ALTSpace | compass
Be excellent to each other.
Leave the space better than you found it.
The rest is just details / details are important.
Radical Responsibility
This is a 10 Principles space: Clean up after yourself. Return community tools to where you found them when you are finished with them. Sweep. Clean surfaces. Leave the space like you would like to find it + 20% (to account for subjectivity). Don’t be picky about who left what, do a little extra.
Turn everything off and lock up when you leave. Check the side door and gate even if you did not enter that way. If you hear something humming, something is probably still on. If people are still around when you leave, check in with them.
Use the kitchenette responsibly. Contribute to the coffee/tea/snack fund if you partake in them. Wash and Put Away your dishes, cups, and utensils. Do not use dishes and cups for anything but food and drink. Place food waste in compost, and take compost out within 24 hrs. Do not leave food in the fridge to die. Food left overnight should be labeled with your name and date it was left. The fridge will be purged weekly and any perishables older than 5 days will be tossed.
Change the space however you want, provided your change can be undone in less than two hours without spending any money. Conversely, don’t get annoyed when other people make their own changes.
Be nice to the other shop users. If you’re annoying people, despite following the rules to the letter, you should still probably find a way to change your behavior.
ALTSpace reserves the right to terminate anyone's access if we feel they are consistently or severely impacting other people's ability to be productive and creative at the space.
We are here to make art, not rules. If you cause a problem we have to solve by making a new rule, you will be asked to leave.
Space Use
Personal Responsibility: ALTSpace is not responsible for your personal items left behind in public spaces - if you leave them lying around they will wander away and get lost and mixed up with shared tools and used as such.
Minors: Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who will maintain direct supervision of them at all times. Children under the age of 14 may not operate any machinery or other non-human powered equipment. ALTSpace is a working shop with real hazards including sharp tools, flying shrapnel, dangerous fumes, hot surfaces, poisonous substances, and risk of electrical shock. If you bring a minor to ALTSpace understand that you are responsible for their actions and for their safety at all times.
Tools & Tables: Use the shared tools and public work tables however you want, but put your stuff away and clean up any remaining mess before you leave Leave the space 20% neater and cleaner than you found it - this means cleaning a little of the mess that you didn’t make. If you need to leave a project to dry/cure, leave a sign with your phone number on it, and message the list to let other members know how long that table will not be available. Please use this privilege sparingly - public tables are there for everyone.
Leftovers: If the person before you didn’t clean up, dump all their stuff in their bin/storage space. If not clear whose stuff it is, put it in lost & found.
Events: If you are going to use the space in a way that might impede other users - a work party, a class, an unusually big project - then you should mark it on the group calendar first so that everyone knows what to expect. Indicate which area you would like to reserve.
Personal Bin: Personal tools and supplies go in a bin with your name on it. Supplies not in a named bin are free for all. Your bins should go on a storage shelf when you are done with them.
Doors: Please keep the door to the garage shut at all times. This prevents dust spreading into the main space and helps keep the heat in.
Sleeping: Absolutely no sleeping overnight at ALTSpace.
Private Property: Private storage areas, reserved work tables, and red-tagged tools are off limits. Using someone else’s private supplies or tools without permission is seriously not OK - it is grounds for eviction.
Large projects
If you intend to use the space for a large project that will need to occupy space and common areas for more than a few days you must check in with the shop management first (altspace@ignitionnw.org). Please submit a detailed description of your project’s expected impact, its space requirements, a timetable for its completion and your plan for how and when to clean up.
ALTSpace reserves the right to reject proposals if deemed too large to reasonably handle as well as cancelling previously approved large projects if they go beyond their originally proposed scope. It’s important that the shop remain usable for others during the time of the project, especially common areas need to be kept clean and usable whenever not in active use.
Tool Usage
Tag system: tools should be tagged with owner’s name & number:
| BLUE tag / no tag | = free for all |
| YELLOW tag | = ask for instruction and permission first |
| RED tag | = ask for permission/supervision every time |
Damage: If you break someone else’s tool:
- BLUE, the shop will reimburse you for repair or replacement, but it’s your responsibility to replace it or to have it fixed.
- YELLOW, work it out with the tool’s owner. If you both agree that the breakage was a result of normal, long-term wear and tear, ask the managers to have the shop cover the cost. If the tool was used irresponsibly, you may be asked to pay for repair or replacement.
- RED, work it out with the tool’s owner. The shop will not cover cost of repair or replacement for red-tagged tools.
Consumables
Labels: Mark your precious materials with red tape & name if you don’t want others to use them. Materials laying around, not in labelled bins without labels etc are free for anyone to use so don’t get annoyed if your plank of mahogany got cut up if it wasn’t marked private. Put small cuttings of wood/steel/plastic etc in general materials bins, these can come handy for various odd jobs.
General Supplies: The shop will keep general cleaning supplies on hand. A list of these items will be posted in the kitchen. If you use the last of one of these items, please replace it; save the receipt and you will be reimbursed from shop funds.
Hardware: Consumables for specific areas (hardware, sewing notions, electronics components, office supplies) are paid for by members. If you use up a box/spool/unit of something, replace it yourself, or notify altspace@ignitionnw.org and leave a cash contribution in the cash box or sewing fund tin.
Safety
You may not use any equipment in the space without a signed waiver on file with the manager. You understand that your safety is nobody’s responsibility but your own, and also that as a community member, you are empowered to intervene in any unsafe situation you observe. Specific safety requirements are listed below but should not be considered exclusive.
Intoxication: Use of machinery under influence of any intoxicant is not permitted.
Goggles: Required for all equipment that creates sparks or fast flying shards. Do not look into laser guides.
Ear Protection: Recommended around all loud power tools (i.e. in the woodshop and metalshop) - seriously it’s worth it. Your future old self will thank you for preserving your hearing.
Dust mask: Highly encouraged grinding/polishing/buffing etc. Inhaled particulate matter is really nasty on your lungs.
Rotary Machinery: NEVER wear gloves, loose sleeves, leave shirt tails out, jewelry of any kind. Restrain long hair.
Closed Shoes: Required at all times in the shop.
Welder: Unless the space is unoccupied, ensure appropriate light/UV blockage using a welding curtain. If another person can potentially look at the arc, yell “Arc!” everytime you’re about to strike. Make sure you turn off the shielding gas when you’re done.
Flammables: Gas cylinders must be properly shut after use. Store all flammables (aerosols, solvents, etc) in the yellow flammables cabinet in the South space. Propane tanks should be stored outdoors when not in use.
Propane and Kiln: Must agree in writing to safety addendum.
Emergency
ALTSpace has a first aid kit and several fire extinguishers. In case of minor incidents use them. Do not use CO2 fire extinguishers on persons.
Medical Emergency: call 911.
Serious Fire: Evacuate and call 911. Leave your stuff behind.
Other: Flooding, building damage, electrical problems or problems with a machine or tool talk to a host on duty or email altspace@ignitionnw.org .
alt space | build it here
Learn More~ Chris | new recruit"This is place is perfect for the urban craftsmen/artists."