Weiland, Jeff on fri 8 oct 04
In following this thread about kilns and pressure issues, I have had a =
few thoughts I want to share. Above all educate yourself about your =
situation as far as building codes and available gas pressure. I have =
learned a lot by a journey down the expensive highway. I purchased a =
new Bailey kiln for my newly-remodeled classroom, figured that it would =
get hooked to the gas line and the new vent system, and then kick out =
beautiful work. Wrong!!! Well...the vent's capacity was way too small, =
(set of the fire alarms several times) gas pressure too low, and no =
method of getting fresh air in the room directly. I was struggling to =
get to cone 6. After going through three different mechanical =
engineers, almost $45,000 in contractor costs, and a lot of frustration, =
I finally (6 years later) have a working kiln that runs like a charm. =
Natural gas pressure is measured on the low end in water column inches. =
The local standard is 7". Because the line had to run such a long =
distance in the school there was a significant and constant rise and =
fall in pressure due to other uses of the same line. The solution: run =
a high pressure (measured in pounds) gas line across the roof and =
install a regulator to lower the pressure before the line drops down to =
the kiln. The result: I have tons of gas pressure to spare!!! We went =
through 3 different power vents before they installed one that does the =
job. But...and a big but it is...don't go crazy with the vent because =
you may end up drawing back down your chimney!!! Bad thing. The over =
zealous engineer even stuck a timer on the door to the kiln room that =
shuts down the whole shabang if the door is left open more than 90 =
seconds. This is a high school. Get real. I disabled that gizmo =
myself!! As you "Old Timers" have said repeatedly, we learn from our =
mistakes. You can also learn a lot from watching and listening to =
others. It saves a lot of money and headache!!! We could have been way =
ahead if they would have listened to me in the first place and build a =
kiln shed that is separate from the school building. I know what I will =
do and not do next time if the occasion ever comes about.
Louis Katz on fri 8 oct 04
Your over zealous engineer may have just been zealous. Your first idea
of a separate kiln shed was probably a good one. Unless you have CO
detectors hooked up to shut off the kiln the gizmo you disconnected
may be a good idea. It may be a good idea for some other reason I don't
know. I have gotten headaches in kiln rooms that did not have enough
gizmos. I nearly blew myself up with a kiln whose gizmo had been
"fixed". What happens when your blower goes out?
Just so you know, I am not a safety expert.
Louis
On Oct 8, 2004, at 2:21 PM, Weiland, Jeff wrote:
> In following this thread about kilns and pressure issues, I have had a
> few thoughts I want to share. Above all educate yourself about your
> situation as far as building codes and available gas pressure. I have
> learned a lot by a journey down the expensive highway. I purchased a
> new Bailey kiln for my newly-remodeled classroom, figured that it
> would get hooked to the gas line and the new vent system, and then
> kick out beautiful work. Wrong!!! Well...the vent's capacity was way
> too small, (set of the fire alarms several times) gas pressure too
> low, and no method of getting fresh air in the room directly. I was
> struggling to get to cone 6. After going through three different
> mechanical engineers, almost $45,000 in contractor costs, and a lot of
> frustration, I finally (6 years later) have a working kiln that runs
> like a charm. Natural gas pressure is measured on the low end in water
> column inches. The local standard is 7". Because the line had to run
> such a long distance in the school there was a significant and
> constant rise and fall in pressure due to other uses of the same line.
> The solution: run a high pressure (measured in pounds) gas line
> across the roof and install a regulator to lower the pressure before
> the line drops down to the kiln. The result: I have tons of gas
> pressure to spare!!! We went through 3 different power vents before
> they installed one that does the job. But...and a big but it
> is...don't go crazy with the vent because you may end up drawing back
> down your chimney!!! Bad thing. The over zealous engineer even stuck
> a timer on the door to the kiln room that shuts down the whole shabang
> if the door is left open more than 90 seconds. This is a high school.
> Get real. I disabled that gizmo myself!! As you "Old Timers" have
> said repeatedly, we learn from our mistakes. You can also learn a lot
> from watching and listening to others. It saves a lot of money and
> headache!!! We could have been way ahead if they would have listened
> to me in the first place and build a kiln shed that is separate from
> the school building. I know what I will do and not do next time if
> the occasion ever comes about.
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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.
>
| |
|
