Tile Today #119

119

FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

SILICOSIS: WHAT HAPPENS NOW SEALANT AND GROUT GUIDE A VISIT TO SAN PATRIGNANO

TRENDS

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F E AT U R E D P R O D U C T S

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TRADE FAIRS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

119 CONTENTS

INTERNATIONAL MTC 6

International MTC invited a group of its key customers to visit San Patrignano in the hills of Rimini, Italy. The trip turned out to be an uplifting experience for the attendees.

RETAIL FOCUS 10 Airlie Tiles & Design Studio presents an opportunity to

purchase a well-established tile business located in the tropical Whitsundays.

MOSAICS 14 Vidrepur offers numerous advantages with its wide range of

recycled glass mosaics. They are available from Artistic Stone in New South Wales.

SILICOSIS SAFETY 19 In the second part of our series on silicosis, we look at what the

ban on the use of engineered quartz stone in Australia means for the tile industry.

WATERPROOFING 40 WPA 1500 is a decoupling mat and specifically designed for use

in areas where differential movement needs to be mitigated.

PRODUCT FOCUS: GROUT 36 The Spectrum Futura lightweight coloured grout has a formula

that includes recycled glass spheres and super fine sand particles for easier application.

PRODUCT FOCUS: SEALANTS 38 Rockstar Sealing makes a large range of high-performance

sealers and cleaning products for tile and natural stone applications.

SEALANT & GROUT GUIDE 39 Featured suppliers include ACT Australia, Dribond Construction

Chemicals, RLA Polymers and Rockstar Sealing.

WHAT YOU MISSED 55 If you missed any major stories in Tile Today’s e-newsletters,

we provide direct links to them on the website.

Find Tile Today on social media

@tiletodaymagazine @tiletodaymagazine tile-today-magazine

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Australian Tile Council Supporting the tile industry

Become a member today

Member benefits: - Industry support from the Australian Tile Council (ATC)

- Member Benefits programme with exclusive offers

- Technical and Industry related information and support

- Tiling literature, brochures and notices

- Free access to the Tile and Tiling Guide

- Professional recognition as a member of the only recognised national body industry

- Free access to the Tile Reference Manual

For further information visit australiantilecouncil.com.au

FO REWO R D

TILE TODAY Looking back on 2023, I can say that Tile Today remains steadfast on his path to become a comprehensive digital platform for the tile industry. Instead of four quarterly magazines a year, we produced over 12 e-newsletters featuring special editions on the biggest international tile shows and interactive buying guides.

Next year, we have plans to produce even more content, and we thank everyone who has been with us on this journey so far.

In this issue, we turn our attention to silicosis in the second part of our series on this important topic following the ban on the use of engineered quartz stone (EQS) in Australia, starting in mid-July 2024. We also speak to a legal specialist in this area, Victoria Keays from Gordon Legal.

The latest buying guide focuses on sealants and grouts. It works in a similar way to our other waterproofing and adhesives guides.

We have made information on a number of suppliers and their products easily accessible in this edition and on the Tile Today website.

The directory listings groups together the different ranges of sealant and grout products suitable for a task. By clicking on the link in these listings, you can then access a more detailed description of the selected product. From that product page, you can then click on a link which will take you to the online technical sheet provided by the supplier. For tilers, they can access a lot of products in one place to help make an informed decision on their project.

To prepare stories for this issue and the previous edition on Cersaie 2023, I spoke to a few retailers who provided their insights on the current state of the industry and the next 12 months. I came away from those conversations thinking that tile businesses that survive and thrive in this environment are savvy, resilient and very tough. I have a lot of respect for them.

To keep up to date on the latest news and developments in the tile industry, just click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3dJ5EBc Wishing you all the best for the holiday season,

Proudly produced and distributed in Australia ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.tiletodaydigital.com.au www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHERS Georgia Glimour Michelle Cammiade EDITOR Betty Tanddo betty.tanddo@elitepublishing.com.au INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Joe Simpson joe.simpson@elitepublishing.com.au TECHNICAL SPECIALIST Tim Christopher info@consultile.com.au GENERAL MANAGER Georgia Gilmour Georgia.Gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION For circulation enquiries please email: info@elitepublishing.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN Plum Publishing Pty Ltd dave@plumpublishing.com.au

Betty Tanddo

119

FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN TILE COUNCIL

SILICOSIS: WHAT HAPPENS NOW

PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: dave@plumpublishing.com.au

SEALANT AND GROUT GUIDE

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD

A VISIT TO SAN PATRIGNANO

PUBLISHERS OF: Flooring Magazine, TileToday Magazine, and Supplier Magazine.

FRONT COVER IMAGE Spanish brand Apavisa has designed a range of striking floor and wall tiles informed by the appearance of oxidised metal. Called Lamiere, the tile collection is available in blue, green or white and features rusticstyle markings that intend to "capture all the beauty of oxidised metal," according to Apavisa. The range featured in Tile Today’s Cersaie 2023 edition here: https://tiletoday.au/issues/cersaie2023.pdf

Leading the Industry

Endorsed by Australian Tile Council www.australiantilecouncil.com.au

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ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD. All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

Please note: Shade variation is an inherent feature of tile production. The Publisher is not liable for any discrepancy between images published in Tile Today and actual products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=537a4R53YgY

RESIN Mosaics X-SPACE / NERO

MOULD PRODUCTION ENABLES UNIQUE SHAPES

FABRIC / OLD BRONZE

INTRECCIO / WHITE

ROMBI / SILVER

WAVE / NERO

INTERNATIONAL MTC VISITS SAN PATRIGNANO On a 260-hectare area near the town of Rimini, in central Italy, sits Europe's largest rehabilitation community.

San Patrignano is organised like a village where around 800 recovering addicts live, study and work, in bucolic surroundings. It’s also a place where International MTC has hosted a number of its clients.

J

ust before Cersaie 2023 was due to start. International MTC invited a group of its key customers to visit San Patrignano. Managing director Stefano Mammi explains the decision to hold the event at a rehabilitation centre in the following way: “The main reason was to experience something with our clients that is beyond our work relationship, and give them the opportunity to know San Patrignano, a unique place in the world” In fact, the place is a special place for Stefano. He grew up in nearby Sassuolo before moving to Rimini in 2007, where he has done some form of work for 15 years. “When you work or live in Rimini, the connection with San Patrignano is very easy. You hear about them every day. I have always been fascinated with what they were doing. I thought they performed some miracles.”

No doubt a number of his invited guests agreed. As Leonardo (Len) Franco, managing director at Tile Factory Outlet (TFO) told Tile Today: “I thought it was the most unusual event but when I got there, I found it to be a very, very good cause.

“I've seen some in the past … but this had a big difference. People stay there for much longer periods and they produce and grow everything themselves. It's a very big parcel of land where they grow everything, they make cheese, they've got sheep and cows. That's what led me to understand a little bit better how human beings who have been ‘bedazzled’ [by life] can go back to basics and rewind.”

San Patrignano is located just outside Rimini in the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy

In his own way, Len has articulated the fundamentals of San Patrignano. It seems to be a place where people can “re-build” themselves as they recover from their addictions.

Since 1978, it has been providing “guests” with a home, free medical and legal assistance, the possibility of continuing their studies, skills training and having the opportunity to change their life.

Unlike many rehab centres, San Patrignano allows recovering addicts to stay up to three to four years before they're ready to get back to “society integration”. Some university studies indicate 72 per cent remain drug-free for at least two years after completing the program. As Len puts it: “I've actually had experience within my own family with this, and they usually stay about a month and are pushed or rushed through, and they fall back very quickly. But over there, they're there for at least a year to over three years. What a difference.

“The changes, the reprogramming takes quite some time, but the people that we met are quite interesting because when they're in there, they're clean so they're lucid. And you think, what an intelligent person and yet when they fall, they fall.”

These days, San Patrignano treats people with different types of addictions, not just drugs. Len said,

“We spoke to one bloke who was sitting at our table [during lunch], who was an armed robber and had a gambling problem. He told us his story, which was astounding, and he had been there for over a year with at least another year to go. Some people can choose the option of going to the centre instead of jail.”

For Mark Salomone, managing director at Tiles Expo and Tile Empire, he was “blown away” and found the experience at San Patrignano “touching”. He said, “It's a place for the young generation who are really struggling with day-to-day life. They suffer from addictions … some are homeless … it was quite incredible how Sanpat offers wonderful opportunities to these young people who have lost their way in life. They've lost their direction … and I just couldn't believe they can facilitate 800 people.

“They've got such a high success rate of over 70%, and by the time they leave, they have a future because they’re educated there, they're trained there.”

Angelis Tsirbas, general manager of Cerbis Ceramics SA, admitted that he had visited the region before COVID on a previous trip to see a factory with International MTC, but he still didn’t know what to expect. Angelis explains, “It hit you when we sat down and had lunch together, 7

6 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

and trying not to stare because you don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way. I was just trying to absorb it all, and realising it could be one of our children here one day. We don't know what choices they can make in life.

“All these kids [at San Patrignano] are doing the right thing where they or their families are getting them help. From that aspect, it was a shock to the system to realise how many people around the world are actually suffering in different ways.

So it was overwhelming. It was definitely an eyeopener.”

San Patrignano earns its income from the variety of enterprises it has set up to provide those being rehabilitated with job training and a sense of meaning and dignity.

The services and products that it creates are based on a philosophy of self-sufficiency and provide for a significant percentage (about 60-70 per cent) of the requirements of the community.

The remaining funds come from private donations which, in keeping with the community's articles of association, do not originate with the residents or their families.

San Patrignano has also become an identifiable brand, with many of its products available through its website. Mark said: “On the tour we went on, they showed us their cheese manufacturing factory, and the technology and machinery were incredible. The tiles that they put in there were all high-quality premium, porcelain commercial tiles. They also have a winery, and produce their own wine. They sell it on the domestic market and export it as well.”

As a community, it works well because the residents seem to look out for one another and understand what is expected of them. It is managed by a large number of volunteers, as many as 30. Mark made the following observation: “They've got a system, and they share their problems. If one of them perhaps derails, they've got so much support from others to help pick you up. And if they step out of line, for example, for inappropriate behaviour, there's no security ... I could not see any security at all.

“But they understand the rules.

They know that when they go there, they don't have to make a financial

Art work created by International MTC for the San Patrignano visit including a presentation by Italian astronaut Maurizio Cheli

The group hosted by International MTC shared lunch with the residents of San Patrignano in a large dining hall

8 tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #119 7

contribution and it is an opportunity for them. And should they step across the line, they're out.”

Len summarises the feelings about the event. “You could see that they appreciated that somebody from the outside world was taking an interest in what they were doing.

I'm very pleased that I attended.

I understood a hell of a lot more than I did before going there.”

Connections The experience at San Patrignano would not have happened without each person’s relationship with Stefano and International MTC. Angelis said, “I've known Stefano for many, many years. I opened the shop in Adelaide back in 2015, and he was one of my main suppliers.

But I have known Stefano prior to that as well through the family business up in Darwin.”

Len has also known Stefan for at least 10 years but in the past three or four years, International MTC have become the biggest supplier to TFO. He explains, “It's gone ahead in leaps and bounds because although they're agents, they do a lot of things in China, but with Italian designs and Italian control.

“At first, I was hesitant about the price because you pay a bit

more than you do from other suppliers in that area, but the quality, we never have problems.

Believe it or not, people don't care to [about paying] $1, $2 or $3 more, even $5 more.

“Most of our orders are repeat orders. That's how well their product goes. It just performs the way that you'd expect it to so we're very pleased with them.”

Mark has been working with International MTC for about 24 months, and is very complimentary on its R&D. “We've started with MTC with their product coming out of China, and I must say that their R&D is very advanced in regard to Chinese material. Their R&D is right up there in terms of having a feel for the Australian market and its trends.

