Vacuum sealing a sacrificial glass panel to a structural glass panel

A method of vacuum sealing a sacrificial panel to a structural panel to form a walkway, comprising:

• providing a sacrificial panel having a first side and a second, opposing side;
• providing a film, the film having a plurality of dots lasered therethrough;
• applying the film onto the first side of the sacrificial panel;
• removing the film from the sacrificial panel, leaving the dots on the first side of the sacrificial panel;
• applying a double-sided tape about the periphery of the first side of the sacrificial panel;
• providing a structural panel;
• placing the first side of the sacrificial panel onto the structural panel, wherein:
• the dots create a gap between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer;
• and the double-sided tape provides an airtight seal between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer;
• providing a needle coupled to a vacuum device;
• inserting the needle into the gap between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer;
• operating the vacuum device to remove air from the gap between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer, drawing the structural panel and the sacrificial panel into substantially intimate contact but for the dots acting as very thin spacers therebetween, and
• withdrawing the needle while maintaining an airtight seal.