Three chapters of the Marble Institute of America's (MIA) Dimension Stone Design Manual (DSDM) have been reviewed and updated by the MIA technical department, and are now available to the industry and to the design community.

Three chapters of the MIA’s Dimension Stone Design Manual (DSDM) have been reviewed and updated by the MIA technical department, and are now available to the industry and to the design community as Dimension Stone Design Manual Version 7.1.

The MIA’s Technical Committee updated the manual’s chapters on general installations, horizontal surfaces, and vertical surfaces. The new standards in Version 7.1 offer:

• Improved clarification of tile setting methods with references to ANSI/TCNA documents
• Revised section of suitable backing materials
• Expanded section of mortar types
• Updated Reference List for TCNA methods application to natural stone
• Clarification of required conditioning for concrete substrate floors
• Updated discussion of anchorage metallurgy
• Recommendations for currency of test data
• Updated Graphics in all sections

“Our goal is to keep the MIA design manual current, relevant, and trusted by the design community. This means periodic updates, revisions and additions rather than re-writing and re-issuing the entire manual,” said Chuck Muehlbauer, MIA technical director. “Another benefit of these periodic updates is one of economics. Design professionals do not have to order or download a complete manual to keep current, just the revised chapters.”

The Dimension Stone Design Manual includes sections on granite, marble, limestone, serpentine, soapstone, travertine, quartz-based stone and slate with product descriptions and technical data; general installation guidelines; guidelines and typical detailing for horizontal surfaces, vertical surfaces, wet areas, furniture and countertops; maintenance of exterior and interior stone installations; and a glossary of terms relating to dimension stone.

For further information, go to www.marble-institute.com and click on the “Bookstore” option to order or to download (Technical Standards Downloadable Documents).