CLEVELAND, OH - Three chapters of the Marble Institute of America’s (MIA) Dimension Stone Design Manual (DSDM) have been comprehensively reviewed and updated by the MIA technical department. It was made available to the industry and to the design community as Dimension Stone Design Manual Version 7.1 on January 1, 2010.

Working for over two years, the industry professionals serving on the MIA Technical Committee reached broad consensus and have 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,” said Chuck Muehlbauer, MIA Technical Director. “This means periodic updates, revisions and additions rather than re-writing and re-issuing the entire manual. 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 DSDM is the stone industry’s single-source reference for dimensional stone design and construction facts and details. Contents include 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 dimensional 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).