They're a leader when it comes to R&D in the industry.

“Quality is high, and we've been having a very steady continuity of supply, so the supply chain has been working very smoothly from our side,” he said.

Both Len and Angelis agree that it is beneficial for Stefano to be based in Sydney. “They understand what's required here and when things go wrong from time to time, they handle it very professionally,” said Len.

The TFO team from left: Maria Franco (marketing director), Monique Birdsall (commercial sales & business development manager) with baby Daisy, Leonardo Franco (Len’s grandson), Gino Franco (sales director), Naomi Abood (operational manager) and Leonardo Franco (managing director) 8 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

Wine made by the residents of San Patrignano

According to Angelis: “Having someone based locally that can come on the plane and visit you and you can discuss things in your time, not having to wait until five o'clock or four o'clock to make those calls.

The benefits of having him based in Australia has been good. And it also helped us, especially with COVID, because we couldn't travel. He was one of the main guys in Australia that was offering new ranges and products more readily. So it made life easier for us as well to order new material, new ranges.” n

(l&r) Mark and Gino Salomone of WA-based Tiles Expo and Tile Empire

DEMARCACIÓN CASTELLÓN

R ETAI L FOCUS

Airlie Tiles & Design Studio for sale A successful family-owned tile business that has been built up over the past 18 years is now on the market

A

well-established tile store located in the Whitsundays — a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef — sounds more like the result of a lifestyle choice than a sound commercial decision. Yet Airlie Tiles & Design Studio has proven for its owner, Rebecca Ross, to be that rarest of ventures, satisfying both those needs.

The Whitsundays is one of the most beautiful regions in Australia, but it's also a high growth area that is a reasonable distance from major regional centres. As Rebecca herself puts it: “We are in the Whitsundays. It's a forever growing and populating area. And even through COVID we had a lot of people move from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. So that's just extended our customer base as well.

“We are on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. Even though we are regional, we've got a lot of facilities and we're only an hour and a half from Mackay, and three hours from Townsville.”

According to the Whitsunday Regional Council, the local economy is strong and diverse, driven by the mining ($1.3billion), tourism ($1.5billion) and agricultural ($910million) industries. The region’s population is also expected to exceed Queensland’s annual growth rate,

Bold store signage fronts the main road

resulting in a resident population of 50,000 by 2036.

Rebecca managed to keep the doors open during COVID, and now after lockdowns, the store is benefitting from an influx of people moving to the region doing renovations and new builds.

The store’s customer base is spread quite evenly between trade and DIY customers, and it has an extensive geographical reach that covers a number of surrounding areas. As Rebecca explains, “It's pretty much half and half. We have a really good base of builders,

Airlie Beach is an idyllic coastal and resort town in the Whitsunday region of Queensland 10 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

and the rest is retail [DIY] who are mainly walk-ins.

“We don't have a lot of commercial [projects] going on in our area all the time. However, I have strong relationships with architects and designers in Mackay that I work with. We extend ourselves to places like Townsville, Cairns, out west to Moranbah and Emerald … Because we're regional, we have to get around.”

More specifically, the store is located in an industrial estate with some related businesses 9

nearby. Rebecca said: “We have a Betta Home Living, which is electrical and furniture, down the road. Beaumont Tiles is in the same estate. There is Flexihire, a machinery and equipment hire place across the street. There's always lots of traffic.

“Even though our shop isn't road fronted, the back of our building faces the main road. In the Whitsundays, we basically have one road in and out, so we have a very large signed back wall that faces the main street.”

Airlie Tiles & Design Studio

started out as part of the Metro Tiles franchise in 2005. The store is constantly evolving, and these days it operates as an independent store. Rebecca added "Design Studio" to the store name, to make people aware that it offers more than tiles. Rebecca explains: “We went independent in July 2022 and became Airlie Tiles & Design Studio [from Metro Tiles Airlie Beach]. That's our niche … We're a boutique store, and family owned.

I'm always the front face although I try to hide behind in my office a lot more! People know that I'm

here, and we've been going for 18 years.”

As an independent store, Airlie can offer a point of difference to the local market, along with its interior design service and expertise.

Gaining independence and no longer being part of a franchise is something Rebecca is proud of, and considers an achievement. She said: “In 2012, we established the interior design element of the business so we have clients that come in, and we do all their selections, carpet, paint, as well as tiles. We have 10

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #119 11

builders that utilise this service by sending their clients here.”

Airlie Tiles won the Australian Tile Council Regional Showroom award in 2014. The showroom has undergone many changes since then. “Our showroom has changed completely … We've done major upgrades in the last 18 months to two years,” said Rebecca.

“We are developing [the design] side of the business even more now.

I've just moved out of my office, and we're creating a design hub to attract a wider clientele.”

Customers can deal directly with the owner, an important factor for those customers who are professionals, such as builders or architects, as well as regular mum-and-dad homeowners. “My staff have always got backup from me, and we have great relationships with our suppliers going back 18 years. Some of our suppliers have been with us the whole way through, right from the first day.

I think that's good and especially being independent now, it's great to have that support,” she said.

“I train my girls to be very customer-focused, whether someone's buying a dollar or thousands of dollars’ worth of tiles.”

The store continues to access tiles from Metro Tiles even though it is no longer part of the group. Now that it is independent, it can source from a wider range of suppliers that can remain exclusive to Airlie Tiles & Design Studio.

Other suppliers include DIY, GNS, Tile One, Southern Cross., VSI, UNICA, Slate and Stone, to name a few. In terms of tile adhesives and waterproofing, major brands such as Davco (SIKA), SAS, RLA, Mapei and Laticrete supply the store.

As a business owner, Rebecca has also been recognised in the local Women in Business Awards (2014). Under her management, the store has been involved in many high-end homes in the Whitsundays and surrounding islands, and has also provided tiles for major hotels and resorts in the area.

While the business continues to thrive, Rebecca and her husband Martin who is a professional tiler, have become very much a part of the local community, and after 18 11 12 | TILE TODAY #118 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

The interior design service is getting a boost

Futura

SPECTRUM

Lightweight coloured grout

From left: Rebecca, Tayla and Ashlee

years they have found it is time to make some changes — which involves selling the store. She explains: “It’s just a change of lifestyle for us. We're getting to the age where we are looking at slowing down. I love what I do. I love my store, I love everything about it. But It's about needing to take a bit of a break.”

That means that some prospective business owner has a

chance to change their lifestyle as well, by moving into an established, well-run store located in a highgrowth regional area. n Visit the website here: https://www.airlietiles.com.au/ For enquiries about the business, contact Rebecca directly on (07) 4948 0068 or email: rebecca@airlietiles.com.au

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An aerial view of the store site

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MOSAICS

Recycled beauty Spanish company Vidrepur blends tradition and art in its 99% recycled glass mosaics. Care and respect for the environment has been a fundamental value since its start over 30 years ago. It has supporting certification to ensure quality and social responsibility.

B

y its very nature, glass is eminently suited for recycling without losing its quality. In its basic form, it is fragile and easily breaks into fragments that are no longer useful to the consumer.

However they can be readily remelted so that craftspeople can reshape the glass into new objects. Advancements in technology have paved the way for recycled tiles.

As a tile maker, Vidrepur offers advantages with its recycled glass mosaics. Firstly, they are sustainable because glass is natural and stable.

It does not break down into harmful chemicals for soils and oceans. In addition, glass has a lower carbon footprint compared to other building materials.

They offer durability because glass has the ability to remain functional, without requiring excessive maintenance or repair, when used in a typical day-to-day setting. Vidrepur’s glass mosaics are longer lasting than most other materials used for pools.

A well-maintained pool made with Vidrepur mosaics can last 30 years, according to the company.

Glass can convey distinction and clarity. The material is not reactive and acts as a barrier against bacteria, easy to clean and sterilise. All glass used by Vidrepur is pure and clear, cloudless glass which complements the transparency of water in swimming pools.

A private swimming pool using Vidrepur mosaics

The EPD methodology is based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool that follows ISO series 14040. This allows businesses to evaluate their product’s environmental performance over its entire life-cycle. It typically takes into consideration the full value chain, from material extraction through to manufactured product, it’s usage stage and end of life.

EPDs are primarily intended to facilitate business-to-business transactions, although they can

Certification Vidrepur is the first glass mosaic factory to gain an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration). An EPD is an independently verified and registered document that communicates transparent and comparable data and other relevant environmental information about the life-cycle environmental impact of a product.

An EPD is defined by International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14025 as a Type III declaration that "quantifies environmental information on the life cycle of a product to enable comparisons between products fulfilling the same function”.

14 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

A private swimming pool featuring Vidrepur mosaics

also be of benefit to consumers who are environmentally focused when choosing goods or services.

Companies implement EPDs to improve their sustainability goals, and to demonstrate a commitment to the environment to customers.

Vidrepur also has ISO 14001 for environmental management systems and ISO 9001 for quality management systems.

15

Benefits Vidrepur mosaics have 0% water absorption, making the product frost poof. Moreover, using a proper epoxy grout can deliver a total tightness of the pool tank.

The mosaics are mounted in sheets which makes it very simple to use on curved surfaces, as well as in areas where some flexibility is required.

They do not require a perfectly flat, smooth areas for installation, and adapts to any finish.

Using Vidrepur’s mix generator, customers can get exactly what you want. They can achieve various designs and visual effects that can exceed expectations and the imagination. Small mosaic chips can make pools vivid and outstanding.

Vidrepur’s antislip finishes also comply with all current safety regulations because they are officially tested and certified.

The company has launched Step, a new technical and versatile solution for steps, edges and corners. It is available in an anti-slip finish, and opens up a huge range of possibilities

Excellent additional BARRIER to a waterproofing system

Vidrepur mosaics used in a private swimming pool

to achieve safe and aesthetic finishes that other materials cannot provide.

Due to the small size and numerous joints, Vidrepur’s products are not susceptible to breakage as a result of construction movements once it is finished.

REDUCES construction costs and extra processes

PROTECTS all layers in a tiling system

Vidrepur offers many different looks in their range. Some mosaics have high-gloss, others can achieve three-dimensional shapes. There is also a luminescent mosaic glass called Fireglass that absorbs light from the 16

TO FIND OUT MORE & FOR STOCKISTS

www.efflock.com.au

surrounding environment and reflects that light at dark.

There are hundreds of colours available with different textures and formats. The variety of colours and shapes, in addition to the characteristics of the glass make Vidrepur glass mosaics the ideal choice for architects and designers.

After more than 30 years manufacturing mosaics made in Spain, Vidrepur can easily make claim that is an important manufacturer for this type of product.

Artistic Stone In Australia, the Vidrepur range is available from Artistic Stone in Rhodes, NSW. Founder and managing director, Peter Maniscalco is well known in the industry and is considered a specialist in glass mosaics and ceramic tiles. The business is a well-established, successful importer and wholesaler of natural stone, marble, glass, metal and porcelain products from around the world.

Under Peter’s leadership, the team at Artistic Stone is constantly at work to remain a leader in product innovation, design and development.

With a passion for natural stone and a love for mosaics, Peter established Artistic Stone Australia in 1993. Since then, his company has grown to be a major supplier of natural stone mosaics, borders, glass, metal tiles, medallions, and liners in Australia.

In June 1999, Peter launched his first manufacturing facility in India.

The following year, the first container of mosaics arrived in Australia.

Due to the increasing demand for

Vidrepur mosaics are part of the pool at Hotel Park in Porec, Croatia

its products, Artistic Stone India expanded the company’s services and products to Italy, Singapore, China and North America.

At the end of 2003 Artistic Stone India opened its second factory.

