Section 09-200

CERAMIC TILES
Part 1: General
1/1 Section includes:
A. Ceramic and tiles for walls and/or floors as indicated on Drawings.
B. Miscellaneous materials including tile adhesive, grout, and sealants.
1/2 References
A. SASO Saudi Arabian Standards Organization

SASO 142
Physical and Mechanical Testing Methods of Portland Cement
SASO 143
Portland Cement, Ordinary and Rapid-Hardening
SASO 1030
Methods of Test for Cement Tiles
SASO 1031 Ceramic Tiles

B. ANSI American National Standards Institute

A 108.1
Installation of Glazed Wall Tiles
A 108.4 Ceramic Tiles Installed with Water-Resistant Organic Adhesives
A 118.1 Dry-Set Portland Cement Mortar
A 118.2 Conductive Dry-Set Portland Cement Mortar

A 118.3 Chemical-Resistant, Water Cleanable Tile Setting and Grouting Epoxy

A 118.6 Ceramic Tile Grouts

E 136.1 Organic Adhesive for Installation of Ceramic Tiles

A 137.1
Standard Specification for Ceramic Tiles
C. ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

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 ASTM C 150 Specification for Portland Cement

ASTM C 206 Standard Specification for Hydrated Lime for Finishes.

D. TCA Tile Council of North America

TCA 137.1 Standard Specification for ceramic tiles

TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation

1/3 Submissions
A. Complete set of samples of manufacturer's standard products for color selection.
B. Certification from manufacturer of tile certifying the following:
 Materials provided are suitable for intended use.
 Materials meet or exceed appropriate ANSI or SASO Standard.
C. Tile manufacturer's complete installation instructions.
D. Shop drawing layout showing the tile arrangements.

1/4 Transport, Handling and Storage

A. Deliver materials in containers with labels legible and intact and grade-seals unbroken. Store
material so as to prevent damage or contamination.

1/5 Quality Assurance

A. Variation in plane of sub-floor, including concrete fills: Not more than 6 mm in 3 meters from
required elevation where portland cement mortar setting bed is used and not more than 3 mm in
3 meters where dry-set portland cement, and latex-portland cement mortar setting beds and
chemical resistant bond coats are used.
B. Variation in plane of wall surfaces and surface of scratch coat: Not more than 6 mm in 2.40
meters from the required plane where portland cement mortar setting bed is used and not more
than 3 mm in 2.40 meters where dry-set or latex-portland cement mortar or organic adhesive
setting materials are used.

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Part (2): Products
2/1 Ceramic Tiles

A. General
1. Ceramic tiles shall have a standard grade quality in accordance with the Grade
Specifications of ANSI A137.1 or DIN 18166 or BS 1286.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, minimum requirements for ceramic wall and floor tiles shall
be Grade-1, best quality glazed tiles, 6 mm thick for walls,8 mm thick for internal floors
and 10 mm thick for external floors.
3. Accessories: Provide the necessary manufacturer's standard trims and half pieces required
for the complete installation.
4. Tile Manufacturer, Selection and Size: Ceramic tiles selection and size as shown on
Drawings; color and pattern shall be as indicated on Drawings and as approved by the
Engineer.

2/2 Walls and Floors Ceramic

A. Description: Provide glazed ceramic tiles for walls and glazed, non-slip, ceramic tiles for floors.
The tiles shall be fully-fired vitrified clay from selected raw materials to the most rigorous quality
control standards.
B. Technical Characteristics
Water absorption: 0-2.0%
Density: 2.25-2.35 g/cm³
Bending strength: 300-350 kg/cm³
Glazed surface hardness: 6-9 (mohs)

