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Simply stated, a warped tile is a tile that is not flat. In the laboratory, we measure warpage following the test method ASTM C485, Test Method for Measuring Warpage of Ceramic Tile, which defines warpage more precisely as the curvature of a tile measured as the deviation of the tile surface from a true plane along the edges or the diagonals. This important measurement is one factor that can make a difference between a beautiful installation and one riddled with lippage issues.

Over the years, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established documents which have been used in many sustainability standardization initiatives. In particular, standards like ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 50001 (energy management) have been commonly referenced by manufacturers, certifiers, and standards developers in the development of sustainable operations criteria. These standards, when used in conjunction with other ISO standards such as the ISO 14020 series (environmental labels and declarations) and the ISO 14040 series (lifecycle assessment), have provided a valuable framework by which many all-encompassing sustainable product standards have been developed.

Earlier this year, USGBC announced a total footprint of 2 billion square feet in LEED certified projects, and an additional 7 billion square feeet of registered in-process LEED projects. As LEED’s profound marketplace influence continues to strengthen, many are wondering what new drivers will soon be introduced by USGBC and what impact these may have on the tile industry.

In 2009 President Obama issued Executive Order 13514 for Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. This order required the Federal government to demonstrate leadership in the use of sustainable technologies and environmentally preferable materials, goods and services.

With the launching of Green Squared^® earlier this year, our industry has set sail and is ready to conquer new and exciting opportunities in the sustainability marketplace. With hundreds of products already certified and a warm reception by the A&D community thus far, the program is on course and running with great momentum. So, where are we with Green Squared today and what can be expected as we move through the second half of 2012 and into 2013 and beyond?