Possible Toxic Fumes when Firing

[Ben xyz]

I work in a community ceramic studio and noticed that only one of the three kilns have ventilation to the outside. Should this be a concern as pieces are fired? I have two friends that died from cancer, that was likely linked to their glassblowing practice. Since it's a chemical issue, I wanted to run it by you all first. Some glazes/clays/lusters might be fine, while others not. Is there a listing of formulas to avoid? Bringing in a service to test air quality would require more than several studio visits (depending on what's being fired at that moment). Do not want the studio to possibly close because of it either. Thanks for your input!

[Bill Kielb]

Just some thoughts after a lifetime of experience with HVAC issues
In a studio environment where folks work in proximity to firing kilns, IMO and from an IAQ standpoint the kilns should be ventilated as if it is a workplace. Unfortunately, that standard is well above a downdraft vent.

It’s near impossible to single out chemicals not to fire and their possible combinations are really hard to predict and guarantee. Having said all that, most studios try and stay clean and fume free. I suspect if you test the IAQ over time the results will yield lots of reasons to have proper ventilation. Small studios typically are not well designed or formally designed, so most often probably not effective at true ventilation.

Having said that, studios tend to do the best they can within their budget and really can’t afford the formal design, engineering, and testing…… and the saving grace probably is the limited exposure time for most studio members, except of course if you are an employee. Instead lots of folks have seat of the pants ideas of what works which are usually fairly incorrect but help folks feel better about it and usually their measures have some ventilating effect.

Strictly testing in ppm or ppb or even pm 2.5 would likely reveal poor air quality at times in most studios but in fairness who can really afford this or has access to it. I once did a demonstration at a glaze table using the approved studio procedure for dispensing chems. I used a Laser and simple cell phone movie to show even with the slowest and most careful dispensing, small particles were ejected through the entire studio. Since it was a glaze table they spent money on, most did not really want to see the result and went back to their thought they had created a safe procedure. Just simply incorrect thinking really. (Screen grab of that movie below)

An interesting compromise may exist with pm 2.5 monitors. They are inexpensive and now recognized as a simple indicator of air quality. I think there may be a place for these monitors as a next step up in monitoring that any studio can likely do.

Just a late add - fresh air generally comes from outdoors. Noting your location, LA  may have challenges.

 

Edited August 13 by Bill Kielb

[Babs]

Are the kilns in a seperate room from the working area?

[davidh4976]

If they are using luster overglazes, there needs to be really good ventilation when firing (as well as a respirator when painting it on the piece).

[Min]

Which fumes they are will be determined by what is being fired. If the kilns are not vented then the room they are in needs to be so fumes don’t enter the rest of the studio space. If the studio isn’t doing this already I would also question how diligent they are with other studio hygiene. Some of us are probably more susceptible to negative health outcomes from toxic fumes and dusts than others, length of exposure, pregnancy outcomes etc need to be taken into account also. 

[Hulk]

"...only one of the three kilns have ventilation to the outside. Should this be a concern as pieces are fired? "

Perhaps.

A few articles:
Kiln fumes (digitalfire.com) 
Kiln Venting (ceramicartsnetwork.org)

If wax or wax emulsion (aka wax resist) are being used, the strong odors produced as they burn off may give you an idea - that you are also exposed to gases and/or particles that aren't as detectable.

The articles above, and discussion here (so far) doesn't mention that the kilns themselves could be a source, particularly if glazes containing lead were ever fired in them? Metal oxides in current use - e.g. cobalt, tin, chrome - could also be a concern.

I don't want to be around any hot kiln, nor in the same room as a hot kiln.

[Hyn Patty]

Here's a little tidbit that may also help.  Read the labels on everything to see if there are toxic elements in them and add BRIGHT colored warning tape to them or stickers that say MUST BE VENTILATED.   Things like gold luster?  Definitely worth adding warning stickers or put up a sign where they are stored. 

Another tip?  Call your local fire department.  We do free air quality testing all the time for certain kinds of air born toxins.  Or you can also contact a home inspection company, or get your own test kits.  But if you put up a few signs, slap a few stickers or tape on things that you know are toxic, you can educate the people using the space to cut down on the issue a lot.  Otherwise you have lots of good advice here already.

Also you can ask whoever is running the space if ventilation fans can be put in to push air through the space and back out the other side when the kilns are in use.  Not a perfect solution but still better than no ventilation.  Good luck with it.

Edited August 13 by Hyn Patty

[Bill Kielb]

Just to add here -

kilns in one room, artists in an adjacent space. Typical proper “designed” approach would be exhaust from that kiln room directly to outdoors so all air is sucked into the kiln room. A hood is generally added to capture as much heat and fumes as practical, but in an isolated room, general room exhaust could serve in a reasonable fashion. That way no fumes can leave the kiln room because of the constant suction. I mention because even a though wall air shutter exhaust may be a reasonable easy (low cost) solution that has a chance of improving things a whole bunch.

Flow through solutions (where any air is blown into the kiln room or even an open window where wind velocity could blow air in on occasion) can end up making things worse if the room becomes pressurized at any point.  If folks are dead set on flow through solutions then a relatively goof proof version of that  would be an air shutter exhaust on one side and a barometric fresh air inlet elsewhere in the room. The amount of suction it takes to open the barometric louvers will at least provide a best chance  that the kiln room remains slightly negative with respect to elsewhere yet will still allow air flow through the room and can mitigate the effect of wind occasionally blowing in. 

Any fan or air blown into the room often pressurizes the room (however slight)  and injects the fumes into the adjacent space just where you don’t want therm. A simple (reasonably sized) through wall exhaust approach might be something not too costly that they would be willing to consider.

 

Edited August 13 by Bill Kielb