Taking time to consider where to locate your kiln within the workshop or factory should be of paramount importance; kilns or furnaces that are poorly situated can not only reduce fuel efficiency, but in the worst cases pose potential health hazards to your highly valued work force.
The location of your kiln, and the extra space it requires, is dictated by its maximum design temperature as well as the fuel it runs on. Of course, all kilns produce heat when firing, but the amount of energy lost depends on a multiplicity of factors including batch size and firing time. Smaller electric kilns, for example, produce roughly 120ºC of excess energy, which can’t be touched but similarly can’t cause ignition. Concurrently, larger industrial kilns fire at higher temperatures for longer, and thus produce more excess heat; this means they require more space to operate, and run an increased risk of ignition if not properly sited.
Ventilation is also an important factor to consider, and again varies depending on the size of the kiln or furnace, and the room it operates in. Our studio and educational kilns, for example, can be operated in a large room (such as a classroom or workshop) with standard ventilation such as a door or window open. We can also install custom built ventilation systems in smaller classrooms or workshops, but remember that any extracted air needs to be replaced via a wall vent or door grille. For larger, industrial kilns and furnaces, we would devise a ventilation solution directly catered to your own facilities, taking into account kiln capacity and factory size.
If you have any questions about siting your kiln or any health and safety factors, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our trained engineers.

Considerations

Top Loading Kilns
Kilns must not be positioned on wooden floors, thermoplastic floors or carpets.
As there is a requirement to access the side of the kilns for either inserting or removing side ventilation bungs, adequate clearance to carry out this operation must be given consideration.
Top Loading kilns do radiate more heat from their outlet surface than from front loading kilns. We therefore recommend that a minimum space of 400mm (16″) be left between the kiln outer surface and combustible material.

Front Loading Kilns
Position the kiln on a solid flat floor and adhere to the minimum clearances from other objects.
It is recommended that a space of approximately 300mm (12″) minimum be allowed between the sides of the kiln and any object or wall, unless controls of any kind are located on the side. In which case adequate space should be allowed for access.
For ease of future maintenance, we recommend a minimum of 610mm (24″) be left at the rear of the kiln, however where space is limited we can add an extra cost option and fit the kiln with castor wheels to enable the kiln to be moved forward for maintenance.
Consideration must be given to give adequate room to open the kiln door and for loading and unloading the firing chamber.
The Falcon Compact Range, exclusive to Kiln and Furnaces has been designed for installation where space is limited.
Instruments must be kiln mounted to prevent damage from extensive heat.

All Electrically operated kilns
Allow approximately 760mm (30″) above the kiln to minimise fire risk. If in doubt, suspend a sheet of heat resistant material from the ceiling directly above the kiln.
In certain circumstances it may be necessary to vent waste heat or products of combustion via a heat collection canopy and ducting to the atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Gas Fired Kilns and Furnaces

All these units will need a minimum of exhaust ductwork to atmosphere, coupled with a heat collection canopy depending on site requirements. This equipment can either be supplied or supplied and installed subject to a quotation on either provision of building drawing or a visit to the site by us.