Now with over 1,000 employees in both factories, Artistic Stone is the largest manufacturer of quality slate and marble mosaics, borders and medallions in India.

By January 2003, Peter established an office in Turkey. This gives Artistic Stone the control to create and supply fashionable, trend-setting products with on-time delivery.

In October 2003, Artistic Stone decided to expand its operations again. Having conducted a large amount of business on the East Coast of the United States, and responding to a growing demand for his products on the West Coast, Peter opened his first American

The pool highlighting Vidrepur mosaics at Secrets Wild Orchid Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica 16 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

Vidrepur is known for its recycled mosaic

warehouse, Artistic Stone Gallery in San Carlos, California.

In 2005, Artistic Stone Gallery moved from San Carlos to a 40,000 square foot facility in nearby Menlo Park. It is one of the largest mosaic, border and medallion facilities in California.

For more information, contact Artistic Stone directly on (02) 9748 6995 or email: customerservice@ artisticstone.com.au.

Visit the website: https://www.artisticstone.com.au/

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VIDREPUR B L E N D W I T H N AT U R E

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

R E C YC L I N G

DURABILITY

RELIANCE

PH: 02 9748 6995 customerservice@artisticstone.com.au · www.artisticstone.com.au www.instagram.com/artisticstoneaustralia

A P P R OV E D B Y

SILICOSIS SAFETY

SILICOSIS SURGE: NOW EVERYTHING CHANGES With the complete ban on engineered quartz stone, Australia has moved into a different phase in dealing with silicosis. How will this affect the tile industry?

I

t has happened. On 13 December 2023, a federal government decision was made to ban the use of engineered quartz stone (EQS) in Australia, starting on 1 July 2024. There is also going to be a total ban on the importation of EQS into Australia.

For the tile industry, it is now crucial to come to a quick but comprehensive understanding of what has just happened. If, as is being declared, there is effectively "no safe level" for silica in these kinds of materials, then tiles, which seem to have developed an increasingly high concentration of silica could well feature in future legislation. (See our article in Tile Today 118 here at the link: tiletoday.au/issues/tt118.pdf).

We certainly do not want to be alarmist, but it seems very possible that in late 2024 the focus of silicosis concerns could shift from stonemasons to tilers. It's vital that the industry develops its own responses, rather than have well-meaning, but ultimately less-informed (and less passionate) outsiders choose to intervene.

Given what Tile Today would suggest has been a very poor process by both federal and state governments to come to grips with silicosis for stonemasons (in our opinion), we simply cannot expect existing regulatory agencies to develop a reasonable approach to silicosis in the tile industry without extensive help from industry participants. The industry must, pro-actively, develop a position that corresponds to the realities of the industry, and find ways to mitigate the risk while ensuring tiling continues to grow in Australia.

What just happened The decision to ban EQS comes in the wake of a report produced by Safe Work Australia (SWA). SWA distributed its report into EQS in August 2023, and released it for public access in late September 2023. The Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is entitled "Prohibition on the use of engineered stone". It purports to provide an examination of three different approaches to regulating EQS in Australia, along with a recommendation of which option should be favoured.

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SILICOSIS SAFETY The background — as most readers will know — is that since 2015 rates of silicosis have risen sharply among stonemasons and other trades working with EQS. Every state in Australia has tried to impose some form of regulation to curtail this increase. Most of these have failed, and those that haven't failed are too new to determine their effectiveness, given the three to four year gap between exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and the development of silicosis.

This RIS is thus in many ways a "crisis" document.

It's about what can be done now to solve a problem that has been inadequately addressed for eight years. It's a document that comes out of a history of severe failures. As the RIS states in its Executive Summary, on page 6:

“[I]t is tolerably clear that historically there has been insufficient compliance activities in respect of the engineered stone industry for the level of risk. Further, there has been, and continues to be, non-compliance with the obligations imposed by the model WHS [work, health and safety] laws, by both PCBUs [person conducting a business or undertaking] and workers.”

Later, on page 19, the failure of the regulatory approach is noted:

“Despite WHS regulators indicating that they have observed a general improvement in compliance in the engineered stone industry in recent years, data from WHS regulators indicates that non-compliance with WHS laws, relating to a broad range of regulatory duties, continues to occur in the engineered stone industry, evident by, for example, the number and types of notices issued and prosecutions undertaken

by WHS regulators or relevant government prosecutors.”

As the RIS points out, this has created a failure where not even the bare basics have been achieved (page 23):

“There is evidence of lack of industry awareness of the risks of engineered stone. PCBUs [person conducting a business or undertaking] in the engineered stone industry had limited awareness of the risks of workplace exposure to the dust from engineered stone.

They also lacked awareness of their duties to manage those risks, including to assess the risks and implement the necessary control measures to keep their workers safe.”

So it isn't even down to a refusal to follow regulations, according to SWA. They are saying that regulatory bodies have failed to even communicate what was required While that allocates responsibilities within the remit of SWA, this failure has been far broader than just regulatory agencies, business owners and workers. It extends as well to educational institutes, and the manufacturers and distributors of EQS. The RIS does make an effort to sheet home some blame on the manufacturers and distributors on page 19:

“Importers, suppliers and manufacturers of engineered stone products have failed to comply with their upstream duties to ensure these products are without risks to health and safety of the workers who will use 20 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

From a "how to" guide on YouTube. Note the plume of dust rising from the saw. That "surgical" mask will be completely ineffective against RCS.

the products. Most have not provided engineered stone PCBUs with adequate information about the hazardous properties of the products and the conditions necessary to ensure that the products are without risks to the workers’ health and safety in the fabrication processes. Where information is supplied by importers, manufacturers and suppliers there is little consistency about the hazardous properties of their products. This is likely to cause confusion and uncertainty on the part of PCBUs about the nature and extent of the risks to their workers.

“For example, while some suppliers provide a safety data sheet (SDS) with their engineered stone product, the SDS may state that the product is ‘not classified as hazardous’ but then disclose that dust created when the product is processed may contain crystalline silica that may be respirable.

“Other suppliers provide an SDS that states the product is hazardous because of the dust created when the product is processed and note the control measures required in handling the product including wet cutting and the use of RPE [respiratory protective equipment].”

This might be true, but it's a bit far-fetched to believe that simply adding one sentence to a product's SDS is going to create mass change in how kitchen benchtops are installed.

All that said, trying to assign blame to any single entity involved in the silicosis crisis in EQS is really missing the point. In the end, the failure to limit or eradicate the health consequences of working with EQS is best seen as a more general cultural and social failure.

What was really required was for all these stakeholders to get together and devise a response to a serious health crisis in their sector of the industry. Government agencies 21

might have been more effective if they had tried to "seed" such an effort through minimal funding, and giving all participants a seat at the regulatory table. (One model for this is the high level of governmental and industry cooperation as regards the automotive industry.)

What has eventuated is that groups which largely all had very similar goals — to make the use of EQS as safe as possible to ensure its continued success — ended up in opposition instead of in a position of mutual support.

Drilling down even deeper into what has happened, one way of characterising this failure is to see that it has been interpreted as an industrial situation, when it is clearly, instead, a health crisis. When the government wants people to limit the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) through wearing condoms, they don't do it by passing a law that makes unprotected sex illegal — because that would be unenforceable, and likely counterproductive. Instead, effort is put into persuasion. To Tile Today's knowledge, no serious, well-funded, multi-lingual effort has been made anywhere in Australia to persuade and cajole kitchen installers into practising safe EQS installation.

Effects on the tile industry The reason why this is so important to get clear — and why you are reading about EQS and stonemasons in a tile magazine — is that there is a grave possibility that the decisions made by SWA in this report will flow over into the tile industry.

If that possibility seems overblown, just refer to section 2.2.3 of the EQS RIS, where the final paragraph states:

“The health risks of emissions produced when processing porcelain-based benchtops (which may contain crystalline silica and feldspar) or benchtop materials free from crystalline silica will require further consideration.”

By "processing" SWA does not mean manufacturing, but processes used during installation. This is a direct reference to porcelain-based benchtops — and that has obvious ramifications for the tile industry, with that looming "will require further consideration".

This gets to what is a fundamental contradiction in the EQS RIS. Broadly, this RIS is meant to provide three

solutions, then make the case why one solution is better than the other two. The three solutions are: Option 1: Prohibition on the use of all engineered stone Option 2: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone containing 40% or more crystalline silica Option 3: As for option 2, with an accompanying licensing scheme for PCBUs working with engineered stone containing less than 40% crystalline silica.

Option 1 was adopted as the preferred choice. The main reason cited for this is that:

“There is no toxicological evidence of a "safe" threshold of crystalline silica content, or that the other components of lower silica engineered stone products (e.g. amorphous silica including recycled glass, feldspar) do not pose additional risks to worker health.”

Additionally: “A lower silica content engineered stone is not expected to result in improvements in compliance. The features of the sector that have contributed to the current levels of non-compliance remain. In fact, permitting work with lower silica engineered stone may encourage even greater noncompliance with WHS laws as there may be an incorrect perception that these products are ‘safer’.”

The reason why the 40% level of silica comes up in options 2 and 3 is that this corresponds to the average level of silica in natural granite stone. There are no moves underway to ban granite processing, which brings up the uncomfortable question: if granite and other surfaces have around 40% silica, why wouldn't EQS be safe at a similar composition? That question is amped-up still further as EQS manufacturers are now producing products with super-low levels of silica — as is noted in the EQS RIS:

“Moreover, the industry is increasingly offering lower silica engineered stone products, for example: - Smartstone has launched a new product range, the Ibrido Collection, with 28% silica content. It is planning to replace its entire range by mid-2023 - Caesarstone launched a lower silica product (less than 40% silica) in 2022 and by mid-2024 expects that all of its products sold in Australia will contain less than 40% silica, and - Cosentino engineered stone products Silestone Q10 and Q40 contain less than 10% and 40% crystalline silica respectively.”

So, effectively, the ban on all EQS would include EQS with substantially less silica than "natural" stone — as well as many tiles.

Another typical situation. Note the man with the grinder is using a towel for protection, but the second man has no protection. RCS can affect every person in the room where it is produced.

In an attempt to more-or-less "square the circle" and eliminate this very evident contradiction, the RIS ends up devoting considerable space to an effort that suggests the RCS produced through processing EQS is somehow much more toxic than that produced through processing substances such as granite.

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SILICOSIS SAFETY However, if you read the scientific papers that the RIS references, these are very, very far from offering anything like conclusive evidence that these assumptions are true.

They indicate that the particles produced in processing EQS are less smooth than those produced in processing granite, which means they have more surface area, and thus (potentially) more reactivity when breathed in. They are also subject to a higher ion charge, and have a range of other features which could possibly lead to their having a more severe impact.

Most notably, the RIS states in two places that the presence of resin is a contributing factor to the toxicity of EQS:

“In addition to RCS, other components of engineered stone, such as resins, metals, amorphous silica, and pigments, may contribute to the toxic effects of engineered stone dust, either alone or by exacerbating the effects of RCS.” RIS Executive Summary, page 6 “[T]he presence of resin in engineered stone may influence the risk associated with RCS exposure by coating the reactive surface groups of RCS particles, affecting how the body responds to the inhaled RCS.” RIS, page 16 Resin does seem to affect the physical response to inhaled RCS, but it seems to do so by actually reducing reactivity, in Tile Today's current reading of the literature.

(We've queried SWA about this matter, but they did not respond by the time of publication.)

These are all quite loose hypotheses, that are really more about shaping future research than reaching

Graph from SWA EQS RIS. Note the peak in ages at 30 to 34 years.

22 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

immediate conclusions. Unfortunately, to reach more definitive conclusions, live animal testing would be required. There have been some preliminary tests using rats, but these seem to be a little contradictory. In the end the "gold standard" of scientific verification would be testing on non-human primates, which have a lung system very similar to that of humans.

