Every year, hundreds of Coverings attendees visit TCNA’s booth in the North American Pavilion to pick up a complimentary copy of the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation. This year TCNA is especially proud to offer the newly released 2013 Handbook, which is the 50th anniversary edition of the most widely used and referenced specification and installation guidelines for ceramic tile.

Those who attend Coverings this year will receive a digital copy of the 2013 Handbook containing revisions approved in 2012 by the TCNA Handbook Committee. These revisions include:

• New informational sections on concrete flatness requirements, reduced thickness porcelain tiles (“thin tiles”), and ventilated facades
• New requirements for waterproof membranes on walls in continuous use steam showers
• An updated Green Building Standards and Green Product Selection Guide, reflecting the new and improved benefits using ceramic tile offers construction design professionals working on green projects, and the adoption of Green Squared®, the tile industry’s multi-attribute sustainability standard for ceramic tile, glass tile, and installation materials (mortars, grouts, etc.)
• An updated Glass Tile Selection and Installation Guide, reflecting the recent passage of the ANSI A137.2 glass tile standard
• An updated Ceramic Tile Selection Guide, reflecting the recent changes to coefficient of friction (COF) standards
• A new method (F136) for installing floor tile over concrete, incorporating a bonded sound reduction membrane
• Four new methods for installing tubs and showers with “one coat” mortar bed walls (B440, B440 Stone, B441, and B441 Stone)

The 2013 Handbook also includes three full color inserts. The 2013 TCNA Tile Initiative contains articles explaining Handbook changes, a special bulletin on changes to COF standards, and an update on tile and sustainability. A separate eight-page insert entitled “Tile…the Natural Choice” contains information on sustainability, including a quick reference guide to the points and credits awarded by green building standards for using tile. The CTEF Contractor Directory includes the latest list of tile contractors with certified tile installers (CTIs).

Coverings attendees are encouraged to stop by TCNA’s booth (#7141) for a free digital version of the 2013 TCNA Handbook and to take advantage of the substantial discounts on other Tile Council publications.

For information on ordering copies of the 2013 TCNA Handbook in print, on a CD-ROM, or as a download, please visit www.TCNAtile.com, or call TCNA at 864-646-8453.