Kiln & Firing Equipment Insurance – What You Need to Know

Introduction

If your business relies on a kiln, furnace, oven, heat-treatment unit or other firing equipment, you’re running a process that insurers view as higher risk than “standard” workshop activity. High temperatures, electrical load, gas supply, combustible materials, and long unattended firing cycles can all increase the likelihood of fire, smoke damage, and equipment failure.

The good news is you can insure kiln and firing equipment properly — and often at a sensible premium — if you understand what insurers want to see. This guide explains the covers that matter, the questions you’ll be asked, and the practical steps that can reduce both claims and costs.

What counts as kiln & firing equipment?

Insurers usually include these items under “plant and machinery”, “contents”, or “equipment”:

• Electric kilns (top-loading, front-loading)
• Gas kilns and associated burners/controls
• Furnaces and heat-treatment ovens
• Enamelling kilns and glass kilns
• Drying ovens and curing ovens
• Raku kilns and portable firing units
• Controllers, thermocouples, elements, relays and control panels
• Extraction/ventilation and ducting (sometimes separate)
• Gas lines, regulators and shut-off valves (often subject to inspection requirements)

It’s also common to have valuable “supporting kit” that needs to be declared:

• Shelves, posts, kiln furniture
• Refractory lining and bricks
• Moulds, jigs and tooling
• Temperature probes and calibration equipment
• Glaze materials and chemicals

Why kiln risks are treated differently

From an insurer’s point of view, firing equipment combines several risk factors:

• Heat and ignition sources: sustained high temperatures can ignite nearby combustibles.
• Electrical risk: high current draw, ageing wiring, and controller faults can cause overheating.
• Gas risk (where applicable): leaks, incomplete combustion, and poor ventilation can lead to fire or explosion.
• Unattended operation: long firing cycles may run overnight.
• Dust and particulates: clay dust and studio dust can affect electrics and extraction.
• High-value stock in progress: a single incident can ruin weeks of production.

That doesn’t mean cover is hard to obtain — it means the policy needs to be set up correctly.

The core insurance covers to consider

Most kiln and firing equipment risks are insured under a package such as Commercial Combined or Business Insurance. The right mix depends on whether you’re a small studio, a production workshop, or a manufacturer.

1) Property insurance (buildings & contents)

This is the foundation. It can cover:

• Fire, smoke and heat damage to the building and contents
• Theft (subject to security conditions)
• Flood and escape of water (relevant if you’re in a shared unit)
• Storm damage

For kilns, the key is making sure the kiln is included in the contents/equipment sum insured (or specified as an item of plant) and that the insurer understands how it’s used.

Tip: If you lease a unit, check who is responsible for insuring the building, and whether you need to insure improvements, fixtures and fittings.

2) Machinery Breakdown / Engineering insurance

Standard property cover often insures external events (like fire) but may not cover internal failure. Machinery Breakdown (sometimes called Engineering Breakdown) can cover sudden and unforeseen breakdown of:

• Kiln elements and electrical components
• Motors and fans (where fitted)
• Control panels, relays, contactors
• Temperature controllers

It may also cover the cost of repair/replacement and sometimes additional costs like temporary hire.

Watch-outs:

• Wear and tear is usually excluded.
• Faulty workmanship may be limited.
• Gradual deterioration and poor maintenance are common reasons for declined claims.

3) Business Interruption (BI)

If your kiln is central to production, BI can be as important as the equipment cover. BI can help replace lost gross profit and cover ongoing costs if you can’t trade due to insured damage.

For kiln-dependent businesses, consider:

• Indemnity period: 12 months is common; 18–24 months may be sensible if replacement lead times are long.
• Increased cost of working:g., outsourcing firing, hiring a temporary kiln, or paying overtime.

4) Stock and stock-in-process

Many kiln businesses have value tied up in:

• Greenware (unfired work)
• Bisque ware
• Glazed work awaiting firing
• Finished stock ready for sale

Make sure your policy covers stock at the premises, and if relevant:

• Stock in the open (rare, but sometimes relevant)
• Stock at exhibitions/markets
• Stock in transit (couriers, own vehicles)

If you make bespoke pieces, also think about whether you need cover for customers’ goods.

5) Public Liability and Products Liability

If someone visits your studio, attends a workshop, or buys your products, liability cover matters.

• Public Liability can cover injury or property damage to third parties (e.g., a visitor trips, or smoke damage affects a neighbouring unit).
• Products Liability can cover claims arising from products you supply (e.g., a mug cracks and causes injury, or a decorative item causes damage).

If you run classes, tell your broker — the insurer may need to note tuition/workshops and the number of attendees.

6) Employers’ Liability (if you have staff)

In the UK, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement in most cases if you employ staff (including some casual or temporary workers). It can cover injury/illness claims from employees.

7) Portable equipment / tools (optional)

If you take equipment to events, shared studios, or client sites, you may need All Risks cover for portable items.

Common exclusions and policy conditions to watch

Kiln claims can fail due to technicalities. Here are the big ones to check.

Unattended heating conditions

Some policies impose conditions around leaving heating equipment unattended. Kilns are not “space heaters”, but insurers may still ask about:

• Overnight firing
• Automatic shut-off
• Fire detection and monitoring

Be honest about your process and get it noted correctly.

Electrical installation and inspections

Insurers may require:

• Evidence of suitable electrical installation
• Periodic inspection and testing (often referred to as EICR)
• PAT testing for portable items

If a fire is linked to poor wiring, insurers may investigate maintenance records.

