In the late 1990's, several concrete tile
manufacturers met to form an organization now known as the CTMA. This
was the first time any of them had met or even talked about their mutual
goals. Their fundamental main purposed was summed up in their Mission
Statement stated above. A Steering Committee was formed to direct the
CTMA from the original four concrete tile manufacturers who have met monthly
since they originally organized. After a great deal of discussion, they
establish six major basic goals.
I- Expand the membership of the CTMA through the addition of ‘Associate
Members’ consisting of well respected allied product manufacturers.
II- Develop a vehicle to promote the use of concrete tiles to the building
industry. That resulted in the development of a newsletter, now known
as Concrete Tile tales! Originally conceived as a four-page black &
white newsletter, thanks to financial assistance of the Portland Cement
Association’s CCPC, the first issue was expanded to six pages
in full color.
III- This required a comprehensive mailing list (now approximately
7,000) of selected masonry and tile dealers and contractors, architects
and building officials in California and Nevada.
IV- Develop a rapport with both the ceramic tile and the masonry industries,
providing installation standards and specifications that were suited
for both segments of the construction industry.
V- Locally, concrete tiles both as individual products or when installed
have been judged by the standards for ceramic tiles (ANSI and TCA).
While some standards would apply, the majority would not function as
reasonable standards for concrete tiles. Working closely with Smith-Emery
Laboratories and Associate members, we now have a complete set of specifications.
VI- Due to the tarnished image of concrete tiles during the last several
decades, in addition to the above five goals there was an urgent need
to establish unquestioned credibility. This led to the development of
CTMA’s Q-Tile Assurance program (Quality-Tile). This is similar
to the Q-Block program of the CMA, with Smith-Emery random testing for
both programs.
CTMA, P.O. BOX 6225, Buena Park, CA 90622
Ph.: (800) 970-CTMA (2862) ? Fax: (714) 535-0791
Http: //www.concretetile.org
Concrete Tile Manufacturers Associations