Meanwhile, rather than relying on what amount to informed guesses, we might do better to employ Occam's Razer. The simplest answer is that you have kitchen installers dry cutting EQS, creating plumes of RCS in enclosed sheds, and employing no protection whatsoever.

You don't need extra-reactive silicon dioxide particles to create a high prevalence of silicosis out of those types of exposure.

Social origins of silicosis It is slightly puzzling and contradictory that SWA goes down the path of suggesting EQS produces some kind of super-toxic particles, when the SWA RIS elsewhere does quite a good job of delineating why there has been a regulatory failure in this area.

As the RIS clearly states in the Executive Summary, page 7:

“The nature of the engineered stone industry has also arguably contributed to non-compliance and hence the extent of cases of silicosis in the industry.

It is comprised of mostly small businesses with few barriers to entry and a lower understanding of WHS obligations. Relevantly, these PCBUs had limited awareness of the risks of engineered stone, and their 23

duties to manage those risks, including to assess the risks and implement the necessary control measures to keep their workers safe. Workers too were often unaware of those risks and duties, and their rights and responsibilities.”

So, effectively, arguing about different percentage compositions of silica in materials, or "super-toxic" RCS particles is not really to the point. There are simply a lot of "kitchen cowboys" out there, who have no idea about basic safety, and perhaps not a high care factor either.

The EQS RIS also goes into some relevant details about the benchtop installation workforce:

If you are dry-cutting slabs of EQS in a shed without any protection, standing there in a plume of RCS, you have a high likelihood of contracting a rapidly developing form of silicosis. There is negligible material advantage in doing things that way, versus using a wet cut saw, wearing a decent mask, and ventilating the workspace.

“In addition to the faster processing time of engineered stone, the ease with which this product can be fabricated means less skill is required to handle these materials compared to more brittle natural stone slabs and many workers in this industry do not have formal stonemason qualifications. Additionally, many workers in this industry are from a CALD background. More than half of those workers diagnosed with silicosis in a recent study in Victoria had migrated to Australia...

“The language diversity in engineered stone businesses in Australia is well understood, with one third of engineered stone businesses in NSW using a language other than English on the shop floor, with Mandarin being the most common language.”

RIS page 23 That description really outlines the base epidemiology for the prevalence of silicosis in kitchen benchtop installers. They lack the training, skills and qualifications of more generalised stonemasons. The reason why granite can be worked with safety in the Australian industry is because it is a really difficult substance to use, subject to — among other problems — frequent cracking. If you do have the skill set to work with granite, you will also have greater safety awareness, generally speaking.

It's a social problem more than a material problem.

The tile industry There are effectively two challenges that face the tile industry — in particular tilers themselves — as regards silicosis.

The first, and very real challenge, is that silicosis has become a concern. As Tile Today covered in issue 118, there is a fair likelihood that this is due to an increase in the level of silica present in popular tiles.

Where in the past this topped out at a maximum of around 25%, it's less uncommon to find tiles with over 30% silica composition, and the overall average may have increased as well.

Unlike stonemasons, tilers can actively de-risk their work environment. The main advantage is simply that the material that tilers work with — tile — has one outstanding characteristic: it's comparatively thin. This 24

Graph from SWA EQS RIS. Number of claims. Note that Victoria is not included. tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #119 23

SILICOSIS SAFETY means that very safe cutting techniques — score and snap in particular — can be used. In the case where cutting with a saw is required, there is an established practice of wet-cutting, and due to the thin material, significantly less RCS is produced.

One of the real risk factors is using grinders to make small alterations to tiles for fitting purposes. At the very least, it is extremely important to always wear a mask when using grinders on tiles. Even better, best practice is to wet-cut with grinders as well.

Another vector for RCS that is often not considered is in the mixing of tile adhesive. Some (but not all) adhesives do contain RCS. It's quite typical that when mixing adhesives with water, a dust plume develops.

This is often the case in the first stage of mixing, when a small amount of dry adhesive is added to a bucket, prior to adding the initial water.

While the changes required of tilers are small, they are nonetheless significant — and, most importantly, they need to be persistent. It is really a question of making a change to the actual culture of laying tiles.

The second challenge is that it is vital that the tile industry itself responds to the needs for increased safety as regards silicosis. If the industry cannot react to this very real health risk, it risks having people from outside the industry impose ineffective and unworkable solutions.

It's hard to believe, but there really is an attitude on the part of many WorkSafe agencies in states throughout Australia that all they need to do is to put up a webpage that warns of the risks of silicosis — and their job is done.

Equally, there are a lot of very ethical, well-meaning organisations that have received funding from the federal government that spend that funding on studies and helping to educate health professionals on how to detect and deal with silicosis. That's all good stuff, no doubt — but the core of the problem is to prevent silicosis in the first place, by introducing cultural changes for tilers.

Tile Today would suggest that a very modest place to start introducing these changes would be through education, in particular the Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling courses provided by TAFE and other training organisations. These need to have a comprehensive course module that introduces the risks of silicosis, and the steps necessary to limit that risk. Importantly, all training work undertaken in these courses should follow the best practice safety protocols.

Conclusion Australian tradies tend to be risk-takers. It's part of the general culture. On just about any worksite you go to, for example, you will see some tradies taking risks when it comes to working at heights. They don't use safety harnesses, or they decide the best way to reach that particular pipe on the side of the building is to drive their ute up to it and balance of the top of the ute's cab.

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From a YouTube Short/TicTok guide to a sink installation in EQS. This is a typical situation in the kitchen benchtop industry.

At the same time, no one thinks it's funny when a fellow tradie falls off the top rung of a four-metre ladder and hurts themselves. It's not just a matter of personal injury, and possibly the end of their career, it can be a loss livelihood, with a profound impact on a entire family.

Silicosis is the 12-metre ladder you can fall off of.

There really is no cure. Modern techniques of lavage may help to reduce symptoms and slow the initial progress of the disease, but the endpoint is usually the need for a double-lung transplant. What is often not made clear is that such a transplant usually buys patients only another three or four years of life. For families, it's not only the loss of income, it's having to deal with a severe illness that can take over every aspect of life.

Wearing a mask, or going through the whole bother of setting up wet-cutting can be annoying and seem a little silly. It really isn't. These protocols are vital for tradies who want to protect themselves and their families. n

Victoria Keays: Finding fair compensation Tile Today spoke to Victoria Keays, Partner – Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law at Gordon Legal about her experiences when helping tradies and tilers who contract silicosis. Ms Keays has a long history in helping tradies with lung-related diseases, starting with asbestos-related illnesses.

Two key points she makes is that people should feel that the lawyer they are dealing with is a “normal person”, and that it is important to time claims to ensure that an appropriate benefit is obtained.

Tile Today (TT): Could you tell us about the kinds of circumstances tradies are in regards to silicosis when they first make contact with you? What usually happens?

Victoria Keays (VK): Generally I speak to people who've recently been diagnosed with silicosis, and at that stage, often they are in shock. The diagnosis of silicosis can come as a surprise because some people don't feel like they've got any symptoms. People have been short of breath for a while and now have an explanation for it.

The overwhelming stance most people who are diagnosed with silicosis feel is this sense of uncertainty about the future. Is this something that's going to progress that may get them into trouble, or will it be something that they can hopefully manage? And at that stage, at those early stages, people are often very uncertain.

Victoria Keays is Partner – Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law at Gordon Legal

Absolutely. People are geneally very afraid at that point which is understandable.

Silicosis is a condition that is always related to exposure to silica, and it's generally related to an occupational exposure in that it's been caused through work. Usually it's pretty straightforward for us to identify how someone has silicosis and from a legal perspective what can be done about it.

TT:

TT:

What are your first steps after meeting with them?

What would you say would be helpful for a tradie/tiler to do at that stage?

What information do you think will help things along?

TT: Which obviously creates the fear.

VK:

VK: When I meet with people, they'll tell me a bit about their work and how they've been exposed to silica dust. At that stage, I can usually give them some legal advice. A lot of people by that point have already, in Victoria at least, lodged a work cover claim because obviously doctors will tell them to do that.

But if they haven't, I give them some advice about what they should do, and how to do that. Or if they're selfemployed and they don't have access to Work Cover, then that's a different path that I need to give different advice about. Then I will write off to their doctors and get some medical material confirming the diagnosis of silicosis.

They are generally the first steps.

tradespeople, we are talking about their entire life story. So people can't always be specific about particular dates and that's okay. But as close as we can be is very useful.

It's often really great if they can give me a list of the employers that they've worked for, or if they've got business names. And that way I can go off and investigate who their case might be against.

TT: Some older tilers can have a 40-year career.

VK:

VK:

Firstly, one quick thing that I think people can do before, if they've worked with silica dust, if they've been involved in tiling or stonemasonry or tunnelling or any of those sorts of industries, they should let their GP know. They should let their GP know that they've had that sort of exposure so that if they do notice any trouble with their lungs, their doctors can do the relevant tests. That's something that anyone in these industries should do.

In terms of when they come to me, what's really helpful is if they can have a bit of a list of who they've worked for and when. Often with older

Absolutely. And historically for people involved in quarrying and tiling and those sorts of industries, silicosis often was a condition that took a long time to eventuate. We are seeing with stonemasons who are working with the reconstituted stone benchtops that silicosis can develop much, much quicker.

And there's a bit of research about why that is. We think it's because the exposure that they're having, and the products they're using have such a high content of silica that for whatever reason that's turning up 26

tiletodaydigital.com.au | TILE TODAY #119 25

earlier. But it's more common to see tradespeople who've worked in an industry their entire life, as you say, it could be 40 years. And we have to go through their work history, figure out what they've done, and figure out where they've worked.

TT: What expectations should they have of you, and what are your basic expectations of them in order to get the best chances of success?

VK: Their expectations of me or in terms of, if you talk to a lawyer about compensation, your expectations should be that they give you clear advice or if they can't at that point give you clear advice, they tell you what they need and when they'll be able to give you advice. They should also tell you what they propose to charge or how they propose to charge in terms of legal costs. A lot of the firms that do this work base it on "no win, no fee". It's important to have a chat to your lawyer about what that means and how that works because some firms do it slightly differently to others, and it's important to be clear about when and how you'll be charged legal costs. So that should be an expectation that tilers and tradies have of their lawyers.

In terms of the expectations that I have of people I talk to, it really depends because often people are in different stages. Sometimes people are very angry, and you just need to let them work through that, or very upset. But ideally, I want to work with them to piece together their story and to help me get the information that I need so that I can make a successful claim for them.

TT: Can you say something about the team that you have working with you around this area?

VK:

I work in a team at Gordon Legal that specialises in these sorts of claims. We specialise in acting for people with silicosis and other occupational lung diseases such as asbestos related diseases, which is actually another issue that tilers can face as well.

So we've got expertise. I've done this sort of work for about 14 years, and I've worked with a colleague, Tess Dickie, who is also a very

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experienced lawyer. Her experience is in this work and also in the Work Cover scheme so she's excellent at navigating some of those curly Work Cover questions. And we also work with a team of really exceptional legal assistants and paralegals ... I'm always amazed by their commitment to doing the right thing by our clients and doing our very, very best for them.

TT: That's great for people to know, the approach that you take.

VK: I think people are very nervous when they contact lawyers. They might think, 'What on earth am I in for here?'

TT: Exactly.

VK: They should also expect to talk to a normal person, and if they don't feel like they're talking to a normal person, that's probably not the right lawyer for them. It's basically a relationship of trust. If they don't feel comfortable with the lawyer that they choose, they should probably keep looking.

