CTI Industry Standards & Code Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does TCNA stand for in the tile installation industry?
- Tile Contractors of North America
- Tile Council of North America (Correct answer)
- Technical Ceramic and Natural stone Association
- Tile Certification and Notarization Authority
Correct answer: Tile Council of North America
TCNA stands for Tile Council of North America, the primary organization that publishes the industry-standard Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation.
Question 2: The ANSI A108 series of standards primarily covers which aspect of tile installation?
- Tile manufacturing tolerances and color matching
- Tile installation methods and material performance (Correct answer)
- Grout color specifications and mixing ratios
- Tile pricing and bidding guidelines
Correct answer: Tile installation methods and material performance
The ANSI A108 series covers tile installation methods and material performance requirements, providing the technical specifications installers must follow.
Question 3: Which organization co-develops and publishes the ANSI A108 series of tile installation standards?
- American Tile Institute (ATI)
- National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA)
- Tile Council of North America (TCNA) (Correct answer)
- American Society of Tile Installers (ASTI)
Correct answer: Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
TCNA (Tile Council of North America) co-develops the ANSI A108 standards and publishes them alongside its installation Handbook.
Question 4: ANSI A118.4 specifies requirements for which type of tile setting material?
- Epoxy grout systems
- Latex-portland cement mortar (Correct answer)
- Dry-set (unmodified) mortar
- Organic adhesive (mastic)
Correct answer: Latex-portland cement mortar
ANSI A118.4 covers latex-portland cement mortar, specifying its minimum performance requirements for bonding tile to substrates.
Question 5: The NTCA Reference Manual is primarily used by tile contractors for which purpose?
- Tax and business compliance for tile contracting companies
- Troubleshooting and resolving tile installation problems in the field (Correct answer)
- Specifying tile colors and patterns for design projects
- Training apprentices in basic hand-tool operation
Correct answer: Troubleshooting and resolving tile installation problems in the field
The NTCA Reference Manual is a field troubleshooting guide that helps tile contractors diagnose and resolve installation failures and disputes.
Question 6: According to ANSI A118.1, what minimum tensile bond strength (in PSI) must dry-set portland cement mortar achieve after curing?
- 50 PSI
- 100 PSI
- 200 PSI (Correct answer)
- 350 PSI
Correct answer: 200 PSI
ANSI A118.1 requires dry-set portland cement mortar to achieve a minimum tensile bond strength of 200 PSI after the specified curing period.
Question 7: ANSI A136.1 establishes performance requirements for which type of tile installation material?
- Epoxy-based adhesives for wet areas
- Organic adhesives (mastics) for interior tile installation (Correct answer)
- Cement-based grouts for floor tile
- Latex additives for mortar modification
Correct answer: Organic adhesives (mastics) for interior tile installation
ANSI A136.1 covers organic adhesives (mastics) used for interior tile installation, specifying their shear bond strength and other performance properties.
CTI Industry Standards & Code Compliance 1
What does TCNA stand for in the tile installation industry?