Ceramic Tile Deflection Limits

Until recently the tile council had specified a standard for ceramic tile only based on using test equipment that was intended to limit deflection of floor sheathing.

Ceramic tile deflection limits.

Tile industry associations recommend special total load deflection limits the following tables list the components and weights of typical floor systems along with the deflection limits that apply. The tile council of america recommends that deflection be limited to l 360 l span length in inches under total load for ceramic tile. And since it is small i will leave the source for where it is found here 1. These deflection limits apply both to the framing supporting the substrate and to the substrate itself for example when a concentrated load is applied between joists.

Whether you are installing stone or ceramic tile over floors and walls there s one thing to consider. So if you have a beam 20ft long the allowable deflection limit is 20ftx12in ft 240 1. Some large natural stone tiles that aren t as uniformly strong as ceramic tile may require an even stiffer structure. The l stands for length.

However the limit of span 360 was often misunderstood as the same limit for framing members specified by the building code. Mia suggest in their standards to use a stricter total load deflection limit of l 720 where stone tiles are used. The subfloor areas over which stone tile is to be applied must be designed to have a deflection not exceeding l 720 of the span. Please read everything on the attached photo below.

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