Kiln location requirements
I have been told by kiln providers that the kiln should be on a concrete floor, or concrete paving slabs, but otherwise as long as it is next to a brick wall, and/or has sufficient clearance around it, it is quite safe either indoors or outdoors. If it is indoors then it should be adequate ventilation. also arranged a visit from the local fire service to discuss siting the kiln. They were unconcerned about the kiln or its location, their main concerns related to what was underneath and around it.
Indoors
I know a potter who has her kiln in the kitchen. it is a large kiln, on a seperate power supply, and when she is ready to fire she rolls it from a corner, so that there is space around it, programmes it, opens a small window for ventilation, closes a fire door to the rest of the house, and then goes to bed.
All my ground floor rooms have polished floorboards except for the kitchen which has a vinyl floorcovering. The kitchen was originally two separate rooms, so half of it has concrete underneath, so this would be the best location. However this would require either changing the flooring, or potentially separating the rooms again.
Outdoors
A more popular option with fellow potters seems to be a garage or outbuilding, often doubling up as a studio. I once visited a potter in Cheshire, during Cheshire Open Studios, who had a very large outbuilding and kiln, and she described the joy of working in her studio in the garden on a wintery day, after the kiln had been fired over night. I was so envious, she painted such a wonderful picture of walking down the garden with a hot cup of tea, to sit in the warm studio. There used to be such an outbuilding in my garden, but sadly the previous owner of my house demolished it. There is a remaining small outbuilding that used to be an outide loo, and then the location for a central heating boiler. In recent years it has housed gardening equipment and furniture. This has a concrete floor, and has ventilation. The door is wide enough for a kiln, with the recommended clearances in each direction once inside. This is the space I have chosen
Space for kiln furniture and shelves
One final consideration is storage of kiln furniture including shelves. The space I plan to use will have plenty of spare room after the kiln is installed, but I need to plan out the best place for the storage of kiln furniture and any other items. At present it has garden furniture and tools, and goodness knows what else, so I need to find new homes for these items. I will just remove everything first and then take a second look at this.
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