Tile Council of North America’s (TCNA) Product Performance Testing Laboratory is pleased to announce several new services, which are designed to meet the industry’s growing and ever-changing needs for relevant, up-to-date product testing and analysis.

• TCNA’s lab recently acquired the capabilities to test construction materials for bio-safety level (BSL) 2 organisms. This allows the lab to work with organisms that pose a higher health risk. According to Dr. Jennifer Ariss, a TCNA research scientist, this is especially useful to evaluate anti-microbial compounds, which are gaining popularity in building materials.
• Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Testing: Effective April 27, 2009, tile tested per the California Department of Health Services’ Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers (CA 01350) can contribute towards the acquisition of EQ Credit 4.3 in LEED Version 3. TCNA’s lab is pleased to offer this new testing service, including management of all required chain of custody forms, time-specific test scheduling, a detailed report outlining results and relevance to standards and rating systems, and a one-page statement of compliance with CA 01350.
• Solar Reflectance Index (SRI): The use of tile on exterior hardscapes (sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, and courtyards) is a logical green building practice. Ceramic products, especially light colored ones, generally have higher solar reflectance indices (SRI) than traditional paving materials and can minimize a development’s thermal absorption, or “heat island effect.” Exterior tiles that have undergone the SRI testing outlined in LEED can contribute towards the acquisition of SS Credit 7.1. TCNA’s lab is pleased to offer this new testing service that includes SRI calculations on products as outlined in ASTM E1980 and the arrangement of tests for Solar Reflectance (ASTM C1549) and Solar Emittance (ASTM C1371).
• As the trend towards larger format tiles has grown, TCNA invested in a new dimensions table that allows for testing of surfaces up to 5 ft. x 5 ft.
• Later this year, TCNA’s lab will have full ISO 13007 grout and mortar testing capabilities. The ability to do these tests will allow the lab to provide testing services to grout and mortar customers on an international level.

“These new services allow us to continue meeting the dynamic needs of both our U.S. and international customers. Whether it is having the capability to test large format tiles or to conduct green testing, our customers can be sure TCNA’s lab will provide them with the industry’s most up-to-date testing capabilities,” stated Claudio Bizzaglia, TCNA’s director of laboratory services.

As the largest tile and stone-only testing facility in the U.S., TCNA’s Product Performance Testing Laboratory offers confidential product and performance testing conducted in a state-of-the-art laboratory. The TCNA lab offers a wide range of tile, dimension stone, and installation materials testing per ASTM, ANSI and ISO standards and can also provide custom testing services. Larger-scale testing and research can be conducted in our pilot plant facility and via partnerships with the National Brick Research Center and Clemson University.