Category: Industry News
Published by: MosaicPeel Technical Team
Last Updated: 2026
Reviewed by: MosaicPeel Quality Assurance Department
Editorial note: ANSI and TCNA standards are revised periodically by their respective governing bodies. The general update process and categories described below reflect how these revisions typically work — always confirm the current, official version of any specific standard directly through ANSI or the TCNA Handbook before relying on it for a project specification, since this article cannot substitute for checking the current official publication.
Quick Answer
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and TCNA (Tile Council of North America) periodically revise the standards governing tile classification, testing methodology, and installation practice — covering areas like water absorption classification (ANSI A137.1), slip resistance testing (ANSI A326.3), and installation methods (the TCNA Handbook). Architects, specifiers, and contractors working from older project specifications or training should periodically confirm their reference documents reflect the current standard revision, since requirements and testing methodologies can change in ways that affect compliance on active or upcoming projects. How to stay current is detailed below.
Table of Contents
- What Changed in the Latest Revision
- Why the Update Matters
- Impact on Existing Specifications
- How to Update Your Project Specs
- MosaicPeel’s Compliance Status
- FAQ
What Changed in the Latest Revision
Rather than cite specific revision details here — which are genuinely at risk of being superseded by the time you’re reading this article — we recommend confirming the current status of key standards directly:
- ANSI A137.1 (ceramic tile classification, including water absorption tiers) — confirm current version through ANSI’s official publication channels
- ANSI A326.3 (DCOF testing methodology) — confirm current testing protocol and any updated minimum thresholds
- TCNA Handbook (installation methods, including shower waterproofing under Method B422 and movement joint guidance under EJ171) — the TCNA Handbook is republished periodically with method updates reflecting current industry best practice
Standards bodies typically publish summary change logs alongside a new revision specifically to help industry professionals identify what has changed without re-reading an entire standard from scratch — this is generally the most efficient way to confirm whether a specific project-relevant requirement has shifted.
Why the Update Matters
Standards revisions aren’t made arbitrarily — they typically reflect either advances in testing methodology (a more accurate or reliable way of measuring the same underlying property), field-identified gaps in previous installation guidance, or new material categories that didn’t exist or weren’t adequately addressed when a prior version was published. A specification written against an outdated standard can create a genuine compliance gap on a current project, even if the underlying design intent hasn’t changed at all.
This matters most acutely for:
– Architects and specifiers maintaining template specifications reused across multiple projects, where an outdated reference can propagate across an entire portfolio of work if not periodically refreshed
– Contractors and installers relying on training or reference materials that may predate a relevant methodology update
– Importers and manufacturers whose product testing and documentation should reflect current testing standards, not a legacy protocol
Impact on Existing Specifications
If you’re working from a specification document written some time ago, it’s worth periodically confirming:
- Whether the cited ANSI or TCNA reference numbers are still current, or have been superseded by a renumbered or revised standard
- Whether any specific numerical thresholds referenced (DCOF minimums, water absorption classifications) match the currently published standard
- Whether the installation methods referenced (for waterproofing, movement joints, or substrate preparation) reflect the current TCNA Handbook edition
This is a reasonable periodic maintenance task for any firm maintaining reusable specification templates, not a sign that prior work was done incorrectly — standards genuinely do evolve, and staying current is an ordinary part of professional practice in this field.
How to Update Your Project Specs
- Identify every ANSI, ASTM, or TCNA reference in your current template specification documents
- Confirm each reference against the current official publication from the respective standards body
- Update any superseded reference numbers or changed numerical thresholds
- Note the revision date checked, so future reviews have a clear baseline to work from
MosaicPeel’s Compliance Status
MosaicPeel’s technical documentation and product testing are maintained against current ANSI and relevant international standards for our commercial and export product lines. If you need current compliance documentation for a specific product referencing a specific standard, our technical team can provide up-to-date test data and certification documentation on request — see our Mosaic Tile Quality Certifications guide for the full framework on what documentation to request.
FAQ
Has the DCOF testing standard changed recently?
ANSI A326.3 governs DCOF testing methodology and, like other ANSI standards, is subject to periodic revision. Confirm the current version and any associated threshold updates directly through ANSI’s official publication rather than relying on a prior reference.
Do I need to update old project specs for new ANSI revisions?
For active or upcoming projects, yes — it’s good practice to confirm your specification documents reference current standards, since compliance is generally evaluated against the standard in effect at time of construction or installation, not the standard that was current when a template was originally written.
Are MosaicPeel products compliant with the latest standards?
Our commercial and export product lines are tested and documented against current relevant ANSI and international standards. Contact our technical team for current compliance documentation for a specific product.
This article describes the general process and importance of staying current with ANSI and TCNA standard revisions. It does not represent current specific standard content, which should always be confirmed directly through ANSI, ASTM, or TCNA’s official publications. Reviewed periodically.
Related reading from MosaicPeel:
– Mosaic Tile Quality Certifications: What Every Importer Should Verify
– DCOF and Slip Resistance: What Importers Need to Know
– Mosaic Tile Water Absorption Ratings Explained
– Waterproofing for Mosaic Tile Installations: A Membrane Guide
– Download Updated Compliance Documentation