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carbon monoxide and electric kiln

updated tue 29 jan 02

 

EDGOULD on sat 26 jan 02


Last night about 2 a.m. I was surprised to walk into my studio where my =
electric kiln was on and my carbon monoxide alarm was beeping at 40 ppm =
on the digital readout. I opened a window, returned in a few hours and =
it went back to zero. There were various pieces of stoneware and =
porcelain going up to cone 08. O15 was not down yet. There was an odd =
smell that I attributed to the burning organic material in the clay. I =
had had the kiln on since 5 PM at low and all ports open til 10 PM. =
The insulation and windows of my studio are very tight. I do have a =
propane stove in the studio. It has never given me any trouble nor has =
it ever sounded the alarm or shown any register on the CO alarm. The =
stove is well sealed and had recently been serviced. The pilot was on =
as normal. The room was warm, probably near 80 deg. F.=20
Any theories out there?

Ron Roy on mon 28 jan 02


When anything burns it uses up oxygen - this just gives you some idea about
what is happening in your kiln - I am not surprised - best to at least
leave a window open a bit to replace the O - it should be a lesson to us
all to vent our kilns properly and make sure there is replacement air
coming in while firing.

That smell was not from the CO by the way - CO has no smell - that was
products of combustion that had no where to go but your studio.

Best to make sure the stove is not the cause - keep an eye on it when you
are not firing - one of the first signs of CO poisoning is a headache.

RR

> Last night about 2 a.m. I was surprised to walk into my studio where my
>electric kiln was on and my carbon monoxide alarm was beeping at 40 ppm on
>the digital readout. I opened a window, returned in a few hours and it
>went back to zero. There were various pieces of stoneware and porcelain
>going up to cone 08. O15 was not down yet. There was an odd smell that
>I attributed to the burning organic material in the clay. I had had the
>kiln on since 5 PM at low and all ports open til 10 PM. The insulation
>and windows of my studio are very tight. I do have a propane stove in the
>studio. It has never given me any trouble nor has it ever sounded the
>alarm or shown any register on the CO alarm. The stove is well sealed and
>had recently been serviced. The pilot was on as normal. The room was
>warm, probably near 80 deg. F.
>Any theories out there?

Ron Roy
RR# 4
15084 Little Lake Rd..
Brighton,
Ontario, Canada
KOK 1H0
Residence 613-475-9544
Studio 613-475-3715
Fax 613-475-3513