Checking for tightness, corrosion, and signs of fatigue.
-
Structural steel members: Evaluating alignment, wear, and potential vulnerabilities.
-
Tiered grid system integrity: Ensuring that the interlinked levels function as designed under load conditions.
All findings were recorded and delivered in detailed inspection reports, providing venue managers and engineers with actionable insights to maintain ongoing safety and structural performance.
3. Compliance and Safety Focus
We always prioritise safety, accuracy, and regulatory compliance. On this project, every inspection was carried out following industry best practices and UK health & safety standards, ensuring the arena remains safe for visitors, performers, and staff alike.
Expertise in High-Level Structural Work
This project underscores our ability to deliver specialist engineering services in challenging environments:
-
High-Level Expertise: Knowledge of complex steel structures and rare roof systems.
-
Safety-First Approach: Using MEWPs and later rope access (planned for subsequent phases) to minimise risk.
-
Detailed Reporting: Providing actionable insights for ongoing maintenance and compliance.
-
Critical Infrastructure: Supporting world-class venues and landmark structures with specialist services.
By combining technical expertise with practical solutions, we ensure that even the most complex high-level structures are inspected safely and effectively.
Next Steps: Rope Access Inspections
Following the MEWP inspections, we will deploy IRATA-certified rope access technicians to reach the most challenging areas of the Hydro roof. This approach allows engineers to access tight, elevated, or otherwise inaccessible areas, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the entire structure.
Our combination of MEWP and rope access ensures safe, efficient, and thorough inspections, no matter how complex or high-level the project.
Why Choose Balmore for Your Structural Inspection?
The OVO Hydro project highlights our expertise in high-level structural inspections, combining specialist access, technical knowledge, and precise reporting.
Our work ensures that world-class venues remain safe, compliant, and operational, protecting both the structural integrity of landmark buildings and the people who use them.
Balmore Group continues to be the trusted partner for Scotland’s iconic infrastructure, providing solutions where safety, complexity, and precision intersect.
Quotes & Enquiries
At Balmore, we offer the expertise of four decades in difficult access works including roofing, rope access, industrial cleaning and drone inspection services. Our one stop shop approach to inspection, repair and cleaning has grown through our desire to constantly exceed our clients expectations and offer a service that is far superior to our competitors.
Please fill in the form outlining your requirements and our contract team will be able to provide you with a bespoke quotation for your inspection, repair or cleaning needs.
