Intro
The plaster room is situated at the back of the barn-like building that houses the metal fabrication workshop. This is where you can make plaster moulds. The building can be accessed via the courtyard and has three entrances: Large double doors in the courtyard which offers close to level access apart from a 1 inch metal lip to navigate. A single door in the courtyard across from the main entrance which has one shallow step. A single door down the side of a narrow path on the far side of the building which has one shallow step and the path is overgrown and uneven. This side entrance can be used if the metal workshop is busy. If using one of the courtyard entrances you will go through the metal workshop which is 90cm wide at the narrowest point.
The plaster room is also small and narrow, the doorway is 109cm and the room is 100cm wide at it’s narrowest point.
PPE
You must wear a boiler suit, safety goggles and a respirator mask and remember to remove your boiler suit before entering any kitchen spaces.
Flooring
The flooring is fairly smooth grey concrete.
Lighting
There is a single bright unshaded ceiling fluorescent strip light.
Seating
There is no seating in the plaster room but seats can be moved from elsewhere in SSW to the plaster room as needed. This work can be done seated at the work benches provided. An adjustable workbench is available in the ceramics studio and can be moved into the plaster room as needed.
Sensory Notes
This building is exposed to the elements and can be very cold, wearing additional layers during colder weather is advised. The noise of the extractor is fairly loud and ear defenders are available. The decor is neutral and there are no noticeable patterns. The ceiling light is bright. The plaster has a very mild scent but respirator dust masks are required and do shield a lot of the scent.
Nearest Accessible Toilets
There is no toilet in the metal workshop and plaster room building. The nearest accessible toilet is across the courtyard and through the main entrance of the SSW main building to the entrance porch where the accessible toilet is through the first door on the left.
Process Notes
The process offered in the plaster room is making plaster moulds and is supported by the ceramic technician, Amy. The weight of materials used and how strenuous the process is depends on the size of the moulds and the amount of material required. Amy recommends starting with a smaller mould first to learn the process. If you are working with larger amounts of material, it is advised that you do so with support. You will need some upper body strength to lift and pour materials as part of this process and this can be supported if needed. The physical requirement of lifting materials should be taken into consideration when planning your activity, energy, rest and recovery. There is some maths involved in the process and important ratios to remember which should be taken into consideration when planning your energy, rest and recovery, if you find maths or extra cognitive tasks challenging. The buttons for the extractor are high up and this will be a barrier for some people. Mould casting adds a few more days to process time and it involves some trial and error and this should be considered when planning your time and activity.