Gas safety and ventilation

For gas kilns, insurers may expect:

• Gas Safe involvement where required
• Suitable ventilation/extraction
• Regular inspection and maintenance

Hot works and combustible materials

If you store solvents, packaging, timber, or other combustibles near the kiln area, insurers may apply conditions or higher premiums.

Security requirements

Theft cover often depends on:

• Locks and alarms
• Shutters
• Building construction
• Out-of-hours access controls

Gradual deterioration

Machinery breakdown is typically for sudden failure, not gradual wear. If elements fail due to age, that may be treated as maintenance.

How to set the right sums insured

Underinsurance is one of the most common problems.

Kiln replacement value

Use the new-for-old replacement cost, including:

• Delivery and installation
• Electrical works (wiring, isolators)
• Extraction modifications
• Commissioning and testing

If your kiln is specialist or imported, allow for lead times and exchange rate changes.

Stock values

Set stock sums insured based on:

• Peak seasonal levels (e.g., pre-Christmas)
• Work in progress
• Raw materials and packaging

If you sell online, your peak stock might be higher than you think.

Business interruption

BI should reflect:

• Annual turnover and gross profit
• How long it would take to replace equipment and rebuild output

If you rely on one kiln, the “single point of failure” can extend downtime.

What insurers will ask (and why)

Expect questions such as:

• What type of kiln (electric/gas), make/model, age and value?
• Is it professionally installed? Any modifications?
• Where is it located (separate kiln room, outbuilding, shared unit)?
• What are the firing temperatures and typical cycle times?
• Is firing ever left unattended or overnight?
• What fire protection is in place (smoke/heat detectors, extinguishers, suppression)?
• What is the building construction (brick, steel frame, cladding type)?
• What’s stored near the kiln (cardboard, solvents, timber, chemicals)?
• What maintenance schedule do you follow?
• Any previous claims, overheating incidents, or near misses?

These aren’t “gotcha” questions. They help the insurer understand the risk and price it fairly.

Practical risk management that can reduce premiums

Insurers like simple, documented controls. Common improvements include:

• Dedicated kiln area with clear space around the unit
• Non-combustible surfaces and heat shielding where needed
• Suitable extraction/ventilation, especially for gas kilns and glazing fumes
• Routine cleaning to reduce dust build-up near electrics
• Regular maintenance logs (elements, relays, thermocouples)
• Electrical inspections and evidence of competent installation
• Fire detection appropriate to the space (smoke/heat)
• Correct extinguishers and staff training
• End-of-cycle checks and safe shutdown procedures

If you’re in a shared industrial estate, also consider how you’ll prevent smoke damage spreading to neighbours — that can influence liability exposure.

Special situations: studios, shared units, and home-based businesses

Shared studios and maker spaces

If you operate in a shared studio, clarify:

• Who insures the building and fixed installations?
• Who owns the kiln?
• Are you responsible for maintenance?
• Are there written rules for firing schedules and supervision?

You may need your own policy for your equipment and stock, even if the site has a master policy.

Home-based kilns

Home-based firing can be insurable, but you must disclose it. You may need:

• A business policy that covers equipment and liability
• Confirmation that your household insurer is aware of business use

Never assume home insurance will cover business equipment or public liability.

Exhibitions, markets, and deliveries

If you sell at events, check for:

• Stock at temporary locations
• Public liability for stalls
• Transit cover for fragile items

Claims examples (what typically happens)

• Electrical fault causes fire: property cover may respond for fire damage; breakdown cover may help with repair of the kiln if insured.
• Controller failure ruins a firing: breakdown cover may respond for the controller; stock cover may respond for damaged stock (depending on wording).
• Neighbouring unit fire causes smoke damage: property cover may respond; BI may respond if you can’t access the premises.
• Customer alleges injury from a product: products liability may respond, subject to policy terms and evidence.

The key is aligning cover with your real-world process and documenting maintenance and safety.

How to buy kiln & firing equipment insurance (a simple checklist)

Before you request a quote, gather:

1. Equipment list with values, age, and installation details
2. Photos of the kiln area and clearances
3. Maintenance records (even basic logs help)
4. Fire protection details (detectors, extinguishers, alarm)
5. Stock values (average and peak)
6. Turnover and gross profit for BI
7. Any contracts, workshops, or visitor numbers

A broker can then place the risk with insurers who understand manufacturing, workshops, and heat processes.

Quick FAQs

Does standard business contents insurance cover a kiln?

Often yes for insured events like fire or theft, but it may not cover internal breakdown. Many businesses add machinery breakdown to cover sudden failure.

Is overnight firing insurable?

Usually, but it must be disclosed. Insurers may want to know about automatic shut-off, detection, and your supervision process.

Are kiln elements covered?

Elements can be tricky: if they fail due to wear and tear, that’s often excluded. If they fail due to a sudden insured breakdown, cover may apply depending on wording.

Do I need products liability if I only sell small batches?

If you sell any products, products liability is worth considering. Claims can arise even from low volumes.

What if I teach pottery classes?

Tell the insurer. You may need the policy to note tuition/workshops and confirm public liability limits.

Call to action

If you rely on kilns, furnaces, or firing equipment, your insurance should do more than tick a box — it should protect your equipment, your stock, and your ability to keep trading.

If you’d like a quote or a quick review of your current cover, Insure24 can help you arrange kiln and firing equipment insurance as part of a tailored business policy. Call 0330 127 2333 or visit insure24.co.uk to get started.