Dave Finkelnburg on wed 31 jan 01
From: Don Hunt
>Is putting a propane kiln inside a building a bad idea?
Don,
In my opinion (please note disclaimer! :-) it's not any worse to put a
propane kiln inside a building than to put any other fuel-fired kiln
indoors. The potters I know in Manitoba do this, it being somewhat
uncomfortable to load and fire a kiln at -40 degrees on a windy day!
You do absolutely need to insure proper safety precautions and adequate
ventilation. Check out your local building/fire codes and comply with them.
The hazards you face are flame/heat, carbon monoxide buildup in the
building, other toxic fumes (like manganese) collecting in the building.
The most important considerations for preventing fire are adequate spacing
between the kiln and roof and walls, and especially the flue(chimney) and
roof and walls. Using non-combustible (steel) building materials, as David
Hendley has pointed out in the past, is an excellent idea. Plan for flame
leaking out of cracks in the kiln as it ages and you'll be prepared for the
worst.
Provide adequate passive (natural draft) ventilation for the building.
Don't rely on an electric fan to vent the building. In the case of a power
failure, or the day when the fan motor or drive dies, forced-air ventilation
can fail you. Don't take that chance. If you have to put the kiln indoors,
have roof and wall vents unobstructed and sized to keep the air inside the
building fresh.
Good firing!
Dave Finkelnburg, using a two-sided kiln shed in Idaho
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