Materiality of Tile

Ceramic and porcelain tile are widely acknowledged as among the most beautiful, sustainable, and healthy finishes available for commercial and residential projects, but exactly what is it about tile that makes it such a high-performing material? This program takes a detailed look at the objective criteria set forth in ANSI and ASTM standards that establish the visual, physical, and performance requirements for various types of tile. It considers tile's aesthetic classifications, its dimensional stability, and other factors that impact the appearance of the finish assembly. It also examines the physical criteria of strength, water absorption, resistance to scratching, impact, and other loads as set forth in the standards. Finally, the program looks at how the environmental impact of tile, setting materials, and grout are measured against objective criteria in the Green Squared(R) sustainability standard and the Material Ingredient Guide published by Tile Council of North America (TCNA).