Design dominates the Riverside Museum

Housing the Glasgow Museum of Transport, one of the UK’s foremost transport and
technology collections, the Riverside Museum reflects Glasgow’s historic role as a centre of
shipbuilding, train manufacturing and engineering.

Previously located in a former tram depot on the Glasgow South Side, the Transport
Museum’s exhibits have moved to The Riverside Museum, designed by renowned architect,
Zaha Hadid.

The museum’s iconic and beautiful design dominates its riverside location, whilst paying
homage to the heritage of its surroundings. Crucial to the museum’s flowing design is its
roof, which curves and undulates and continues around the east and west sides of the
building to constitute the majority of the external structure.

Silver‐grey zinc panels complete the effect, placing the building firmly in the context of the
River Clyde. As part of the roof construction, Bilco UK was commissioned to manufacture
and supply a E‐50TB Roof Access Hatch, in addition to two ESW‐50REM Smoke Vents, to
meet strict requirements for convenient access and building safety regulations.

Both the roof access hatch and smoke vents were custom‐designed to unique specifications
by Bilco UK’s in house team and clad in zinc to create a seamless, aesthetic finish with the
museum’s distinctive roof. 

Expertly engineered to meet the requirements of Manual Handling Regulations, the E‐50TB
Roof Access Hatch allows for regular and convenient maintenance by facilitating easy onehanded
operation.

The Access Hatch will enable engineers with small tools to safely access
the roof to conduct essential maintenance, whilst its overlapping cover design, fully welded
corners and insulated cover ensure both weather tightness and energy efficiency to deliver
the highest standards of longevity for the museum.

Specified to ensure strict adherence with relevant fire safety regulations, the two ESW‐
50REM Smoke Vents open to 140 degrees in the event of a fire within 60 seconds,
guaranteeing the highest standards in fire safety and allowing for the venting of smoke, heat
and noxious gases in the event of a fire.

Mark Baird, Sales Operations Manager at Bilco UK, said: “Knowing that Bilco UK’s products
are part of such a unique and ambitious project, especially one which is so architecturally
significant, is incredibly rewarding. The Riverside Museum is a great example of how taking
a bespoke approach to roof access solutions can achieve unparalleled aesthetics, without
compromising on convenience or safety.

“Not only do our custom‐made access hatches and smoke vents integrate seamlessly into
the overall design, they also offer the highest possible standards of fire safety and
efficiency.”

Open to Glasgow to the North and the Clyde to the South, the museum’s interior is
complex, inviting visitors to snake their way around the various exhibits. The building “flows
from city to waterfront, symbolising the dynamic relationship between Glasgow and the
ship‐building, seafaring and industrial legacy of the river Clyde.” (Zaha Hadid).

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