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2/3 Miscellaneous Materials
A. General
1. Mortar and Grout Materials: Conform to ANSI A108.1 and A108.2. Mixture of
Portland Cement: Sand for floors shall be roughly in proportions of 1 : 6, and
for walls shall be Portland Cement : Sand : Hydrated Lime roughly in proportions
ranging from 1:5:1/2 to 1: 7: 1.
2. Color Pigment: Manufacturer's standard mineral oxides, unaffected by lime cement or
weathering. Use only when required for selected grout color. Color shall be as selected
and approved by the Engineer.
B. Setting Mortar: Portland cement and sand mixed with liquid latex mortar additive to form high
strength thin set mortars with chemical and shock resistance properties. Setting mortar
composition and mix shall be as recommended by the manufacturer.
C. Organic adhesive Materials: As recommended by the manufacturer for areas requiring
prolonged water resistance, shall be type 1, ANSI A 136.1.
D. Grouting material: Latex-portland-cement, ready-mixed and as recommended by the ceramic
tile manufacturer.
E. Sealants: Elastomeric type, in conformance with the requirements specified in Section 07900 -
SEALANTS.

Part (3) - Execution

3/1 General
A. Installation of floor and wall tiles shall comply with the requirement of ANSI A108.1 through
A108.6 and the TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation, unless otherwise indicated.
B. Protection and Curing:
1. Spaces in which tile is being set shall be closed to traffic and other work. Keep closed
until tile is firmly set. Protect tile from damage.

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 2. Damp cure for at least 3 days; add dampness as needed to achieve a hard cure.
C. Jointing Pattern:
1. Unless otherwise shown, lay tile in grid pattern. Align joints when adjoining tiles on floor,
base, walls and trim are the same size. layout tile work and center tile fields both directions
in each space or on each wall area. Adjust as necessary to avoid use of widths less than
1/2 tile at edge of walls. Provide uniform joints, not less than 5 mm and not more than
7 mm unless otherwise shown.

3/2 Installation of Wall Tiles

A. Mortar Setting on Masonry Substrate
1. Tiles shall be installed over masonry substrate with portland cement mortar in accordance
with ANSI A108.1.
2. Finished mortar bed shall have a minimum thickness of 19 mm.
B. Wall Tiles Setting:
1. Tiles shall not be soaked prior to installation.
2. Tiles shall be pressed firmly into freshly notched mortar and shall be tapped and beaten to a
true surface.
3. Joint width shall be determined by spacers on tile or by strings or pegs if tile without
spacers are used.
4. Tiles shall be pressed and beaten into place to obtain at least 80 percent coverage by
mortar on back of tile, except for areas with prolonged contact with water where coverage
must be 100 percent.
5. Tiles shall be adjusted before initial set of mortar takes place.
C. Grouting Wall Tiles: Grouting shall be in strict accordance with the manufacturer's
recommendations and shall be cured as required to produce a hard grout.

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3/3 Sealing
A. At all points where ceramic tiles abuts other materials, polyethylene sheeting shall be installed as
a waterproof cleavage membrane.
B. After tiles has set and cured, cleavage membrane shall be carefully cut out and joint shall be sealed.

3/4 Cleaning and Protection

A. Upon completion of placement and grouting, all ceramic tiles surfaces shall be cleaned free
of foreign matter.
1. Glazed tiles surfaces shall be sponged and washed thoroughly joints and finally polished
with clean, dry clothes.
B. Unglazed tiles may be cleaned with cleaners and/or solvents recommended by tile
manufacturer after completion of installation. Protect metal surfaces, cast iron and vitreous
plumbing fixtures from effects of cleaning materials. Flush surfaces with clean water before
and after cleaning.
C. Finished installation shall be maintained clean and free of cracked, chipped, broken,
unbounded or otherwise defective tile work.
D. Apply a protective clear sealer coat(s) for unglazed tiles. Number of coats shall be as
recommended by manufacturer. Protect installed tile work with Kraft paper or other heavy
covering during the construction period to prevent damage.
E. Before final inspection, remove protective coverings and rinse neutral cleaner from tile
surfaces.
F. Seal plumbing and electrical penetrations through wall tile as specified in Section 07900 -
SEALANTS.

END OF SECTION

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