TT: That's so important to this kind of experience. If a tiler or tradie comes to you and they, in their anger or fear, might want something straight away. In the first three to four months, what would that be like for someone seeking legal relief for matters related to silicosis then?

VK: It's also important to say that each state has different rules. The expectations of what you could do in the first few months are different.

My expertise is in Victoria where people who are eligible, should lodge a Work Cover claim as soon as they can. And when they do that, if that is accepted, they'll automatically be able to claim medical expenses and weekly payments. There is generally some sort of scheme like that in most states around Australia. So that's probably the first thing that people can expect.

In terms of making a common law damages negligence claim, often we need to wait a little bit to see how someone's condition is progressing.

Because again, this is very state specific, but often you can only make

one claim in respect of silicosis. So it's important to make it at the right time.

You don't want to make it too early because you can't come back and make a second common law claim for silicosis. It would be a terrible situation if I met someone, started their case, settled the case in six months time, and then in three years’ time they came back and said, 'I'm much sicker now. What can I do?'

Because in some cases at least, the answer will be not much. It's important that people take the advice of their lawyers about when is the best time to bring a negligence claim.

But also working within the time frames, because at least some states, there are really strict time limits in which you need to bring claims.

TT: We've also noticed that you have a long, and what we would call a storied career being engaged in silicosis. Can you tell me a little bit about how this started for you?

VK: I started my career at a national firm and I had an interest in workers' rights, and ended up working in the asbestos department. I probably spent the first 10 years of my career acting almost exclusively for people with asbestos related diseases and also doing the occasional occupational lung cancer type of case through our Work Cover system.

Five or so years ago, we started to take inquiries from people who had been diagnosed with silicosis, and that had been as a result of work. I didn't know much about silicosis at the time. We didn't really see it very much.

In New South Wales it's a different situation because so much sandstone and a bit more of it, but in Victoria, this was quite new to me. I guess because of my history with asbestos, I just couldn't believe that after everything we know about asbestos, we were still putting workers in the path of dust and putting workers at risk in the way that we were doing it. I remember one of my first clients showing me a video of a reconstituted stone bench being cut up and the clouds of dust.

From that time, I've been quite passionate about trying to change the laws and also ban these products that cause people problems. The 27

good news is there seems to be some political will about that, and we've seen some of the big stores like Bunnings no longer stocking, at least reconstituted stone products.

You seem to have made a real sort of impact really, in how silicosis is being dealt with in this state. What would you like to see change in the future then so that people will get improved access to assistance and care?

have some medical treatment and get better.

We've still got lots of work to do on our compensation scheme and make sure that people know that they can access things like psychological treatment as a result of this sort of condition and practical things like help around the house.

We've also got a lot of work to do to make sure that people understand the rights that they currently have, and improve those rights where we can.

VK:

TT:

The recent announcement that reconstituted stone products will be banned starting 1 July 2024 is, I think, a really good thing. In terms of access to care, a lot of Work Cover systems are not particularly well designed for people who have ongoing chronic conditions like silicosis. They're designed for someone who hurts their back at work one day and can hopefully

If there is one particular client who you think really defines the good that can come of your engagement in this area, can you say something about how things went? As an example but no need to mention names.

TT:

VK: There's a client that I acted for who came from overseas to Australia for

a better life. He ended up working in an industry where he was exposed to silica and developed silicosis, and he was told at a young age that he may find himself requiring a lung transplant in the future. That caused him so much stress and anxiety, and it was really hard as his lawyer to watch him go through it.

Fortunately, we were able to resolve his case, and whilst it doesn't give him back his health, he at least knows that there's some financial security for himself and his family. It's not the most important thing, but it's an important thing. So I'm pleased we were able to do that.

TT: An empathetic lawyer! That’s great.

VK: Well for these people, it's a terrible thing. It's shocking. Nobody should go to work and come home sick. It's heartbreaking. n

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Managing exposure to crystalline silica Dangerous silica dust can be formed on site from concrete cutting, grinding or polishing and using power tools on stone. Breathing the silica dust can result in irreversible, untreatable diseases including silicosis and lung cancer.

S

ome dust particles can be so small that they are not visible. These are referred to as respirable particles.

Respirable silica dust particles are those that are small enough to breathe in and penetrate deep into the lungs causing permanent damage that can lead to serious illness or death.

Safe Work Australia publishes exposure standards for airborne contaminants in the workplace. The workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica (silica dust) that must not be exceeded is 0.05 mg/m3 (eight-hour time weighted average). Employers are required to ensure employee exposure does not exceed that standard. However recent publicity has stated that one in four stonemasons in Victoria who worked with artificial stone benchtops developed silicosis and many worksites are failing to offer their workers safe work practices.

SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA OFFERS THESE STEPS TO MINIMISE THE RISK Managing risk and worker exposures to silica can be achieved by selecting and implementing measures using the hierarchy of controls: • Substitution such as sourcing composite stone benchtops with lower percentage of silica • Isolation of the hazard using principles of safe work design to designate areas for tasks that generate dust and appropriate worker positioning during these tasks using enclosures and automation to conduct dust generating tasks.

• Engineering controls that minimise the risk of exposure to generate a dust; for example, local exhaustion ventilation, water suppression (wet cutting) or using tools with dust collection attachments.

• Should a risk still remain, administrative controls including good housekeeping policies, shift rotations and modifying cutting sequences.

• Should a risk still remain, personal protective equipment including appropriate respiratory equipment (generally a minimum of P2 efficiency half face respirator) and work clothing that does not collect dust.

Australian-made CleanSpace Respirators meet and exceed the minimum requirements for respiratory protection with a P3 filter. Unlike other power air purifying respirators (PAPRs) CleanSpace Respirators are easy to put on (in under 10 seconds) and don't have heavy belts or hoses. They also deliver cool fresh air on the face and don't create moisture and fogging.

One of the main reasons that workers go unprotected is because of low compliance. If masks are uncomfortable

The CleanSpace Ultra (with a half mask) is the lightest power air purifying respirators on the market

or not quick and easy to put on, then it is unlikely to be used.

CleanSpace Technology has designed and developed several respirators for various industries. The newest range of respirators — CST Pro and CST Ultra — are the lightest PAPRs on the market, making it easy for users to wear and free to do their job without unnecessary bulk and weight. They are Bluetooth-enabled

for connectivity with the CleanSpace SMART App allowing access to respirator data regarding battery charge, filter status and wearer protection.

The CleanSpace CST Ultra also delivers CleanSpace SMART INSIGHTS, a report that is ideal for larger worksites where respiratory compliance programmes are part of workplace operations. It is water tolerant with an IP rating of 65 making it perfect for workers who are wet cutting stone or concrete.

Programmed with enhanced battery management, it retains a battery charge in storage up to a year.

The CleanSpace EX is intrinsically safe and certified for use in explosive environments. As Australia’s only respirator company, CleanSpace Technology is proud to be supporting all those on the frontline in industry and healthcare to stay protected from airborne contaminants.

For more information, contact Kevmor Trade Supplies on (08) 9277 7177 or email: sales@kevmor.com.au Visit the Kevmor website here: www.kevmor.com.au n

Defending against silica Should I be concerned about silica exposure? Crystalline silica is a natural mineral found in construction materials such as tiles, concrete, bricks, mortar and engineered stone.

The amount of crystalline silica in products can vary. Examples include: • Brick up to 30% • Tile 30-45% • Granite 20- 45% • Concrete/Mortar 25-75% • Sandstone 70-90% If you're not sure if a product contains crystalline silica, check the safety data sheet or other information from the supplier.

Silica dust can be formed on site from concrete cutting, grinding or polishing and using power tools on material such as stone

WATCH VIDEO

With at least 99.97% protection, silicosis is on notice.

Australian-made CleanSpace Respirators meet and exceed the minimum requirements for respiratory protection with a P3 filter which means you are safeguarding the protection of your team from the danger of silica dust.

CleanSpace Respirators are easy to put on (in under 10 seconds) and don’t have heavy belts or hoses allowing complete freedom of movement.

So don’t leave their health to chance and embrace the future of respiratory safety because with at least 99.97% protection, silicosis is truly on notice.

+61 8 9277 7177 sales@kevmor.com.au 11 Belmont Avenue Belmont WA 6104 Purchase Online

WWW.KEVMOR.COM.AU

MK-0116 ECN2169 NOV23 REV1

WWW.CLEANSPACETECHNOLOGY.COM

For further information contact:

P R OD U C T F OCUS

Silica free technology makes RLA products safe to use RLA Polymers has developed a number of innovative RCS free products as part of its extensive product portfolio

W

hile the health effects of silica dust have been well publicised, RLA believes it is important to know the health risks, precautions, and protective measures to take when handling products containing the substance.

RLA invests considerable time and resources in making products that reduce the risk and influence of respirable crystalline silica or RCS through its innovative silica free technologies used in its tile adhesives and grouts.

Adhesives RLA Mastik is a premium grade, smooth, polymer modified, flexible white cement-based tile adhesive.

It is designed for bonding all types of ceramic, stone and mosaic tiles onto various substrates like concrete, render, rendered brickwork, blockwork, gyprock, and fibre cement surfaces. RLA Mastik is non-slump and ideal for large format tiles. It is classified as a C2S1ET adhesive.

This adhesive can be used Internally or externally on wall and floor surfaces. Also suitable for fixing low-porosity tiles.

RLA Mastik can be used for fixing tiles over most waterproofing membranes. However, it is advisable to contact the manufacturer before commencing.

It is well suited for use over green screeds and concrete.

RLA Mastik can also be used in and around concrete swimming pools if mixed with RLA UNIFLEX Additive. But it is not suitable for some moisture-sensitive stones such as green marble or limestones.

For more information on the RLA Mastik Adhesive, go to the following link: https://www.rlapolymers.com. au/product/mastik-tile-adhesive/ Addflextra is another premium grade, rubber modified, flexible white cement-based tile adhesive

30 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

designed for bonding most types of ceramic, stone and mosaic tiles onto a variety of substrates such as concrete render, rendered blockwork, gyprock, plasterboard, fibre cement sheet and RLA approved waterproofing membranes.

Addflextra is also classified as a C2S1ET adhesive and has excellent high coverage ability.

For more information on Addflextra, go to the following link: https://www.rlapolymers.com. au/product/addflextra-tile-adhesive/

Grouts RLA’S range of grouts that use silica free technology include Penaflow Panel and Penatech GP. Penaflow Panel is a Class A construction grout based on a blend of Portland cement, high quality graded aggregates and additives, which control expansion whilst the grout is in a plastic state.

Its non-metallic iron content eliminates staining. This grout can be dry packed, rammed, trowelled, or poured. It is also pump able for larger applications. Ideal for grouting underneath precast panels and concrete sections, and anchor bolts filling.

Penatech GP is a high (28 day) strength, precision Class C grout.

Its non-shrink dual expansion compensates for shrinkage in both the plastic and hardened state. It has exceptional flow characteristics and good flow retention. Its non-metallic wires content eliminates staining.

This grout complies with ASTM C1107-91 and CRDC-62182 with good impact and thermal resistance. It can be dry packed.

RLA continues to actively review the entirety of its range to utilise both greener and user safe technologies wherever possible. For more information, visit the website: www.rlapolymers.com.au. n

NEW RELEASE

RCS FREE RANGE

(RCS) RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA, HAZARD FREE* RANGE. RLA’s new range of Respirable Crystalline Silica free* products provide a safer alternative in your work environment.

RLA Polymers' range of powder solutions are classified as free from respirable crystalline silica (RCS) hazards*, ensuring that mixing & application poses no threat of exposure to dangerous levels of RCS. At RLA, we are dedicated to surpassing the hazardous requirements for RCS levels, guaranteeing the safety of our products.

