ANSI A137.3—2017 and A108.19—2020
American National Standard Specifications
for Gauged Porcelain Tile and Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs
(Material and Installation Standards): Release date April 2020

American National Standard Specification A137.3 describes the minimum physical properties and grading procedures for gauged porcelain tiles and gauged porcelain tile panels/slabs. It provides quality criteria for buyers, specifiers, installers, manufacturers, and the public in general. ”Gauged” means manufactured to a thickness that is specific and largely associated with installation and use. Tile panels/slabs are those that are one square meter in facial area or larger. Some of the key issues addressed by this standard are:

• Floor, wall, and countertop strength criteria for “Table 4” gauged products that have a declared nominal thickness within the range of 5.0 to 6.5 mm
• Wall and countertop strength criteria for “Table 5” gauged products that have a declared nominal thickness within the range of 3.5 to 4.9 mm
• Thickness accuracy and precision criteria
• Provisions for sampling and visual inspection, considering tile panels/slabs can be very large
• Provisions for gauged products with back layer reinforcing

American National Standard A108.19 provides procedures and requirements for interior installation of gauged porcelain tiles and gauged porcelain tile panels/slabs. These products require unique installation and workmanship considerations, and some of the key issues addressed by this standard addresses include:

• Floor and wall installation procedures for ANSI A137.3 “Table 4” gauged products
• Wall installation procedures for ANSI A137.3 “Table 5” gauged products
• Substrate requirements
• Lippage criteria and use of lippage control systems
• Unique coverage criteria and evaluation procedures
• Special floor setting provisions that involve embedding by walking