Monona Rossol on fri 7 mar 97
Ken wrote:
> I am going to be
>converting an existing 2-car garage into my studio in the coming months and
>am looking for ideas to make it a better, more efficient studio. Some of the
>things I'll be hoping to have are:
>
>(a) Lots of "natural" light, via skylights, insulated rolling garage door
>with windows, double doors (similar to french style - leading to cement pad
>on side yard to kiln), extra windows, windows, & windows. :)
>(b) Laundry sink (for now - stainless in future when room allows) with a clay
>trap.
>(c) Hot & Cold water
>(d) Heat & Air Conditioning
>(e) Wired for speakers (a must!)
>(f) Phone (business line & home line)
>(g) Storage space in rafters (or above ceiling)
>(h) Walls insulated, drywalled and painted
>(i) Fluorescent lighting overhead
>(j) Shelving
>(k) Painted concrete floors
>
>That's about all I can think of for now... if any of you have any other
>suggestions, please let me know? Thanks in advance for your input! :)
>
>Ken Nowicki - RakuArtist@aol.com
I suggest a different set of priorities for planning a studio from a safety
perspective:
a) A painted or sealed concrete floor is the first requirement for easy daily
wet mopping or HEPA vacuuming. The floor plan also must allow space for easy
clean up between tables, wheels, etc.
b) At least one local exhaust area e.g. a table in front of an exhaust fan, a
spray booth, or similar system where glaze chemicals can be weighed out,
clay can be mixed, or other dusty or spray processes can be done.
c) A heater for winter and an air conditioner for summer. (Air conditioners
do not provide sufficient ventilation. Their filters also do not collect the
fine hazardous particles of clay. The local exhaust system can also be used
on occasion to exchange air in the room for comfort.)
d) A kiln ventilation system if a kiln will be used indoors.
e) Sufficient electrical service for all equipment and all outlets should be
equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters. (This is a code requirement
for outlets located within 10 feet of a source of water, but for potteries
where water is likely to be used anywhere, all outlets should have GFCIS.)
f) Good task lighting so you can see what you are doing.
g) Phone with emergency numbers posted near it.
h) Hot and cold water.
i) A place near the door to leave clothes and shoes so no one tracks dust
back into the house.
j) shelving that is easy to remove and clean and not so high that you will be
tempted to climb on chairs or boxes to reach it. If high shelving and
overhead storage is needed, make sure that space is planned to keep a
proper ladder nearby.
k) Insulated, drywalled and painted walls to keep dust from collecting on
them.
l) all that other stuff.
Hope this helps,
Monona Rossol, industrial hygienist
Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety
181 Thompson St., # 23
New York, NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
http://www.caseweb.com/acts/
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