I.1.4 PORCELAIN TILE

See charts in the Interior portion of Section 8 for locations and instances where porcelain tile is an acceptable flooring material.  All tile floors shall have tile base.  Tiles are excellent for durability and low maintenance.  Minimize using tile with smooth glossy finishes for floors, as they tend to be very slippery.  Instead, they may be used as an accent tile in limited quantities.  Provide 5% minimum overstock for future modifications.

I.1.4.1 Sizes

Use large tiles where possible to limit grout lines for easier maintenance.  However, maximum size should be 8” x 8” because of potential for building movement.  Smaller tiles will tend to be easier to replace if needed.

I.1.4.2 Finish Texture

Interior tile finish texture should not be too rough.  This creates cleaning problems and shall be avoided.  Do not use a tile with grooves or ridges that are too deep.  Dirt becomes trapped, making cleaning difficult.  Make sure all tiles used in wet areas, or at entrances that can be wet, meet the proper slip resistance for the use.

I.1.4.3 Meet ADA and OSHA

All tiles used in flooring applications shall be slip resistant:

 0.50 COF for walkway surfaces.

I.1.4.4 Grout

Select colors that will hide dirt the best for the tile selected.  The grout will always darken with use.  The grout line should be smallest as possible to avoid staining and fallout of grout material over time.  Sealing grout after curing is recommended for easier maintenance.

1.1 flooring