2024-25_NTCA_Reference_Manual_dig_dwnld

Temporary Protection for Tiled Surfaces – Sample Letter to Owner/General Contractor

NOTES TO THE TILE CONTRACTOR

Date

Company Address City, State Zip

Sample letter should be modified to ac commodate your specific circumstanc es. For example, there may be some control provided that you may wish to acknowledge.

Re: Project Protection of Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Floor Finish Assemblies

Contact:

This letter is to inform you about the need for protection of ceramic, glass or stone tile floor finish assemblies installed at the referenced project.

PROTECTION DURING AND AFTER INSTALLATION FOR THE TILE CONTRACTOR AS STATED IN ANSI A108.02-3.1.5 AND 3.1.6: 3.1.5 Protection during installation : During the installation, the general contractor shall be responsible for restricting access and closing spaces where tile is being installed. The general contractor shall provide complete areas to the installing contractor so that all work in each area may be completed and no areas require remobilization or segmented protection. The installing contractor is not responsible for damage caused by other trades during the installation process. 3.1.6 Protection after installation : The general contractor shall be responsible for keeping spaces closed to traffic and other work where tile has been set until setting material and grout are cured to ensure the tile assembly is not damaged. Newly tiled floors shall not be walked on, nor worked on without protection supplied by the general contractor. Tile contractor shall not be responsible for damage caused by other trades.

Tile is susceptible to cracking from exposure to heavy concentrated loads such as those from scissor lifts, telescoping lifts, hydraulic pallet jacks, vending machines, or kiosks used or installed both during construction, as well as equipment used for maintenance or deliveries after completion of construction. Tile is particularly at risk of cracking from exposure to heavy equipment loads within the first 7 days after installation while the underlying adhesive mortar is still curing and developing proper strength to fully support heavy loads. Similarly, tile installed over flexible crack-isolation or sound control membranes may also be at risk of cracking from exposure to heavy concentrated loads, even after underlying tile mortars are fully cured. Therefore, we strongly recommend that both fully-cured tile installations, and especially fresh tile installations, be protected by applying sheets of plywood or other suitable protection boards to distribute the loads imposed by heavy equipment. Protection should be provided not only beneath the final working position of such equipment, but also in the path of travel to and along the working position, since tile is particularly sensitive to the combination of heavy loads and the torsion or shearing effect that can be caused by turning of wheels in direct contact with the tile surface. Please also refer to other tile industry standards such as the Tile Council of North American Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation and the ANSI A108 series for Ceramic Tile Installation for additional information about protection of both new and existing tile floor finish assemblies. The type and suitability of protection should be determined/checked by a licensed professional engineer.

Name and Title Company

This document is compiled by the NTCA Technical Committee and published by National Tile Contractors Association, Inc. • P. O. Box 13629 • Jackson, MS 39236 U.S.A. The disclaimer on page 1 and the introductory comments contained in the complete Reference Manual are applicable to copied or excerpted parts.

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NTCA Reference Manual | 2024 / 2025

Chapter 1 | Pre- and Post-Installation Considerations