A Vital signs case study of Brush-Fire Pottery
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| Conclusions |
Learned |
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Acknowledgments | Appendix |
Appendix
Intitial observations
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Intitial questions
| Retail/work space is about 1,000sq.ft. |
| Kiln space is about 60sq.ft. |
| Retail space faces south and has many large, fixed windows. |
| None of the windows in the building are operable (not even in kiln room). |
| The kiln space is separated from the work space by a stud wall and a sliding glass door. |
| The kiln space is considerably warmer than the retail space (kilns were not in use, but were cooling at time of first visit). |
| Ceiling/roof appear uninsulated. |
| Construction is timber frame throughout, with fixed double-pane vinyl windows. |
| Retail/work space can hold about 60 people. |
| There are usually only 1-3 employees. |
| Kiln space can accommodate 1-2 employees comfortably. |
| Small (clip-on/tabletop) fans are used to circulate hot, stale air in the kiln area year-round. |
| At least one kiln is run every day; during busy season (holidays), it is common for all three to be running simultaneously. |
| Retail/work space has to be heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer |
Initial Questions:
| Why does the retail space need to be heated when there is such a large source of internal heat gains in the winter (people and the busy kilns)? |
| How much heat do the kilns give off? |
| How much heat from the kilns is lost to the roof and/or walls? |
| How much heat from the kilns actually makes it to the retail area? |
| How much heat is lost through the kilns’ independent ventilation system? |
| How much heat does the retail space lose and how could that be reduced? |
| How could the heat from the kilns be used to heat the retail space in the winter? Would this adversely affect summer heat gains? Is there some solution to both? |
| Could a better ventilation system force hot kiln space air outside in the summer and into the retail space in the winter? |
| How thermally separated are the kiln and retail spaces? Should they be kept as completely separate? |
| What type of heating system is used? |
| How is the kiln room kept cool in the summer? |
| Are there any special building codes that the kiln room must incorporate? |
| How well are the walls insulated? |
| Would operable windows be an advantage? |
| How comfortable is the building for customers? Workers? |
| What is the difference in temperature between the kiln room and the main room when the kilns are firing? Cooling? Off? |
| What is the R-value of the dividing wall? |
| Is an outdoor kiln room more practical or efficient? Is it possible? |
| Were any special actions taken to insulate and ventilate the building to make it work as a ceramic firing space? |
| What part of the building affects heat loss the most? Roof? Walls? Glazing? Dividing wall? |
| What are the greatest heat gains? |