Are Pottery Kilns Safe – Beginner Kiln Questions
Pottery kilns are amazing. These shiny containers can turn oxides, clay, and flux into beautiful, shiny objects under extreme heat. Once you become acquainted with how they work, you will realize that they are like big ovens made of elements, thermocouples, and relay switches. However, despite the amazing attributes of Pottery Kilns, you may be wondering whether they are safe to use.
Pottery kilns are safe as long as you play by the rules when installing and using them. Choose the Kiln’s location carefully to ensure safety once you fire it up. The heat and vapors that kilns emit can be dangerous if the working environment and ventilation are of poor choice.
There are many advantages to bringing a kiln home, but they are understandably intimidating to beginners. This article will highlight the dangers of improper kiln use. Read on and understand the options that will keep you safe as you indulge in your fun Pottery Crafting Hobby.
Affiliate Disclaimer: We are ambassadors or affiliates for many of the brands we reference on the website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What Are the Dangers of Pottery Kilns?
Pottery Kilns can be Gas-fired or Electric. The Electric Kiln is the most common type. This Kiln type has heating elements that heat the Kiln as electric current passes through them.
Natural gas-, propane-, wood-, coal-, or oil-fired Kilns have some barriers to use and require fire safety permits before installation and use. I will focus on the safety of the most popular electric kilns.
Bisque firing is generally fired between 1828°F (998°C) Cone 06 and 1945°F (1063°C) Cone 04.
Glaze Firing requires earthenware to be fired at temperatures around 1828°F (998°C) Cone 06. While stoneware will need at least 2167 °F (1186°C) Cone 5. Some porcelain may require temperatures as high as 2345 °F (1285 °C), Cone 10, and even higher.
High heat temperatures in kilns can expose you to fumes if you are in the kiln area while firing, such as those listed below
Bisque Firing:
leads to the oxidation of the organic matter held in clay, releasing gases such as carbon monoxide. The sulfur in them will later break down, releasing sulfur oxides. The breakdown of organic matter in nitrogen- and nitrate-rich clay could produce toxic nitrogen oxides.
Glaze Firing:
As glaze firings begin, materials such as gypsum, galena, fluorspar, cryolite, Cornish stone, or lepidolite discharge fumes and gases.
Inside hot kilns:
chlorides, carbonates, and fluorides will release chlorine, carbon dioxide, and fluorine gases as they break down.
Lead vaporizes:
At low temperatures, lead vapors are hazardous, so use lead-free glazes. Most glazes are now lead-free.
These fumes are mainly released between 500°F (260°C) and 1000°F (538°C). The amount of fumes released also depends on the size of your Kiln. That’s why you should ensure proper ventilation and avoid hanging out in your Kiln area.
Other Concerns
When burning at 2345°F (1285°C), Cone 10, the surface temperature of your Kiln will be above 500°F (260°C). This level of heat can cause thermal burns.
If you have a large kiln. The heat radiated by kilns can combust combustible liquids or materials if you store them too close to your Kiln.
The Basics of Kiln Safety
Where Should You Place Your Kiln?
You can place kilns outside or inside. If you place your Kiln inside, it must have some type of ventilation. Never place it in a closed area, such as a closet. If you place your Kiln outside, it must have some type of protection to shield the control panel from the elements, such as rain, depending on where you live.
Most ceramic arts enthusiasts place their kilns in their garages or basement spaces. Here, they have access to a large space. The fumes will have enough room to dissipate for safety. Your garage or basement could be isolated from the rest of your home, making the firing of your Kiln much safer.
You can also install your Kiln in a storage shed if it is the right size and made of the right material. Wood, for instance, is a big NO-NO since it is highly flammable. Your space of choice should provide the kiln with adequate ventilation and clearance around it to keep the walls cool and reduce the buildup of heat, which can cause overheating.
You can fireproof your shed using non-flammable materials, as required by your area’s building codes. If you are a lifelong potter, the best practice is to have concrete flooring in your kiln space.
Kiln Ventilation
Because kilns emit vapor during heating, a basement is not safe unless it is well-ventilated. Use the space as is, and you will have airborne fumes spreading through other sectors of your home.
A kiln in the basement should be vented for safety. Keep in mind that spaces under your doors and your home’s duct system will circulate air throughout your house. This air movement makes it very easy for heavy metal vapors to settle on your floors, walls, and surfaces as you fire your Kiln in your basement. Therefore, an unventilated basement with a kiln in it is a health hazard.
A kiln in the garage is one of the best places for your Kiln. Most garages have a firewall, so no fumes enter your living area. You can also open your garage door for adequate ventilation.
Overhead vents will draw the fumes and heat out of your kiln area, but will not bring oxygen into the Kiln.
You can also get a vent for the Bottom of your Kiln. This vent will draw the fumes out and bring in oxygen, but it will not efficiently remove the heat from the Kiln area. The bottom line is that if you have fresh air coming in and out of your kiln area, you don’t need a vent.
For more detailed information on ventilation, check out Is it Recommended that a Pottery Kiln Be Vented
What Flooring Material Should You Use?
The flooring should be non-combustible because kilns emit a lot of heat. The best flooring material is concrete, Stone, or brick. Wood, carpets, or linoleum will not only disintegrate when used as flooring but could also pose a fire hazard.
Professionals say that all Kilns should be on stands or put on cinder blocks or something similar as long as they are not flammable. You do not want your Kiln on the ground. The clearance space will increase safety from the destructive heat and provide adequate airflow at the bottom.
For another good reference about owning and the safety of a kiln, read 21 Kiln Questions Answered.
Affiliate Disclaimer: We are ambassadors or affiliates for many of the brands we reference on the website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Should You Wear Personal Protective Gear?
While kilns have adequate insulation, their hot surfaces can cause thermal burns or serious contact burns if you brush against them with your bare skin. For this reason, you need to wear personal protective gear when near your fired-up Kiln.
The basic safety essentials include Fire Gloves. Wear them while handling the peepholes on the Kiln. Kilns can continue to burn for hours after shutting down. Dark glasses will protect your eyes from infrared radiation and radiant heat exposure when looking through the peepholes. Regular sunglasses may not be adequate. You can order Safety Glasses. They are durable, protect your eyes from the harmful effects of radiant heat, and will not slip off your face.
What Are the Installation Safety Measures?
Install your Kiln according to the manufacturer’s instructions and your local fire and electrical safety codes. Have an electrician install your outlet. You never want to get cheap in that area.
Using a qualified technician keeps your insurance coverage valid in case something goes awry. You do NOT want to take any chances with electricity.
Before you purchase an Electric Kiln, I strongly suggest having a Licensed Electrician check that you can safely operate it. For this reason, I have found that Home Advisor (affiliate link) is an excellent choice for hiring an Electrician to ensure the safe and correct installation of any wiring, breaker boxes, or outlets.
After signing up for Home Advisor (free), you will be connected with multiple contractors in your area.
You can then ask your contractors questions to determine whether your Kiln is compatible with your electrical system before setting up an appointment.
I had my Garage wired for my Skutt 818-3 Kiln, and it took less than one hour.
Conclusion
Kilns can intimidate beginner potters. Most veteran potters admit they needed help setting up their kilns on the first day they brought their new kilns home. Seasoned potters often say they had to ask for help when firing.
Kilns have been safely used in thousands of homes throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. They are safe as long as you observe safety standards during their installation and use, and the best ventilation practices.