In addition, we recommend the use of a PPE & dust masks due to the cementitious nature of the product. Always adhere to safety directives, in the products Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and consult the product's Technical Data Sheet (TDS) prior to application. .

*Silica (Respirable Crystaline Fraction) levels are below the concentration limit for carcinogens (0.1%) as per schedule 6 of the Model Work Health Safety Regulations 2023.

www.rlapolymers.com.au

T. 1800 242 931

WAT E R P R O O F I N G

WPA 1500 Decoupling Mat A next generation, high performance decoupling and waterproofing sheet membrane for use under tile and stone installation in commercial and residential applications

W

arranty claims for tiles that have been subject to shifts in the substrate can do damage to any tiler’s business. One way to ensure your tiles remain protected from dodgy substrates is by using modern decoupling mats that are scientifically engineered to provide the most stable tiling surface possible.

WPA 1500 is specifically designed for use in areas where differential movement needs to be mitigated.

It has a base layer of non-woven polypropylene fabric anchoring fleece, thermally welded to a high density polyethylene, water impermeable core. The top layer consists of nonwoven polypropylene fabric, thermally welded to the core, providing an excellent key for subsequently applied tile adhesive systems.

The WPA 1500 core is constructed with 3mm deep circular cavities, which create interconnected channels beneath the membrane and provide the tile system with mortar columns which transfer loads to the substrate.

As a result, the decoupling function is achieved without sacrificing the ability of the system to accommodate and distribute point loads even in commercial, high traffic applications.

As a multi-function product, it also has high quality waterproofing properties and effectively neutralises differential movement. It eliminates transmission of in-plane substrate cracks and is non-hazardous. It provides heavy duty results but remains light weight and easy to install.

The product be used as a stand-alone decoupling system, a waterproofing system and/or a vapour management system, while creating a structurally sound substrate for tile or stone installations. Recommended for use on: • Rooftops and balconies

WPA 1500 is a decoupling mat and waterproofing sheet membrane

WPA 1500 is a fast-track system for professional end-users. It has been developed for Australian conditions and standards.

WPA 1500 has CodeMark Certification, a voluntary third-party building product certification scheme

that authorises the use of new and innovative products in specified circumstances in order to facilitate compliance with Volumes One and Two of the National Construction Code (NCC), also known as the Building Code of Australia or BCA. WPA (Waterproofing Products Australia) has utilised the CodeMark Australia Scheme to demonstrate that its range of waterproofing membranes meet the relevant NCC requirements.

CodeMark provides confidence and certainty to regulatory authorities and the market through the issue of a Certificate of Conformity.

The WPA range is designed for the entire building, from waterproofing in-ground retaining walls, to waterproofing showers, bathrooms, decks, balconies, and rooftops.

WPA waterproofing membranes are designed for waterproofing applicators.

As a company, WPA makes a complete range of Australian made, liquid and sheet applied waterproofing membranes and accessories developed by a team with over 230 years of hands-on waterproofing experience. They are passionate about raising the standard of waterproofing in Australia. n

• Internal wet area floors • Sauna floors • Shopping centres • Areas subject to differential movement • Racked substrates • Green screeds 32 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

The WPA 1500 decoupling and waterproofing sheet membrane in use

KNEE PAD

PROTECTION WITH

PROFESSIONAL KNEE PADS FOR EVERY TRADE!

FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS

THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY OUT OF EUROPE & USA

KNEEL-IT ROLLING KNEELING CHAIR construction $499 + GST Robust guarantees durability,

PROKNEE 0714 STD KNEE PADS Featuring breathable $448 + GST wick technology and a

FENTO 200 PRO KNEE PADS

FOAM MEDICAL KNEE PADS

TROXELL HI-VIS KNEE PADS

TRADEGEAR HINGE KNEE PADS

$129 + GST

$55 + GST

$70 + GST

100% tool-free and strapless, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

With a 360° turning capability, you can maneuver effortlessly.

Made from waterproof polyurethane, easy to keep clean, and light weight. Enjoy total protection for your knee and kneecap, thanks to its ergonomic Velcro fastenings.

CONTACT US 1300 538 667

$180 + GST

unique shin support system that relieves joint pressure, this brace is designed with a pocket shape to cradle your knee.

Crafted from high quality neoprene offering premium support and comfort.

Single front fastening strap ensures a secure fit , plus it's both washable and durable.

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

Flexible, water resistant.

Comfortable elastic band that doesn't constrict the back of the knee, ensuring even pressure distribution, preventing knee and back complaints.

Featuring a super tough polymer shell with a unique joint hinge allowing for full natural rotation. Dual density foam for greater comfort and consistent support that never slips

CONTACT US kevmor.com.au

KNEE SAFETY

Kneel-It Rolling Kneeling Chair Kneel-It is the newest product on the "kneeling creeper" and "knee pad" market, and ideal for slouching work such as tile setting and floor installation. Also strapless and compactable for easy storage and transport.

There are adaptable attachments that can be switched out to provide extra comfort, movement, and security.

Includes roller mounts for enhanced mobility and floor protection.

On rough indoor/outdoor work surfaces or soft terrains, wheels roll.

Made with specialised grip technology to help keep stationary when inactive, an ergonomic spring-loaded seat

P: 1300 538 667

that is padded for periods of rest, and sturdy padded knee rests to ensure comfort while undertaking strenuous tasks on-site.

Key benefits include: • 100% tool free • Weighs only 6.27kg • 360-degree turning capability and intuitive mobility • Durable, sturdy construction supports up to 360 lbs (160kg) • Built-in cushioned knee pads made with PP foam • Modular design with pop on and pop off roller attachments • Upgraded quick pin seat attachment method

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

• Rotatable casters added to seat; switch between braking/rolling seat configuration • Braking system allows for high impact side loading • Sliding Seat adjust FWD and AFT • Zero scuff and marring of hardwoods and laminates

www.kevmor.com.au

Tradegear Safety Hinge Knee Pads These ergonomically designed, patented knee pads are engineered so they can be worn all day and forget that you have them on. The lightweight materials and padding make for comfortable wear and firm, consistent support.

The tough polymer shell provides protection well above and below the knee with enormous durability.

It protects against chemicals, cuts, burns and puncture wounds.

P: 1300 538 667

These knee pads are uniquely jointed to allow full rotation of the knee. Users have complete freedom of movement without the inconvenience of slippage.

The dual density foam is soft cushioning against the user’s knee, while firmer foam against the outer shell has excellent memory and does not break down.

The air vent system has channels and ventilation holes which allows air to flow to the knee, keeping the user cooler.

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

The extra wide 40mm nylon elastic straps are a new feature, and the nylon speed clips creates fast and easy adjustment and fits almost any size.

www.kevmor.com.au

Troxell Hi-Vis Knee Pads The wideband single front fastening strap design is made of premium grade neoprene and sits below the knee leaving a clear zone so there is no bunching or pinching. Velcro closure in front means no buckles or clasps to fumble with and break so donning and adjustment is fast and

P: 1300 538 667 34 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

easy. The heavy-duty closed cell foam cushion won’t puncture or leak.

Made in the USA from a patented one-of-a-kind knee pad shape — The Shape of Comfort (TM) — provide strength, comfort and adjustability. Also non-marring, washable and durable.

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

www.kevmor.com.au

ProKnee 0714 Standard Knee Pads a breathable wick tech, and no wrinkle material for genuine comfort.

The ProKnee 0714 Standard Knee Pads come with 1" cushion insert and 20 regular straps. Proknee is considered “therapy” for knees, and has the following advantages:

ProKnee’s patented shin support system takes weight off the joints and spreads it out over the length of the shins, which enables even weight distribution. The even weight distribution creates a centre of balance at the midpoint of the shins (rather than directly on the knees) which reduces pressure and forces the user to use proper kneeling techniques.

• Automatically locks in a perfect strap length with just a pull to give users a comfortable fit to be able to work in all day long • Ergonomic, larger format buckle is easy on the fingers • Works on all knee pad models, past and present

A knee pocket shape surrounds the knee joint area to hold the joint tight and create stability as you kneel – on literally anything.

The new tucked in liners offer a snug, stay-in-place fit. They are made out of

P: 1300 538 667

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

Safe, resilient and replaceable cellular urethane cushions help absorb shock out of day-to-day wear and tear from kneeling.

www.kevmor.com.au

Fento 200 Pro Knee Pads Engineered Fento Knee Pads are designed to prevent knee and back issues by evenly distributing pressure across each pad, to provide stability and comfort while you work. They are codesigned by medical professionals and installers. They are designed to provide stability and comfort while you work.

Other features include: • Easy to clean. Components are washable and replaceable.

• Flexible and 100% water resistant • Durable and very hard-wearing

P: 1300 538 667

• The elastic band does not constrict the back of the knee • Prevents knee and back complaints through pressure distribution • Patented design provides superior knee protection • Wide, flat base for maximum stability while you work • Lightweight construction for better comfort The new Fento 200 Pro weighs just 250 grams and ideal for sitting and/

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

or walking. Built by experienced installers, for installers so they are comfortable, durable and breathable.

The breathable inlay is also replaceable.

www.kevmor.com.au

Janser Medical Knee Pads Developed with health and safety in mind, the ergonomic design and waterproof foam of Janser Medical Knee Pads help support the entire knee. They disperse topical pressure on the knee cap and facilitate work when kneeling. The foam protects the kneecap and shin from pain and possible physical damage when working in a kneeling position.

Designed by Alpro with a patented fastening system which can be

P: 1300 538 667

adjusted to all sizes. The Velcro straps won't mess with the back of the knee and will not cause constriction. The special knee protection pads can be fitted securely on to the lower leg. They are adapted to the shin's anatomical form to help them provide maximum comfort.

• Comes in a calico carry bag • Replacement straps are available

The knee pads provide full support to prevent tendon and cartilage damage. Other advantages include: • Made from polyurethane

These knee pads have been tested by TUV (German Technical Inspection Agency) and certified according to EN 14404:2004 + A1:2010.

SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE

www.kevmor.com.au

P R OD U C T F OCUS

Spectrum Futura lightweight coloured grout for easy application and clean-off Designed and manufactured in ACT Australia’s Queensland production plant, Spectrum Futura is a high strength, hydrophobic, efflorescent resistant specialty coloured cement grout that is suitable for ceramic, porcelain and mosaic tiles, slate and stone with joints from 1mm up to 30mm wide.

E

ven crazy pave is not a challenge for Spectrum Futura, according to ACT Australia.

Its unique formula includes recycled glass spheres and super fine sand particles that allows for a smooth consistency and effortless application, and its lightweight formula gives up to 50% better coverage compared to standard grouts.

Spectrum Futura can be used for both internal and external wall and floor applications including swimming pools and ponds.

For tilers, Spectrum Futura offers superior workability and easy cleanoff. The grout accommodates thermal movement, and its hydrophobic, stain resistant and efflorescence resistant properties ensure that, once applied, you won’t need to worry about it for years to come.

Spectrum Futura grout and silicone range is available in 12 of the most popular colours to choose from.

Matching silicone colours The Spectrum Futura S-25 is a high quality, sanitary grade, very flexible acetic cure silicone sealant ideal for internal and external tiling applications.

S-25 has superior adhesion with 25% joint movement capability.

Mould and mildew resistant, it is ideal for showers, bathrooms and other wet areas. It is suitable for adhering to ceramic and porcelain tiles, glass, aluminium, fibre glass, plastics, and painted surfaces as well as other nonporous surfaces. S-25 is weather and UV resistant that allows for it to be used indoors and outdoors.

The silicone is ready-to-use with low sag and non-slump. It is fast curing with quick application and clean up.

Ideal for projects including kitchen splashbacks, bathrooms, laundries, showers, shower screens and recesses, sinks and vanities, bathtubs, plumbing fixtures, sealing around spas as well as expansion and flexible movement joints.

