Flowood, Ms. -- The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) announced changes to the language used in AVITRU (formerly ARCOM) MasterSpec. MasterSpec is a resource for producing specifications, produced by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). It is widely used throughout the building design professions and provides generic specifications that can be customized for particular projects, along with additional guidance on each section. The generic specification language is enormously influential in the construction industry because it represents a “default” position for the architect/designer, which then becomes part of the project documents.
Following the 2013 introduction of Installer Qualifications Language in the Tiling sections of MasterSpec, MasterSpec made amendments to include language on the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT), effective as of June 1, 2018.
“We were honored to participate in this effort”, said Bart Bettiga, executive director of the NTCA. “Thanks to the leadership of the International Masonry Institute (IMI), and in particular the efforts of Scott Conwell, our persistence paid off. This was yet another driving force in our continued efforts to have qualified labor specified to install tile.”
The addition to the ceramic, glass, stone, and chemical-resistant tiling sections addresses quality assurance in the installation of tile, a provision tagged as optional for the specifier to include as a project requirement.
“The introduction of the ACT certification language in MasterSpec signifies the design industry’s focus on qualified labor,” said Scott Conwell, director of industry development and technical service for the IMI. “This is a victory for the tile industry. The requirement for qualified labor, and specifically for ACT-certified installers, will effectively eliminate unqualified contractors from bidding tile projects that carry this requirement, and will direct more work to signatory tile contractors.”
Bettiga added, “The new language in MasterSpec will call for ACT Skills to be specified, which we hope manufacturers, distributors and contractors will put an emphasis on as well. Our contractors need to embrace the certification and training and the manufacturers and suppliers need to support it.”
For more information, visit www.tile-assn.com.
