rickmahaffey on thu 9 nov 00
Hi Darby Ortolano,
I too teach in a Community College. When I first arrived I was appalled
at the amount of dust around the studio. The first thing I did was ban
all of the brooms from the studio. Moved clay mixing/reclaiming
outside. Then I instituted a policy that everything must be cleaned
wet. This cut down on the dust tremendously.
If I could not move clay mixing/reclaiming out I would have stopped it.
My students buy their own clay and we try to rehab clay from the wheel
that is too wet between plaster bats (takes 15 to 30 minutes). When you
ask for changes always site safety needs, worked for me. We are getting
a remodeled Art Building this coming summer. hooray!
Feel free to contact me off the list with any questions that you may
have.
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma Washington, USA
michael wendt on thu 9 nov 00
Dust spotting hint # 1, get a package of cheap mirror tiles and put them on
shelves and on top of cabinets throughout your studio, especially near
suspected dust sources. A daily spot check (run a finger across the surface
to see how clean they are) quantifies how well your efforts to stop dust at
the source are working.
Not too long after I joined Clayart there was a discussion of this and one
post was so good, said it all. You might find it in the archives by sorting
by the date of the posts. A quick synopsis: The most effective dust control
systems are at the point of origin. Whole room systems enter the equation
too late. I tried all kinds of approaches and do have a whole room 3 stage
system but what works best is good housekeeping practices. The best air
cleaner in the world can't make up for sloppy work habits of students.
Example: Early on, I bought 2 dozen aprons and change my apron several times
a day because dry clay covered aprons (and clothing too!) generate dust as
the wearer moves due to flexure.
Example: I built a box around the trim wheel and we clean our feet before we
leave the trim box to avoid tracking trimmings around the studio.
You get the idea. Don't wait for action on the part of the administration.
Take action by identifying and reducing dust at the source. Educate your
students about the health risks of dust and enlist their help in cutting
down the dust. Check those tile often and keep notes. Let us know if it
works.
Good Luck,
Michael Wendt wendtpot@lewiston.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Darby Ortolano
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Thursday, November 09, 2000 10:18 PM
Subject: studio exhaust
Hi everyone,
Just to clarify a point re: my original post. There is a return air duct in
the room. This is part of the heating and air system and probably does
eliminate some of the dust. I am interested in learning whether there is
some other kind of system I could install which would help with the dust.
Of course getting the janitor's to mop each night would help. Meanwhile
though they keep a mop and pail filled for us and we do use it.
Thanks again!
Darby Ortolano
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Darby Ortolano on thu 9 nov 00
I have just begun teaching at a community college that just built a new =
arts wing and included a ceramic studio facility. The main working room =
is about 1000 sq. feet and has an entire wall of floor to almost ceiling =
glass windows. It is heated and air conditioned through ducts which drop =
down from the ceiling, blowing directly into the room. There are no =
doors leading to the outside, the windows do not open and the room has =
no exhaust system.
=20
The kiln room has two kilns which are vented to the outside with =
Envirovents.
We are buying our clay and prepared glazes but still there is a =
considerable amount of dust generated by just working in and reclaiming =
clay and glazing. Invariably there are any number of white footprints =
leading down the carpeted hall from the ceramics room. It has become a =
very active place.
I have already mentioned to my department chair that having no =
ventilation is a health problem. I am looking for advice and =
information from the group as to what to recommend they (the college) do =
about this. I imagine we are breaking OSHA regulations, but do not know =
what they are. What would/could be a solution to this situation? From =
the little I know I believe the room should have been designed with a =
floor drain and an exhaust system built low on the wall so that dust =
does not rise. This room is ground level with no basement underneath =
although there may be a crawl space.
Thanks in advance to all. I look forward to your expert responses!
Darby Ortolano
Murphysboro, IL
Louis H.. Katz on thu 9 nov 00
Even with a level floor a lot can be done with a squeege. Put a sump, a large container in the floor and a pump to remove the liquid afer it starts to fill. If you go this route also make sure you glue down some sort of waterproof coving to keep water from seeping under your walls.