36 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

ACT Australia, the company ACT Australia said it is a proud Australian owned manufacturer of premium tile and stone installation systems. It maximises the use of Australian raw materials and suppliers to support domestic economy.

Based in Brisbane, its fully automated, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility produces highest grade premium products for the tiling, flooring and waterproofing trades in the construction and building industry.

Their best quality control practices to ensure finished products meet highest standards every time. Highly experienced ACT Australia’s R&D

team continuously extends their product range bringing leading edge technologies and innovative products that have not been available in Australian market such as the Spectrum Futura grout and ADH-77 Soundflex adhesive.

With over 30 years of industry knowledge and experience, the team understands how fixing systems and products really work and back it up with an industry leading 15 Year product warranty.

ACT Australia has put exceptional customer service at the core of their business, and choosing them as a supplier will guarantee a personalised and tailored approach. n

P R OD U C T F OCUS

Sealing solutions for tile and natural stone, made in Melbourne Established over 25 years ago, Rockstar Sealing specialises in stone restoration, stone polishing, stone cleaning and sealing. It has become one of the most trusted stone brands in Australia.

R

ockstar Sealing manufactures a comprehensive range of high-performance sealers and cleaning products for tile and natural stone applications from the Melbourne suburb of Mordialloc.

One of its most popular products is the Natural Finish Stone Sealer, a solvent-based penetrating sealer that is used to protect against staining on a wide variety of natural and man-made stones and tiles.

It has been developed for marble, limestone, travertine, terrazzo and concrete pavers.

Natural Finish Stone Sealer is applied as the final sealing coat to help protect against staining due to oil and water-based substances such as cooking oils, red wine, and other everyday stain-inducing materials. The ingress of the staining substance is retarded, making the surface easier to clean.

It uses the latest in sealing technology to produce a sealer that offers high stain resistance. Key benefits include: • Excellent oil and water repellence • Does not change the surface appearance • Does not inhibit the watervapour permeability • Rapid curing • UV stable Another best-selling product is Rockstar’s Green Star Sealer, a water-based penetrating sealer formulated for use on a wide variety of mineral–based floor finishes including natural and manmade stone, tiles, concrete and terracotta.

It is low in VOC content and applied as a final coat to the floor surface to protect against the ingress of oil and water borne staining substances. Ideal for use in food environments and where solvent based sealers cannot be used. Advantages include: 38 | TILE TODAY #119 | tiletodaydigital.com.au

Natural Finish Stone Sealer and Green Star Sealer made by Melbourne-based Rockstar Sealing

• Environmentally friendly • Does not change the appearance of the treated surface • Durable and highly water and stain resistant • Does not inhibit the water-vapour permeability • Ready to apply, no dilution required • Rapid curing • UV stable Both Natural Finish Stone Sealer and Green Star Sealer are available in 1, 5 and 20 litre containers.

US market Rockstar Sealing has also entered the North American market in search of stone experts looking to elevate their line of offerings. With a new branch office based in Las Vegas, Nevada the team is led by stone and supply experts with a combined 100 years of experience.

The team has plans to expand in the US market with strategic partners of stone suppliers,

tradespeople, and distributors of Rockstar Sealing.

Skip Jankoski, owner of a stone restoration business in Southern California, has been an expert in the stone industry for over 30 years. He said: “We have run into projects that require a variety of stone applications. Through testing and trial of a variety of stone sealers, we realised that Rockstar Sealing is the best because of its variety, efficacy, and price point compared to other top-tier luxury sealers.

“Rockstar Sealing allows stone professionals to approach any project with confidence in all facets of cleaning and sealing.”

The company sponsored coverage of the major US-based tile event, Coverings in 2023: https://tiletoday.au/issues/ coverings2023.pdf For more information on Rockstar Sealing and its wide of products, please visit the website: https://rockstarsealing.com.au n

SEALANT & GROUT DIRECTORY

Contents

Shower .................................................................................41 Pool ......................................................................................41 Outdoor ...............................................................................41 Stone sealer ..........................................................................41 UV resistant ..........................................................................42 Indoor ..................................................................................42 Stone cleaner .......................................................................42 Epoxy Grout .........................................................................42 Chemical resistant................................................................42 10 or more colours ...............................................................43 Waterproofing .....................................................................43 6 to 9 colours .......................................................................43 Grout Sealant .......................................................................43 Single Component ...............................................................43 Cementitious Grout..............................................................43 Gap Sealant ..........................................................................43 Anti-slip.................................................................................43 Joint Sealant ........................................................................44 Sanitary sealing ...................................................................44 Acetoxy cure ........................................................................44 Silicone sealant ....................................................................44 Tack-free cure 1hr ................................................................44 3mm cure 24hr.....................................................................44 Fillet Joint Sealant ...............................................................44 Adhesive ..............................................................................45 Low Modulus........................................................................45 Moisture cure .......................................................................45 Silyl-modified polymer ........................................................45 Polyurethane sealant ...........................................................45 Fire resistant ........................................................................45 ROCKSTAR SEALING SOLUTIONS ...........................................46 DRIBOND CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS ...............................49 ACT AUSTRALIA .......................................................................51 RLA POLYMERS .......................................................................52

DIRECTORY Shower LINK

PRODUCT

Outdoor COMPANY/RANGE

LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

Natural Finish Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Natural Finish Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Green Star Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Green Star Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Dense Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Bluestone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Anti Slip

ROCKSTAR TREATMENT

Click to view

Dense Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Stone Enhancer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Anti Slip

ROCKSTAR TREATMENT

Click to view

Neutral Cleaner

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Stone Enhancer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Stone Clean Plus

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Neutral Cleaner

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Lift Off

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Stone Clean Plus

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Miracle Clean

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Lift Off

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT

DRIBOND

Click to view

Miracle Clean

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

DRIBOND

Click to view

GROUT SHIELD

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Click to view

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE

DRIBOND

Click to view

GROUT SHIELD

DRIBOND

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Click to view

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE

DRIBOND

Click to view

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Click to view

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Pool LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

Natural Finish Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Green Star Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Bluestone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Dense Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Anti Slip

ROCKSTAR TREATMENT

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Stone Enhancer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Neutral Cleaner

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Stone Clean Plus

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Lift Off

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Miracle Clean

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Click to view

KEMGROUT SANDED

DRIBOND

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Stone sealer LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

Natural Finish Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Green Star Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Bluestone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Dense Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Stone Enhancer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Stone Care Spray

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today #119| 41

DIRECTORY UV resistant LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE

DRIBOND

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

Natural Finish Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Green Star Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Bluestone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Click to view

Dense Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Anti Slip

ROCKSTAR TREATMENT

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Stone Enhancer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Neutral Cleaner

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Gap Filler

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Stone Clean Plus

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Lift Off

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Miracle Clean

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

LINK

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Neutral Cleaner

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Stone Clean Plus

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Lift Off

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Miracle Clean

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Stone Care Spray

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Stone cleaner PRODUCT

Epoxy Grout

Indoor LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

COMPANY/RANGE

LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

Natural Finish Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT

DRIBOND

Click to view

Green Star Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

DRIBOND

Click to view

Bluestone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Click to view

Dense Stone Sealer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

Click to view

Anti Slip

ROCKSTAR TREATMENT

Click to view

Stone Enhancer

ROCKSTAR SEALERS

LINK

Click to view

Neutral Cleaner

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT

DRIBOND

Click to view

Stone Clean Plus

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

DRIBOND

Click to view

Lift Off

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Click to view

Miracle Clean

ROCKSTAR CLEANERS

Click to view

KEMGROUT SANDED

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

DRIBOND

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Click to view

GROUT SHIELD

DRIBOND

42 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 119

Chemical resistant PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

DIRECTORY 10 or more colours LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

EPEGROUT

DRIBOND

Click to view

Gap Filler

RLA Polymers

Click to view

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE

DRIBOND

Click to view

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

KEMGROUT SANDED

DRIBOND

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

Cementitious Grout

Waterproofing LINK

PRODUCT

Click to view

EPEGROUT

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

LINK

PRODUCT

DRIBOND

Click to view

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE

DRIBOND

DRIBOND

Click to view

KEMGROUT SANDED

DRIBOND

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

COMPANY/RANGE

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

LINK

PRODUCT

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Gap Filler

RLA Polymers

Click to view

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

6 to 9 colours LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

EPEGROUT TRADE

DRIBOND

Click to view

EPEGROUT ULTRA

DRIBOND

Grout Sealant LINK Click to view

PRODUCT

GROUT SHIELD

COMPANY/RANGE

DRIBOND

Single Component LINK

PRODUCT

Gap Sealant

COMPANY/RANGE

COMPANY/RANGE

Anti-slip

Click to view

GROUT SHIELD

DRIBOND

Click to view

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE

DRIBOND

LINK

Click to view

KEMGROUT SANDED

DRIBOND

Click to view

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout

ACT Australia

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

PRODUCT

Anti Slip

COMPANY/RANGE

ROCKSTAR TREATMENT

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au | Tile Today #119 | 43

DIRECTORY Joint Sealant LINK

PRODUCT

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

Click to view Click to view

COMPANY/RANGE

Tack-free cure 1hr LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

ACT Australia

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Gap Filler

RLA Polymers

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Sanitary sealing LINK

PRODUCT

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Acetoxy cure LINK

PRODUCT

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

3mm cure 24hr

COMPANY/RANGE

COMPANY/RANGE

Silicone sealant LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

44 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 119

LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone

ACT Australia

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Gap Filler

RLA Polymers

Click to view

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Fillet Joint Sealant LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

DIRECTORY Adhesive LINK Click to view

PRODUCT

MAX SMP 25

COMPANY/RANGE

RLA Polymers

Low Modulus LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding

RLA Polymers

Moisture cure LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

MAX SMP 25

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Gap Filler

RLA Polymers

Click to view

FirePro FR

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 600

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Silikön 700 Wet Area

RLA Polymers

Silyl-modified polymer LINK Click to view

PRODUCT

MAX SMP 25

COMPANY/RANGE

RLA Polymers

Polyurethane sealant LINK

PRODUCT

COMPANY/RANGE

Click to view

Fillet and Joint Seal

RLA Polymers

Click to view

Flex-Pro 50FC

RLA Polymers

Fire resistant LINK Click to view

PRODUCT

FirePro FR

COMPANY/RANGE

RLA Polymers

www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today #119 | 45

ROCKSTAR SEALING SOLUTIONS :

Rockstar Sealing Solutions

rstar1

VIEW DATA SHEET

Natural Finish Stone Sealer Rockstar GREEN STAR SEALER is a water-based penetrating sealer formulated for use on a wide variety of mineral–based floor finishes including natural and man-made stone, tiles, concrete and terracotta. Once applied the surface will be protected against the ingress of oil and water borne staining substances. x

rstar2

VIEW DATA SHEET

Green Star Sealer Rockstar GREEN STAR SEALER is a water-based penetrating sealer formulated for use on a wide variety of mineral–based floor finishes including natural and man-made stone, tiles, concrete and terracotta. Once applied the surface will be protected against the ingress of oil and water borne staining substances. x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar3

Bluestone Sealer Rockstar Bluestone sealer has been formulated using the latest in stone sealing technology. Penetrating sealer for bluestone and basalt that doesn’t alter the appearance of the stone. It offers high stain resistance to water and oil based contaminants. x

rstar4

VIEW DATA SHEET

Dense Stone Sealer Rockstar DENSE STONE SEALER is a solvent-based sealer used to protect against staining on dense, hard to permeate stones and tiles. DENSE STONE SEALER protects dense stone and tile substrates against environmental staining. The ingress of staining substance is retarded, making the surface easier to clean x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar5

