We are setting up a museum in an old building which once housed a Victorian swimming pool. We have uncovered a corner of the deep end, and want to make a feature of it in the building. As it is 8 foot deep, we cannot sensibly have water in it, but want to put a glass or similar cover over it for safety and to give the impression of water. This restored pool area is 2 metres square, and will not be walked over by the public, but we clearly have to allow for that happening. We do not want any visible support bars across as the original tiling is a visible feature, and we are told that the necessary thickness of glass to bridge this area has to be about 2 inches. This is fine, but it will be very heavy and we may occasionally need to get into the pool area for cleaning. Also, we want some sort of lighting effect on the surface to give the impression of moving water. For that, we are looking at what is essentially a disco light with a turning frosted lens, but we are not sure whether this should be projected from above or below the glass level, and this could give us more need to move the glass cover.
Has anyone any experience of perhaps some sort of glass sandwiched with other lighter materials which would solve our problem in safely covering this pool area?
You are about to have a glass man advise you to use plastic. That is a rare occurrence, I assure you.
In this case, however, you can avoid a lot of weight (and expense) and enhance safety by using polycarbonate sheet material. As with glass, adequate (engineered) edge retention will be essential. That will probably require adding some aesthetically pleasing (and stylistically compatible) trim to hide a relatively wide adhesive bead on an applied metal flange.
Please note: If you flood the top of the glazing (as suggested) any deflection in the glazing will make a lens of the water suspended in the reflecting pool, distorting the view anything below that level.
I hope this helps.
Hank
You are about to have a glass man advise you to use plastic. That is a rare occurrence, I assure you.
In this case, however, you can avoid a lot of weight (and expense) and enhance safety by using polycarbonate sheet material. As with glass, adequate (engineered) edge retention will be essential. That will probably require adding some aesthetically pleasing (and stylistically compatible) trim to hide a relatively wide adhesive bead on an applied metal flange.
Please note: If you flood the top of the glazing (as suggested) any deflection in the glazing will make a lens of the water suspended in the reflecting pool, distorting the view anything below that level.
I hope this helps.
Hank
A similar illusion has been used at the SS Great Britain in Bristol UK. The glass was extensively tested for impact etc. It is toughened and laminated and nowhere near 2 inches thick! It also has ponded water on top that looks like real deep water.