NEWS

(ALEXANDRIA, VA—APRIL 30, 2012)—Attendance at Coverings 2012 was up by 19 percent over last year’s show, with registration totaling over 22,000. This year’s tile and stone expo, having returned last month to Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center, put the brakes on what had been a decline experienced over the past three years in the wake of a global economic downturn. Helping to hit this year’s increased number was a huge spike in attendance among architects and designers, which climbed 84 percent. With Coverings next scheduled for Atlanta, April 29 to May 2, 2013, at the Georgia World Congress Center—its first time in that city—optimism abounds for another benchmark year amid what’s known to be a robust regional community of architects and designers.

The standard on which the Green Squared^® certification program is based, ANSI A138.1, is divided into five sections, the first of which was reviewed in our last blog entry. The second section, Environmental Product Manufacturing and Raw Material Extraction, standardizes sustainable production practices.

(ORLANDO, FL—APRIL 23, 2012)—There was plenty of wow factor plus creative, inspiring ideas imparted among the four Coverings 2012 exhibitors who were named to receive this year’s Best in Show booth awards. The judges conferred the honors during day three of the four-day annual tile and stone conference at the Orange County Convention Center.

(ORLANDO, FL— APRIL 20, 2012)—A dozen design projects from across the country were recognized yesterday with the first Coverings Installation & Design Awards. A total of $10,000 in prize money was handed out to winners. The honors acknowledge the superior installation of tile or stone and how that skillfulness impacts the level of aesthetics and contributes to the interpretation of a distinctive design vision. The top awards in this competition went to Santa Barbara-based Dan Upton Construction and Jeff Shelton Architect, who each received the Grand Prize in the commercial category; and, in the residential division to RJH Tile and Stone of Holly, MI, and longtime collaborator and tile designer, David Ellison of St. Claire Shores, MI. A $1,000 cash prize was presented to each of the Grand Prize honorees.

From its five founding members, TCNA – Mexico’s membership has grown to 36 companies supporting Tile Council projects in Mexico. This total includes 11 tile manufacturers (representing 98% of the tile manufactured in Mexico), 11 associate installation materials members, and 14 associate raw material supplier members.

(ORLANDO, FL— APRIL 18, 2012)—Strong attendance and a full menu of activities both on the show floor and in conference rooms at the Orange County Convention Center here marked Day One of Coverings 2012. According to management for the annual international super show of tile and stone, in the first day alone attendance already was up 5% from its 2010 level when Coverings made its last appearance in Orlando.

Tile Council of North America (TCNA) presented its prestigious Tile Person of the Year award to Mr. John Bruce at Coverings 2012 in Orlando, FL.

Tile Council of North America (TCNA), is pleased to announce there will soon be a new standard for coefficient of friction (COF) testing on tile.

The DCOF AcuTest^® method will soon replace ASTM C1028 as the specified method for COF testing. DCOF AcuTest is a more repeatable and reproducible method that gives a better indication of actual slip potential on a tile surface.

Tile Council of North America (TCNA) is pleased to announce the availability of the world’s first standard for glass tile, ANSI A137.2 American National Standard Specifications for Glass Tile.