KILN SERVICE

Terms&Conditions

KILN HIRE T&C’S

By purchasing this course you are agreeing to the terms, conditions and guidelines set out in this document.

VENUE:

Depending on your booking your kiln will be located at either of our studios. Please refer to your confirmation email to see where you will be firing.

Our studios are located at:

Decima Borough
1-5 Newington Causeway
SE1 6ED

Decima Bermondsey
3 Decima Studios
17-19 Decima street
London, UK
SE1 4QR

BOOKING OVERVIEW:

Please arrive on time for your kiln loading session. You are allocated 40 minutes to finish loading your kiln. Please let us know if you are running late and we will try and accommodate but the technician reserves the right to refuse to load in case of any late arrivals.

You will need to be present for the loading of your work. There will always be a technician present to assist if you require it.

To help the kiln load run smoothly please come prepared:

Fill out the “kiln firing” form with the relevant details such as type of clay and kiln temp in advance.
Anything wet will not be allowed in the kiln as it will damage the elements.
We have sand available for use but if you are worried about glaze dripping onto the shelves please provide your own sacrificial clay slabs or tiles to fire under any hazardous pieces.
Make sure to properly wipe any bases from glaze in advance.
We cannot store large amounts of packaging. For more information please refer to “Storage & Glazing”.

Please note that we cannot fire anything that creates a vast amount of smoke: paper clay, clay with organic materials, newspaper et.c.

Please get in touch in advance if you have any concerns or questions and we will try and help you as best as we can.

COLLECTION OF WORKS:

Depending on the size of your kiln, your fired work will be ready for collection 1-3 days after your firing. You will be given a pickup slot after the loading of your kiln.

In the majority of cases the kiln will be unloaded together with the technician at the pre-organised pick up time. There may be some cases though when the studio is exceptionally busy and we will need to unload your work ourselves to prepare for the next firing. In these cases we will store it on a designated shelf ready for your pickup.

We will provide sustainable bubble wrap options but please bring bags or boxes for transportation when you come and collect your work. Each maker is responsible for packing their own work.

Any works abandoned for more than 2 weeks after the agreed pick up time will get destroyed and recycled.

STORAGE AND GLAZING

If you require storage for a large amount of packaging, fired work or anything else - we can provide it for an extra fee.

If after the bisque firing you need desk space to glaze your work in our studio - book it by the hour. Please, bring your own glaze, tools, materials. This is subject to availability and pre-booking is required,

£25.00 per hour with minimum booking of 2 hours.

CANCELLATION POLICY & COVID :

If for any reason you can no longer attend your kiln loading time please let us know 48 hours before for a full refund. If you cannot make your booking after the cancellation period has started we will try our hardest to reschedule for you but we cannot guarantee a slot.

If a session cannot go ahead due to government changes of COVID restrictions in the UK we will try our best to reschedule your session or reimburse you for the cost of the affected lesson(s). All our technicians are vaccinated and test regularly for COVID and we ask that our makers please be considerate of others.

FIRINGS AND DAMAGED WORK:

Due to the nature of clay and ceramics there are many reasons why work may crack before, during or after a firing. Drying time, types of clay, air bubbles and how work is built are some of the main causes of cracking; this is something that we cannot control.

We are not responsible for variations of glaze finish and any damaged work between loading or in the kiln. While we take care to prevent this from happening, unfortunately accidents can happen. Due to the delicate and uncertain nature of ceramics, you will not be eligible for any refund in the aforementioned circumstances.

If your work causes any damage to the kiln (shelf, elements, ceramic bricks, thermocouple etc.) you will be liable for repair costs or replacements.

GENERAL HEALTH & SAFETY:

Decima Clay shall not be held responsible in the event of an injury caused in the premises and/or student(s) failure to adhere to the safety guidelines.

Should any repairs be the result of any student(s) conduct and/or failure to adhere to the safety guidelines they may be liable for associated costs.

SAFETY GUIDELINES:

Clay, glazes and other materials found within a ceramic studio contain Silica which is a harmful substance. When clay dries out, dust can form and become airborne causing you to breathe it into your lungs which cannot filter it out. Long term exposure to this dust can result in Silicosis and other associated lung diseases.

Here is what to do to minimise exposure:

Clean your work area with water at the end of your session. This includes tools and equipment, tables, walls and floor.
Do not create dust: do not sand dry clay – use a wet sponge. If you have to sand bisque ware or plaster use wet-and-dry sand paper and lots of water (immerse object in the bucket filled with water).
Never sweep the studio. Use the bucket and the mop and change the water frequently.
Do not dry fettle - fettling is when you tidy up pieces by shaving or trimming off excess clay with a grater, metal kidney, metal tool etc. Only fettle clay when it is leather hard. If your piece is bone dry and you really want to neaten it up, use a damp sponge.
If you’re using dry materials (e.g. powdered oxides, dry glaze materials etc.) please ensure the windows are open and you or anyone else who is around you in the studio while you’re using them are wearing respirators with particulate filters.

Other health and safety notes in the studio:

All glazes in the studio are safe to the best of current knowledge and do not contain lead or barium. Please read the list of ingredients when purchasing ceramic glazes or colourants.
Do not load/unload/operate or remove anything from the kilns. A technician will do this. Please also ensure you don't leave anything around or on the kiln.
Do not operate any of the machines in the studio without the supervision of the technician on duty or without a proper induction.
Ensure that the floorway and routes to the fire exit are not cluttered - keep a tidy workspace.
Use a trolley to move heavy objects and materials.
In case of an accident please inform the teacher/technician on duty.

CHANGES:

We may, at our discretion, review and amend our terms and conditions at any time. In the event of this, we will send an updated copy to all existing members and upload it to our website