Anti Slip Rockstar Anti-Slip is a treatment for natural stone, porcelain and ceramic tiles. Providing tiles with anti-slip properties and minimal change to the tile’s appearance.

x

46 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 119

ROCKSTAR SEALING SOLUTIONS rstar6

VIEW DATA SHEET

Stone Enhancer Rockstar Stone Enhancer is a penetrating sealer used to enrich the colour of worn, faded or damaged stone. Rockstar Stone Enhancer is very popular in the polished concrete community and used frequently by customers who wish to enhance their basalt/bluestone tiles. x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar7

Neutral Cleaner Rockstar Neutral Cleaner is a fully biodegradable ph neutral cleaner which is safe for use on all surfaces. Ideal for maintaining sealed natural stone, concrete, terrazzo, sandstone and glazed ceramic tiles and is excellent for daily stone, grout and tile cleaning. x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar8

Stone Clean Plus Rockstar Stone Clean Plus is a high alkaline cleaning agent ideal for removing built up dirt and grime while leaving no residue. Ideal for use on porcelain tiles, natural stone and glazed ceramic tiles.

x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar9

Lift Off Rockstar Lift Off has been designed to remove cement smear, grout haze, rust and hard water stains and can be used diluted or neat depending on the condition of the floor.

x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar10

Miracle Clean Rockstar Miracle Cleaner is a heavy duty cleaner for built up dirt and grime. Rockstar Miracle Cleaner will dissolve soap scum, grease and fat from concrete, terrazzo, sandstone and limestone. It removes graffiti and is an excellent grout cleaner. x

www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today #119 | 47

ROCKSTAR SEALING SOLUTIONS VIEW DATA SHEET

rstar11

Stone Care Spray Rockstar Stone Care Spray is a specially formulated stone care product. Added sealant protection is what makes ROCKSTAR STONE CARE SPRAY unique. Rockstar Stone Care Spray is environmentally friendly and can be used safely on all stone surface. x

:

46 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 117

DRIBOND CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS Dribond Construction Chemicals

VIEW DATA SHEET

dg5

EPEGROUT A three-component, water-washable, chemical resistant, epoxy tile grout for joints up to 3mm. To be applied by an experienced two/ three-man team, one applying the grout and the others cleaning up.

x

VIEW DATA SHEET

dg6

EPEGROUT TRADE A water-based, commercial, sanded epoxy tile grout for joints 2mm to 10mm. To be applied by an experienced two/ three-man team, one applying the grout and the others cleaning up.

x

VIEW DATA SHEET

dg7

EPEGROUT ULTRA An easy clean off, solvent-free, pool grade epoxy grout with chemical and physical resistance combined with easy application properties. To be applied by an experienced two/ three-man team, one applying the grout and the others cleaning up. x

VIEW DATA SHEET

dg8

GROUT SHIELD A water based silicone sealer that repels water and shields the grout from contaminants and staining. Does not change the appearance of the grout.

x

dg9

VIEW DATA SHEET

KEMGROUT FLEXIBLE A dense, smooth, hard-wearing, flexible, polymer-modified, portland cement floor and wall grouting compound with resistance to mould and fungi growth for joints up to 5mm wide. Mix grout with Primebond (dilute Primebond 50:50 with water) to improve impact, flexural strength and increase resistance to staining and discolouration. x

www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today #119 | 49

DRIBOND CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS dg10

VIEW DATA SHEET

KEMGROUT SANDED A fine-finish, dense, hard-wearing, waterproof, Portland cement, floor and wall grouting compound with resistance to mild chemical and acid attack for joints 2mm to 10mm wide. Mix grout with Primebond for swimming pools or to improve impact, flexural strength and increase resistance to staining and discolouration in general. x

:

48 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 117

ACT AUSTRALIA blank

ACT-01

VIEW DATA SHEET

SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout SPECTRUM FUTURA Lightweight Coloured Grout. Engineered and manufactured in Australia, its unique lightweight formula has up to 50% better coverage compared to standard grouts. Hydrophobic and mould resistant. Easy application and only one wash-off saves up to 3 hours on grouting a standard size bathroom. Matching colours silicone is available. x

ACT-02

VIEW DATA SHEET

SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 Acetic Cure Silicone SPECTRUM FUTURA S-25 is a premium, sanitary grade, highly flexible acetic cure silicone sealant ideal for internal and external tiling applications. S-25 has superior adhesion with 25% joint movement capability. S-25 has mould resistant properties. Suitable for adhering to ceramic tiles, porcelain, glass, aluminium, fibre glass, plastics, painted surfaces, and other non-porous surfaces. Colour options available to match Spectrum Futura lightweight grout. x

:

www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today #119 | 51

RLA POLYMERS RLA Polymers

rla-2

VIEW DATA SHEET

MAX SMP 25 Max GRAB SMP is ideal for a vast range of interior and exterior applications and may be applied to damp substrates. Applications include: Sealing/bonding in the plumbing industry; joints in bathroom in kitchens; and most types of wall cladding, direct wall studding, internal wall surfaces or timber battens. x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rla-3

Fillet and Joint Seal RLA Fillet and Joint Seal is a grey fast curing, low modulus, sealant that cures from moisture in the air to form a tough, elastic and water resistant sealant prior to the application of RLA polyurethane and waterproofing membranes. x

Flex-Pro 50FC

VIEW DATA

rla-4

FLEX-PRO 50FC is a one component, fast cure high performance construction joint sealant and adhesive. Flex-Pro 50 FC is a thixotropic moisture curing Polyurethane sealant /adhesive with high mechanical strength and excellent resistance to weathering.

x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rla-5

Gap Filler Gap Filler Acrylic Sealant is a high-quality acrylic sealant for sealing cracks and joints in timber and plaster around doors and window frames, wall and ceiling joints, masonry and around baths, sinks and sanitary fittings. Gap Filler can be painted and papered over. x

FirePro FR

VIEW DATA SHEET

rla-6

x

Firepro FR is an acoustic and intumescent sealant which expands on exposure to heat to form a fire-resistant seal, preventing the spread of fire throughout a building. It is used to seal around and between most types of building materials to “compartmentalize” a fire within sections of a structure. Firepro FR will expand to form an intumescent “plug” which prevents fire/heat/smoke from passing through joints.

52 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 119

RLA POLYMERS VIEW DATA SHEET

rla-7

Silikön 100 Roof and Gutter silikön 100 is a 100% neutral oxime curing silicone adhesive and sealant designed for high performance applications in roofs, gutters and external applications subject to UV and environmental conditions x

rla-8

VIEW DATA SHEET

Silikön 200 Acetic Cure silikön 200 is an acetic, one-part, moisture-curing, high-performance industrial RTV silicone. The 100% silicone formulation maintains outstanding high strength properties and is ideal for general-purpose glazing and sealing applications where long-term durability is critical. Suitable for the manufacturing of aquariums, silikön 200 maintains superior chemical and temperature performance compared to neutral silicones. x

rla-9

VIEW DATA SHEET

Silikön 300 Matte Glazing silikön 300 is a premium, high-strength neutral cure silicone sealant designed to provide superior durability and adhesion in a wide range of glazing applications. Formulated for professional weather sealing and numerous other trade applications where long term durability and performance is paramount x

VIEW DATA SHEET

rla-10

Silikön 400LM Matte Cladding silikön 400LM is a high-performance, 100% neutral cure matte silicone sealant & adhesive. Designed for cladding, glazing and façade installations, silikon 400LM provides a soft, discreet finish to compliment adjoining building elements and surfaces. x

rla-11

VIEW DATA SHEET

Silikön 600 silikön 600 is a premium grade , fast curing, high strength 100% neutral curing silicone sealant & adhesive. Designed for glazing, industrial, and automotive sealing, silikön 600 is ideal for applications where extra high body, quick skin time, high early strength development and long-term reliability are essential. x

www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today #119 | 53

RLA POLYMERS rla-12

VIEW DATA SHEET

Silikön 700 Wet Area silikön 700 is a high quality, 100% neutral curing silicone sealant with in-built inhibitors to help prevent mould growth in warm, wet, humid conditions and general areas subject to continuous moisture.

Ideal for use in bathrooms, high traffic wash areas, shower screens, kitchens & wash basins x

DIGITAL News

Events

Products

Tile Today Digital is updated

Tile Today Digital offers

Tile Today Digital tracks the

weekly to provide the latest

extensive coverage of major

latest products, including tools,

breaking news in the tile industry. industry events, worldwide such

new tile designs, adhesives,

That includes trends, companies,

as Cersaie in Italy, Cevisama in

waterproofing and grouts. Our

raw material prices, major

Spain, and Coverings in the USA.

buying guides feature product

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better decisions .

tiletodaydigital.com.au 52 | www.tiletodaydigital.com.au | Tile Today # 117

For advertising queries, email betty@elitepublishing.com.au

advertiser

index

What you might have missed on Tile Today Digital If you missed a number of stories that were featured in Tile Today’s recent e-newsletters, here is an overview on a few and some useful links that will take you directly to the story page.

ACT Australia

13

Australian Tile Council

3

Clear Software

27

CleanSpace

29

Efflock

15

If you want a quick tour of the tiling tools and equipment on display at Cersaie 2023, Tile Today has put together a quick video summary. In particular, tools for installing larger tiles were showcased.

Gordon Legal

18

https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-43-1698101593022-003/general

International MTC

5

Kevmor Trade Supplies

33

Laser Measure

37

Qualicer

9

RLA

31

Vidrepur-Artistic Stone

17

Cersaie 2023: Tiling tools, equipment and supplies

Silicosis research gets HIACF donation The HIA Charitable Foundation has donated $50,000 to support the Tradie Heath Institute. Promoting both research and treatment facilities, the institute is taking a cohesive, co-ordinated "go hard or go home" approach in the fight against silicosis. https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-43-1698101593022-002/general

Crossville assets acquired by AHF US tile brand Crossville has been acquired by AHF Products. The acquisition means AHF has entered the tile sector, with a line of porcelain, ceramic, stone, and accessories for applications in interior and exterior floors, walls, and countertops.

AHF already has 15 brands and dozens of product collections.

GET YOUR DIGITAL COPY OF TILE TODAY MAGAZINE FULLY ENDORSED BY THE AUSTRALIAN

119

TILE COUNCIL

SILICOSIS: WHAT HAPPENS NOW SEALANT AND GROUT GUIDE A VISIT TO SAN PATRIGNANO

https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-43-1698101593020-001/general

Cersaie 2023: Special edition This year, Cersaie provided a number of low-key surprises, and something of a postCOVID reset for some sectors. Travertine was popular, along with complex finishes and, as usual, marble-effects. Large-scale tiles ruled, but some real innovations took place in smaller tiles as well. https://tiletodaydigital.com.au/articleGeneral/2023-49-1702169019897-001/pinned

ABS stats show decline in tile prices A decline of 6 index points for ceramic tiles in September quarter 2023 is welcome, but other products, such as waterproofing, continue to increase. Based on the average for the six main capital cities, the construction PPI for Australia was overall flat. The ABS sees new build construction slowing, while post first-fix building activity has yet to decline. https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-49-1702169019901-006/general

Beaumont Tiles opens Midland store Bunnings-owned Beaumont Tiles has opened its third Western Australian store in the Perth suburb of Midland. The Perth Wildcats basketball team were on hand to celebrate the store's launch. https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-49-1702169019901-005/general TRENDS

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Reece 3D planning tool wins award Reece engaged Thoughtworks to design, develop and launch Imagin3D[tm] which recently received an Australian Good Design award under the Digital Design category.

The online planning tool allows Reece's customers to visualise their bathroom designs in real-time. https://tiletoday.au/articleGeneral/2023-49-1702169019900-004/general