Whilst ponds have existed for thousands of years, they have often changed in design, structure and their use of materials, and a particular new trend is for modern ponds to be raised and feature a viewing window.
This is particularly popular for koi ponds, as they allow for an aquarium-style view of a larger and more natural aquatic environment, which allows the beautiful and highly active fish to thrive.
However, because they are fitted to somewhat large bodies of water which inherently move, the glass that is used to make the window needs to be toughened and laminated, as well as clear enough to provide adequate levels of visibility.
How thick should this glass be, and what properties does it need to provide the optimum amount of protection?
Effective Pond Glass Specifications
The exact thickness of the glass required will depend on the pressures put onto it and can vary depending on the shape of the pond, the shape of the glass and any environmental factors which could put extra force onto the glass.
An expert view is strongly recommended before ordering or installing pond glass, and for the best results, the glass should also be installed by a professional, even if the rest of the pond is constructed by somebody else.
However, a general rule is that the thickness of the toughened glass must be at least 33mm (1.3 inches), with smooth edges and installed securely into a strong frame which stops the glass from being twisted or bent due to the effects of water pressure.
Typically, that frame will be made of stainless steel, although there are other options depending on the aesthetics of the pond.
What Factors Can Affect The Pond Glass Required?
The 33mm thickness rule assumes a typically sized window that is exposed to relatively standard environmental and water pressure conditions, but given that every pond is different, there are a lot of factors that could require pond glass to be potentially thicker.
The first and most important is the desired size of the glass window. The larger the window, the thicker the glass will need to be to handle the structural pressures against it. This means if you plan to have an entire side of the pond consisting of a glass window, you might need a thicker type of glass to be fitted.
As well as this, the type of glass matters considerably. In almost all cases, the type of glass used for a pond window is laminated, heat-treated and toughened to provide the most strength possible.
The pond size matters considerably as well. Some smaller ponds can use much thinner glass plates and not be at risk of cracking or collapse, but a larger, deeper pond which takes up a considerable amount of a garden will add additional pressures to the glass which need to be factored into any installation.
The environmental temperature can matter. Ponds should be installed in the part of the garden which receives the most sunlight for the sake of the fish and aquatic plants, but the glass itself should either be entirely in the shade or entirely exposed to the sun, to avoid potential failures caused by glass temperature disparity.
Finally, the installation and fixing points matter as well. Fitting the glass into a sturdy stainless steel frame will support the glass from all sides and avoid the risk of glass fatigue.