Are there standards for how ceramic tile installations can be inspected?

QUESTION

Please I want your advice.
During the final inspection after Tiles were installed and grouted the consultant is inspecting with his hands & knees on the floor ‎and rejecting the tile installation...

Please I want any BS/EN Standard _or American standard or code of practice ‎stating that he must inspect on an Eye level.

I already purchased the below EN:1469:2004‎ but it is mentioned for samples prior installation, so I need some documents stating the inspection on an Eye level for the installed Tiles

Thank you for your valuable information

ANSWER

ANSWER - There is no standard for how to inspect a tile installation after it is installed.   There are ceramic tile standards in ANSI-A137.1 that give instructions on how to inspect tiles, which have not been installed, for facial defects.  You have to stand 3 feet away from area being inspected, you have to have certain lighting 8 to 9 feet above the floor, and you can only look for 60 sections per array or 6 seconds per square foot of tile array.

On the other hand, there are some quantitative standards for some tile conditions such as lippage, slope, flatness, and grout joint widths.   The only way to evaluate those conditions is to get on your hands and knees.

There are also standards such as the Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installations that point out that wall wash light and other types of lighting at various positions can cause tile conditions to look excessive, when in fact quantitatively they are not.

4 thoughts on “Are there standards for how ceramic tile installations can be inspected?

  1. ALAN says:

    In the Specifications, Section 096340 Item:
    3.0 Execution
    3.4 Installation Tolerance
    It is mentioned the below Variations A & B:
    A. Variation in Line:
    • For positions shown in plan for edges of paving, flooring, ramps, steps, changes in color or finish and continuous joint lines, do not exceed 3mm in 2400 mm, 6 mm in 6 m or 12mm maximum.

    B. Variation in Joint Width:
    • Do not vary Joint thickness more than 1/3 nominal joint width.

    Accordingly, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN :
    A. Variation in Line: Continuous joint lines, do not exceed 3mm in 2400 mm
    AND;
    B. Variation in Joint Width:
    • Do not vary Joint thickness more than 1/3 nominal joint width

    Because the consultant is stating that the 1/3 (3mm) nominal joint must be al along the 2400mm and not with the distance of each tile as =60x60cm

    Please if you can provide with your explanation some sketches or Drw. showing the above statement ( If possible)

  2. Donato Pompo says:

    My interpretation would be that:

    A. Variation in Line is referring to flatness of the tile surface. Not to exceed 3 mm in 2400 mm from the required plane.

    B. Variation in Joint width is saying the tolerance for the grout joint width variation is +/- 1/3 the width of the joint regardless if it is within a tile or within a certain span.

  3. Janice Andujar says:

    I had tiled installed in my home. It has lippage, cracked tile, cracked grout, dirt in grout, and different widths if groutlines. The installer will not bulge. What should i do?

    • Donato Pompo says:

      If it isn’t practical for you to hire an expert like CTaSC, then file a complaint with the contractor’s board or find out who is their insurance and file a claim with their insurance company. This doesn’t cost you anything and puts a lot of pressure on the installer.

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