For more information on this or any other ACT certification, and to obtain test dates and locations visit:
.
or call 1-864-222-2131
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(for installer members of IUBAC)
or contact Teri Indelli (IMI)
at 630-396-3144, or by email at [email protected]
Gauged Porcelain Tiles are 1 m x 1 m or smaller; and Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels are greater than or equal to 1 m x 1 m. Thus, one piece of tile can cover anywhere from eleven square feet up to fifty-five square feet of wall or floor surface area.
Tile installers who are pre-qualified may take the ACT test for Gauged Porcelain Tile. Installers pre-qualify for this test in one of two ways:
- A tile installer who has successfully completed the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) test administered by the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation; or
- A tile installer who has achieved the rank of journeyman tile setter through successful completion of the apprenticeship training program conducted by the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.
The intent of the Gauged Porcelain Tile certification is to determine the knowledge and skills presented by the pre-qualified installer. These skills must include, but are not limited to, the ability to distinguish if the substrate to be tiled meets applicable ANSI Specifications and TCNA Handbook methods; the ability to apply the correct adhesive mortar and achieve required coverage; the ability to embed the tile/tile panel; the ability to achieve a finished installation that conforms with lippage requirements and maximum grout joint size requirements.
If these criteria are met or exceeded and the accompanying written test is successfully completed, the tile installer is then designated as certified in this particular skill area. A form of certification is given to the installer to provide the customer with proof of the installer's expertise.
The Study Guide for the Gauged Porcelain Tile test offers more information on the scope of knowledge and skills required for certification.
Due to the extremely large modules that Gauged Porcelain Tile/Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels are available in, installation of this product is significantly different from the installation of standard large format porcelain tile, requiring special installation tools and techniques. The unique installation procedures and workmanship considerations, are as outlined in ANSI A108.19 American National Standard Specifications for "Interior Installation of Gauged Porcelain Tile and Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs by the Thin-Bed Method bonded with Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar or Improved Modified Dry-Set Cement Mortar”.
Some key issues addressed by ANSI A108.19 include:
- Contractor Qualifications
- Jobsite and Material Handling Requirements
- Substrate Flatness and General Requirements
- Floor and Wall Installation procedures for ANSI A137.3 Table 4 gauged products
- Wall Installation Procedures for ANSI A137.3 Table 5 gauged products
- Mortar, and Mortar Application
- Unique coverage criteria and evaluation procedures
- Lippage criteria and use of lippage control systems
- Special floor setting provisions that involve embedding by walking
- Movement Joints
