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Stone, Ceramic, Glass Tile Inspection Procedures

The following procedures are used to visually inspect ceramic/ stone/glass tile work after tile has been installed.

lighting techniques may produce shadows and undesirable effect with ceramic, glass and stone tiles. Similar shadows are created from side lighting interior walls and floors when light shines at that angle through windows and doors.

INDUSTRY STANDARDS REFERENCE • American National Standards Institute (ANSI A108 Series) Installation Standards • American National Standards Institute (ANSI A137.1 Manufacture standards for ceramic tile Tables 6-10). • American National Standards Institute (ANSI A137.2 Manufacture standards for glass tile tables 5, 6, 7). • American National Standards Institute (ANSI A137.3 Manufacture standards for gauged porcelain panels/tiles tables 2-5). • American National Standards Institute (ANSI A118.19 and A118.20) Installation Standards Tile Council of North America Inc. (TCNA) Details & Guidelines for Ceramic, Glass, Stone tile installations (applicable publication for year of installation). • Natural Stone Institute (NSI) Dimension Stone Design Manual (applicable publication for year of installation). INSPECTION PROCEDURES Light Source: Artificial permanent and natural light, without glare or grazing type lighting. Use of graze, wall-washer and cove-type lighting, where the lights are located either at the wall/ ceiling interface, or mounted directly on the wall, are popular techniques for producing dramatic room lighting effects. When proper backing surfaces, installation materials and methods, and location of light fixtures are not carefully coordinated, these

Refer to “Critical Lighting Effect” in the NTCA Reference Manual for pictures.

Refer to ANSI A108.02-4.3 Workmanship, cutting fitting and grout joint size.

• Viewing position: 36 in. (0.9 m) from walls and 60 in. (1.5 m) from floors. • Viewing time for visual defects: 15 seconds each wall elevation, floor area, ceiling and counters per room. For rooms with floor area larger than 200 sq. ft. (18.6 sq m) adjust time accordingly. • Lippage is allowed by the standards, calculated by, tile tolerances such as facial dimensions, thickness, and edge or diagonal warpage. Refer to ANSI A137.1 tables 6-10 for Ceramic Tile, refer to ANSI A137.2 tables 3, 5, 6, 7 for Glass Tile. • Grout joint: Joints should be reasonable consistent. Note, when large format or rustic tiles and patterns are selected, the grout joint must be increased to accommodate size tolerances in the tile and pattern. Refer to ANSI A108.02-4.5.

Shade variation in tile, stone and grout is inherent in all installations.

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NTCA Reference Manual | 2024 / 2025

Chapter 1 | Pre- and Post-Installation Considerations