One of our first observations was that the kiln room was considerably warmer than the studio space.  We also noticed that heating ducts were exposed in the studio area, but not in the kiln room (figs. 11 & 12).  When we questioned the employees, we discovered that the studio space was mechanically heated in the winter and cooled in the summer, but that the kiln room was not.  We also found out that at least one kiln is fired at least once a day, and that during the busy winter season, it isn't uncommon for all three to be running simultaneously (fig. 13). 

From this information, we formed a key question: if the kilns produce so much radiant heat that is not being used to heat the studio space, where is that heat going?

To answer this question, we found it necessary to ask a number of others.  How much heat infiltrates the dividing wall and makes it into the studio space?  How well insulated is the envelope of the kiln room?  Where is the heat likely to escape?  (For a more complete list of questions, see Appendix.)

The dividing wall seemed to be preventing a lot of heat from entering the studio.  We therefore assumed that the exterior (North) wall of the kiln room was similarly effective in keeping heat inside the kiln room.  Because of this, we presumed that the rising heat of the kilns was escaping through a poorly insulated roof, and formed 
our hypothesis:

"Poor insulation of the roof in the kiln room results in high winter heat losses."