Burn Scar Prevention for Burning Art

The Problem

Burn scars are patches of discolored, hardened playa sediment, caused by the heat and smoke of carelessly constructed bonfires. They are difficult to clean up and take years to recover.

Solutions

Burning Man participants, especially people building and burning art installations, have a number of options available to prevent burn scars. With some clever thinking, preparation, and intelligent use of materials, this can be even be made to fit in with the esthetics of the installation.

Artists must include plans for burn scar protection in their proposal and plans, and clearly demonstrate the ability to follow through with those plans, before burning can take place. Three aspects need to be addressed:

1. preventing the heat of the fire from baking the playa
   
   
2. preventing smoke, ashes, and residue from permeating the playa surface
   
   
3. cleaning up quickly as quickly as possible after the burn, removing all materials and debris from the playa, and disposing of properly

Here are some possible solutions:

• the Burning Man is a good example of a sculpture for which most of the ignition and the hottest part of the burn takes place elevated well above the ground -- this kind of elevation could be facilitated for some sculptures by using steel pipe supports, or wood posts with the base wrapped with metal foil -- protection will still be needed on the ground to catch any falling pieces
  
  
• the Burning Man location in 2000 was protected by heat-resistant silica fabric, covered with at least two inches of sand (example - Burning Man)
  
  
• elevate the art completely on posts or legs, using a heavy steel container with a metal pan underneath, at least a foot above the playa (example - the the Heart(h), 2000 by Charles Smith and Syd Klinge)
  
  
• hang art from cables strung between poles (example - Illumination Village's Burning Art)
  
  
• fabricated panels made using a steel or wood frame, with flat or corrugated sheet steel attached to both sides of the frame, elevated at least four to six inches above the playa (examples - Anno Domino, 2000, and Burning Man's public burn platforms)
  
  
• sheet metal covered with two inches of sand, gravel, or cobblestones
  
  
• brick, concrete pavers, or rock laid on a thin sand bed over sheet metal, with sand swept into the cracks
  
  
• if the sculpture can be moved or dismantled, it could be burned either at the site of the Man or one of the public burn platforms along the Esplanade, depending on the pyro schedule
  
  
• typical fire resistant materials, and possible sources:
  
  
  • sand and gravel -- granite quarry at Spanish Springs, Route 445 north of Reno
  • heat-proof woven silica blanket -- available from suppliers of fabric for welding shops and foundries, in temperature grades from 1000 to over 2000 degrees F
  • sheet steel, corrugated steel -- steel recycling yards, used building materials outlets, construction or demolition sites
  • heavy steel plate and pipe -- ditto
  • brick, heavy tile, concrete pavers, concrete blocks -- masonry yards, brick plants, used building materials outlets, building demolition sites
  • for spacers under steel or panels -- any suitable scrap steel, tire rims, pipe sections, steel cabinets or lockers, brick, concrete blocks, or large rocks
  • for fire pan: any suitable scrap steel auto/truck body parts, tanks, or drums
  • steel garbage cans or drums to dispose of ash and debris
  
  
• cautions:
  
  
  • silica or fiberglass glass cloth is not fireproof under sustained heat, and must be covered with sand
  • avoid burning plastics and synthetics
  • remove or burn paint off metal before bringing to playa
  • no problem using nails, screws, or other steel fasteners, just clean them up
  • aluminum exposed to moderately high heat will melt, so cover it with sand or use away from high heat
  • clean up quickly, before somebody piles garbage on your burn, as soon as the fire cools
  • corrugated steel needs supports two feet apart to resist impact of walkers or heavy objects
  • artists and participants should remove all their ashes, debris, and components of the burn scar protection from the playa, and make a wide sweep around the site to pick up cinders and other debris
  • steel drums, garbage cans, or large buckets are safer than plastic for removing ashes and debris

Clockwise, from upper left:
- steel fire pan/platform on legs
- steel pole supports with steel sheeting underneath
- sand with fireproof cloth underneath
- sand with with steel sheeting underneath
- steel sheeting with spacers underneath
- firebrick on sand, with steel sheeting underneath

Imported Earth Materials

Sand is one of the safest, most effective, and most inert of the fireproof material available to Burning Man artists, but physical separation is required between any imported earth materials (sand, gravel, or clay) used for burn scar protection and the underlying playa surface. We are recommending separation materials consisting of metal sheeting or silica fabric for pyro art. This also helps prevent smoke and fire debris from contacting the playa.

Fine sand without silt or clay binder should not be used in open areas, to avoid blowing away during high winds. The locally available sand from decomposed granite (DG) quarry overburden typically has a high enough content of silt and clay to pack down well and not become airborne. We had great success with DG underlain by silica fabric under the Burning Man in 2000.

All pyro art is subject to review and inspection by the Burning Man art and pyro staff, and we are going to hold artists, and attendees in general, to high accountability with regard to responsible burn scar prevention methods and removal of any loose material during the closing days of the event. Artists are responsible for complete removal and thorough cleanup at the end of the event, including any earth materials used in the installation.

Thanks!

Your attention to preventing burn scars will speed the post-event cleanup and foster good environmental practice, ensuring a good relationship with the BLM and the general public.