Guest Blog Post by: International Product Assurance Laboratories
As Coverings 2026 approaches, exhibitors are finalizing booth designs, shipping samples and preparing sales teams for four high-impact days on the show floor. But there’s one critical step that’s often overlooked in the rush to get show-ready: confirming your ceramic tile products are third-party tested and compliant with U.S. industry standards.
Ensuring compliance before you arrive in Las Vegas can protect your brand, strengthen customer conversations and prevent costly surprises.
Why Testing Now Is Essential
Specifiers, distributors, retailers and installers come prepared with technical questions—and they expect clear, verifiable answers. Completing product testing ahead of the show:
- Confirms your products perform as intended
- Validates technical claims with verified data
- Prevents last-minute compliance issues or delays
- Strengthens conversations with specifiers and commercial buyers
- Demonstrates your commitment to quality and transparency
When your team can confidently reference third-party test results, it elevates credibility and builds trust on the spot.
ANSI A137.1: The U.S. Standard That Matters
In the United States, the ceramic tile industry relies on ANSI A137.1 for product performance requirements. While some manufacturers test to ISO 13006, ISO alone does not replace ANSI compliance in the U.S. market.
Products tested only to ISO standards may not meet key U.S. requirements. This gap can lead to:
- Rejected submittals
- Specification conflicts
- Warranty claims
- Supply chain confusion
Commercial project specifications, distributors and design professionals expect ANSI compliance. If you’re marketing tile in the U.S., aligning with ANSI A137.1 is essential.
PTCA Certification: Protecting Porcelain Integrity
If your product is marketed as porcelain, Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA) certification provides critical third-party verification. PTCA certification confirms that porcelain tile meets the strict water absorption threshold of 0.5% or less, as required by industry standards. This independent validation:
- Differentiates compliant porcelain from non-compliant products
- Provides clarity to distributors and specifiers
- Reduces confusion in the marketplace
- Protects your brand reputation
In an increasingly competitive environment, verified certification signals professionalism and accountability.
Partner with IPA Labs to Get Show-Ready
With Coverings 2026 quickly approaching, now is the ideal time to confirm your products are compliant and certified.
IPA Labs provides independent testing services for ceramic tile products, including ANSI A137.1 compliance testing and PTCA certification support. Their expertise helps manufacturers navigate U.S. requirements efficiently and confidently, ensuring products meet performance standards before they reach the show floor.
Make compliance part of your show strategy. With proper testing and certification in place, your team can focus on what matters most at Coverings.