Tom at Hutchtel.net on sun 12 aug 07
I'm not an expert here, but one of the issues I have heard about is that, if
return ducting is put underground, a standard practice some 20 years ago,
because of condensation in the ground tubes, you can build up a significant
mold problem fairly rapidly, especially if clay dust gets into them. Be
sure the ductwork is above ground.
Tom Wirt
Hutchinson, MN
twirt@hutchtel.net
www.claycoyote.com
Bill Merrill on sun 12 aug 07
I am trying to get the architects in a new ceramics building here to
have the return air ducts near the floor, rather than high on the
ceiling, that way much of the fine particles will not pass by your face
as much as it would otherwise. Also, I hope they also put in a long
trench (French) drain in the main studio rather than a couple of
independent drains. Anyone have experience with any of this. The new
"Shaner" building at the Archie Bray Foundation has this type of floor
drain and it works rather well.
=20
Bill
=20
When the new kiln room at Alfred was completed in '73 there were
problems with the draft in the kilns as all the kilns funneled their
exhaust into large exit exhausts. =20
=20
Michael Wendt on mon 13 aug 07
Bill,
Are these return air ducts for the heating
and cooling system?
If so, there should not be any fine dust
in them. The best way to assure this
is to install large pleated bag filters on
the air intakes to the HVAC system.
Grainger sells filters rated 95% and
electrostatic precipitators can remove the
last ultra fine particles. This is also much
better for the HVAC internal equipment.
All the air in our studio is filtered
continuously thanks to this system.
Combined with careful housekeeping
the air quality is very good.
As to the floor drain, I would agree
a very slight pitch (1/4" per foot or two)
toward the center of the room with a
grated long central trench pitched to a solids
capture reservoir would be a great way
to improve house keeping. One key
point: NO HOSES! They really stir up
dust if a spray nozzle is used.
Instead, carefully poured buckets herded
with wet push brooms work like magic.
Final water removal would be with a
large squeegee.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
USA
208-746-3724
http://www.wendtpottery.com
wendtpot@lewiston.com
Lee Love on mon 13 aug 07
Often, garages have these kinds of drains. I worked at a Charter Bus
service and UPS. The channels and trap pit at the end need to be
periodically cleaned. Japanese whitewater and rain ditches are
similar, being covered with either metal grates or cement panels.
During my apprenticeship, we cleaned them every summer.
--
Lee in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
"For a democracy of excellence, the goal is not to reduce things to a
common denominator but to raise things to a shared worth."
--Paolo Soleri
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