If not you will spend a fortune on mopping as the mop water will need to be changed almost continually as your cleaning crew works.
Louis
Darby Ortolano wrote:
> I have just begun teaching at a community college that just built a new arts wing and included a ceramic studio facility. The main working room is about 1000 sq. feet and has an entire wall of floor to almost ceiling glass windows. It is heated and air conditioned through ducts which drop down from the ceiling, blowing directly into the room. There are no doors leading to the outside, the windows do not open and the room has no exhaust system.
>
> The kiln room has two kilns which are vented to the outside with Envirovents.
>
> We are buying our clay and prepared glazes but still there is a considerable amount of dust generated by just working in and reclaiming clay and glazing. Invariably there are any number of white footprints leading down the carpeted hall from the ceramics room. It has become a very active place.
>
> I have already mentioned to my department chair that having no ventilation is a health problem. I am looking for advice and information from the group as to what to recommend they (the college) do about this. I imagine we are breaking OSHA regulations, but do not know what they are. What would/could be a solution to this situation? From the little I know I believe the room should have been designed with a floor drain and an exhaust system built low on the wall so that dust does not rise. This room is ground level with no basement underneath although there may be a crawl space.
>
> Thanks in advance to all. I look forward to your expert responses!
>
> Darby Ortolano
> Murphysboro, IL
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
--
Louis Katz
NEW EMAIL ADDRESS Louis.Katz@mail.tamucc.edu
NCECA Director of Electronic Communication and Webmaster(Ad-Hoc)
Texas A&M-CC Division of Visual and Performing Arts
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Darby Ortolano on thu 9 nov 00
Hi everyone,
Just to clarify a point re: my original post. There is a return air =
duct in the room. This is part of the heating and air system and =
probably does eliminate some of the dust. I am interested in learning =
whether there is some other kind of system I could install which would =
help with the dust. Of course getting the janitor's to mop each night =
would help. Meanwhile though they keep a mop and pail filled for us and =
we do use it.
Thanks again!
Darby Ortolano
tmaddux on fri 10 nov 00
Several years ago the engineering company I worked for was asked to design a
exhaust hood for kilns in a class room . . . my wife just informed me that
it was 15 years ago . . . We used plastic curtains. These are the same type
of curtains on the doors of refrigerated storeage buildings where fork lifts
are continuously coming and going. Inside the curtained area we put an
exhaust fan. The idea was simple, and as far as I know worked well.
Tim Maddux
> Hi Darby Ortolano,
>
> I too teach in a Community College. When I first arrived I was appalled
> at the amount of dust around the studio. The first thing I did was ban
> all of the brooms from the studio. Moved clay mixing/reclaiming
> outside. Then I instituted a policy that everything must be cleaned
> wet. This cut down on the dust tremendously.
>
> If I could not move clay mixing/reclaiming out I would have stopped it.
> My students buy their own clay and we try to rehab clay from the wheel
> that is too wet between plaster bats (takes 15 to 30 minutes). When you
> ask for changes always site safety needs, worked for me. We are getting
> a remodeled Art Building this coming summer. hooray!
>
> Feel free to contact me off the list with any questions that you may
> have.
>
> Rick Mahaffey
> Tacoma Community College
> Tacoma Washington, USA
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Ron Roy on thu 16 nov 00
Hi Darby,
The return air distributes the dust everywhere - including returning some
of it back to your room. Best solution is a central vac system that exits
the dust outside.
RR
>Just to clarify a point re: my original post. There is a return air duct
>in the room. This is part of the heating and air system and probably does
>eliminate some of the dust. I am interested in learning whether there is
>some other kind of system I could install which would help with the dust.
>Of course getting the janitor's to mop each night would help. Meanwhile
>though they keep a mop and pail filled for us and we do use it.
>
>Thanks again!
>
>Darby Ortolano
Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849
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