Ceramic Tile Adhesive

January 4, 2011

Linda Davisson

Senior Sustainability Strategist
Jacobs Engineering

LEEDuser Premium Member

225 thumbs up

January 4, 2011

Can someone clarify what LEED considers a ceramic tile adhesive? Latex Portland cement mortar? Epoxy grout? In my expericne both are typically low-emitting products, so I am unclear what we should be including in the documentation. Thanks.

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Reinhard Oppl

Independent consultant on VOC issues
formerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S

LEEDuser Basic Member

329 thumbs up

January 5, 2011 - 2:56 am

Ceramic tiles adhesives are listed with limit value 50 g/l. Cements and mortars, if used for similar purpose, I would handle with same limit value.

Linda Davisson

Senior Sustainability Strategist
Jacobs Engineering

LEEDuser Premium Member

225 thumbs up

January 5, 2011 - 6:56 am

Thanks Reinhard. I understand the VOC limit, but what I am asking about is what in the tile assembly / installation is considered tile adhesive? is it that the latex mortar and epoxy grout need to comply? or it is some other component? thanks for your assistance.

Josh Jacobs

Technical Information & Public Affairs Manager
UL Environment

LEEDuser Basic Member

515 thumbs up

January 5, 2011 - 8:00 am

All adhesives and sealants that are utilized inside the weather barrier must comply so I would ensure that anything that is utilized to adhere the tile to the surface be low voc. In our past experience this has included grout and mortar.

Reinhard Oppl

Independent consultant on VOC issues
formerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S

LEEDuser Basic Member

329 thumbs up

January 5, 2011 - 8:16 am

Thank you Josh, I could not have said it better.

Petra Hajná

Sustainability Consultant
Skanska Czech Republic

LEEDuser Basic Member

189 thumbs up

February 13, 2012 - 6:18 am

In form for IEQc4.3 there is a category listed "mortar/grout" and its limit is 250 g/L. It has been noted somewhere in the forums but I cannot recall where I saw it.
Petr