STONE –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Standards and specifications for stone products When is appropriate to use natu- ral stone on a project? Many of you are familiar with the TCNA Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation that offers many methods, standards and approved installation methods for both tile and stone. There are other standards and specifications that A&D profession- als as well as tile and stone contrac- tors would do well to consult when clients are considering stone for a job. Following are excerpts from the “Standards and Specifications for Stone Products” document, original- ly published in the Dimension Stone Design Manual, Version VIII (May 2016), pro- duced and published by the Natural Stone Institute, in Oberlin, Ohio. The document begins by list- ing all the standards organiza- tions, which will be abbreviat- ed here with phone and URL in the interest of space. It then explains the impor- tance of these standards and how and when they apply, as well as an exploration of the function of the organiza- tion and the standards that it provides. It ends with a listing of ASTM standards and specifi- cations that are essential refer- ences for specific materials, tests and other factors that affect stone specification. For detailed information on stone, including additional docu- ments on selecting, working with, and installing natural stone, visit the Natural Stone Institute, www. naturalstoneinstitute.org. Photo courtesy of Continental Cut Stone 74 TileLetter | July 2019