David Martin Hershey on thu 19 aug 10
Hi John,
I'm glad someone else looks under the kiln too!
When I first got an assistant, I made an actual pre-fire checklist,
so that we were both always on the same page re: firing.
Looking for possible combustibles is #3 on the list-
just after closing the lid.
The only time I've ever made a firing mistake
was when I forgot to use the checklist... D'oh!!!
You can see the list here:
http://dmhstudio.com/04%20bisque%20fire%20chlst.pdf
Best, DMH
David Martin Hershey
DMH Studio + Design
2629 Manhattan Ave #137
Hermosa Beach CA USA
90254-2447 310.379.6890
http://www.dmhstudio.com/
http://www.obamacardgold.com/
http://www.winetastingtrolley.com/
>
> In my studio at home, before I turn on the computer controller and the
> kiln vent, I look around and underneath the kiln to make sure there is
> nothing that will catch on fire there. My kilns are inside of a
> garage building that has a roll up door, and sometimes in the fall,
> leaves blow in there. It's all part of my pre-flight, take-off,
> checklist that I mentally go through when firing my electric kilns.
>
>
> John Post
> Sterling Heights, Michigan
>
> http://www.johnpost.us
>
Louis Katz on sat 21 aug 10
http://falcon.tamucc.edu/~lkatz/materials/CeramicsHandbook/ElectricKilnSa=
=3D
fety.html
http://falcon.tamucc.edu/~lkatz/materials/CeramicsHandbook/kilnprocedures=
=3D
.html
You can get at most of my handouts here:
http://falcon.tamucc.edu/~lkatz/materials/CeramicsHandbook/CeramicsHandbo=
=3D
okIndex.html
As with all my materials you are welcome to use them in classes, but they=
=3D
are just parts of my training and are insufficient by themselves. BTW I l=
=3D
ike
the checklist. Thanks.
The most common fire hazards I have seen are wareboards leaning on kilns =
=3D
and
wareboards placed on top of one kiln while loading the other and then lef=
=3D
t
there to heat up and catch fire.
I have seen electric kilns place on wooden floors with no covering. A
spyhole plug that falls out could be enough in that situation for disaste=
=3D
r.
Joseph Herbert on sun 22 aug 10
Louis Katz wrote: "The most common fire hazards I have seen are wareboards
leaning on kilns and wareboards placed on top of one kiln while loading the
other and then left there to heat up and catch fire."
In industry there are things called "Transient Combustible Loading
Programs." The idea of these is to inspect the particular facility for
combustible materials that don't need to be where they are. If the
material, a pile of flattened cardboard boxes or a stack of scaffolding
planks, is not needed for the operation of the facility, it is identified
and moved to a different place or disposed of. As in the case of wild
fires, the less there is to burn when a fire starts, the less severe the
result of the fire. So the facility people look at the accumulations of
documents, wood, furniture, lubricating oil, and other things with an eye
toward their potential contribution to a fire. Some areas end up with only
the paint on the walls and floor as unnecessary combustible materials.
Recognizing my own pack-rat tendencies in this area (my wife helps me with
that recognition, frequently), a guided look at the studio and kiln area is
a good idea. A checklist that identifies each area and that states the
required combustible materials could be that guide. It would be especially
helpful if someone else helped write that check list. The questions is
always, "Is this necessary to have here?"
This might seem excessive and unnecessary, but every industrial facility
(well, maybe not BP refineries) understands how much expense is involved in
having even a small fire. Those are organizations that are considerably
better insured than many of our correspondents. We have all read the
stories of compatriots who were damaged and disheartened by a studio fire.
For most of us, the area to be inspected is rather small. Corrections in
the placement of materials are probably easily made. Given the
disproportionate damage even the smallest fire might cause to the life of a
potter, why not take a small extra step?
Joe
Joseph Herbert
Training Developer
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