1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers the specification, fabrication, and field installation of solid surface and engineered quartz countertops for commercial and institutional construction. (1.1)
NOTE Both material families addressed here are non-porous, fabricated horizontal work surfaces used in non-residential service. (1.2)
NOTE Solid surface is a homogeneous cast sheet of acrylic and/or polyester resin filled with alumina trihydrate; it is repairable and refinishable in the field, and it accepts thermoformed shapes and seamless integral sinks. (1.2.1)
NOTE Engineered quartz is roughly 90 percent crushed natural quartz aggregate bound in a polymer resin under vacuum and vibrocompaction; it is harder and more scratch- and stain-resistant than solid surface but is not field-refinishable and cannot be seamlessly thermoformed. (1.2.2)
NOTE The material family is the governing decision of this standard. (1.3)
NOTE Solid surface and engineered quartz have different thermal expansion behavior, different repairability, different seam techniques, and different overhang capacities. (1.3.1)
NOTE Specify exactly one material family per countertop type; do not leave the choice open for the fabricator to resolve after award. (1.3.2)
1.4 Applications
NOTE This standard applies to countertops in restrooms, breakrooms, kitchenettes, laboratories and prep areas, reception and transaction desks, nurse stations, casework tops, locker-room vanities, and similar non-residential horizontal surfaces. (1.4.1)
NOTE It includes integral, undermount, and self-rimming sink configurations; backsplashes and end splashes; edge profiles; the substrate beneath laminated buildups; and the anchorage of the countertop to base cabinets or structural supports. (1.4.2)
1.5 Exclusions
NOTE Natural stone countertops (granite, marble, soapstone) are excluded; no SynC standard currently owns natural stone, and it is specified under Division 09 stone fabrications. (1.5.1)
NOTE Plastic-laminate (high-pressure decorative laminate) countertop surfaces are excluded and are covered by
Wood And Laminate Casework.
(1.5.2) NOTE Epoxy-resin acid-resistant laboratory benches and fume-hood work surfaces are excluded and are specified under a dedicated laboratory furniture standard. (1.5.3)
NOTE Plumbing rough-in, supply, and drain connections for integral and undermount sinks are excluded and are covered by
Plumbing Fixtures.
(1.5.4) NOTE Toilet-room accessories mounted above the countertop (soap dispensers, grab bars, mirrors) are excluded and are covered by
Toilet Accessories.
(1.5.5) NOTE Ceramic and porcelain tile countertop surfaces are excluded and are covered by
Ceramic Tile.
(1.5.6) NOTE Base cabinet carcasses and the casework that supports the countertop are excluded and are covered by
Wood And Laminate Casework.
(1.5.7) 1.6 Material Family Selection
● Solid surface (cast acrylic/polyester sheet)
○ Engineered quartz (quartz aggregate, polymer binder)
NOTE The selected material family shall be a single, locked selection for each countertop type and shall not be substituted after contract award without resubmittal of shop drawings and product data. (1.6.1)
2 Referenced Standards
2.1Materials, fabrication, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| ANSI/AWI 1236-2022 |
Countertops |
| ANSI Z124.3 |
Plastic Lavatories |
| ANSI Z124.6 |
Plastic Sinks |
| NSF/ANSI 51 |
Food Equipment Materials |
| ASTM D638 |
Tensile Properties of Plastics |
| ASTM D790 |
Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics |
| ASTM D570 |
Water Absorption of Plastics |
| ASTM D696 |
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion of Plastics |
| ASTM E84 |
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials |
| ASTM C920 |
Elastomeric Joint Sealants |
| ASTM C834 |
Latex Sealants |
| UL 2818 (GREENGUARD Gold) |
Chemical Emissions for Building Products, Furnishings, and Finish Systems |
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review and approval before fabrication:
- Product data for each countertop material, including material family, nominal thickness, finish, and color/pattern designation
- Samples of each specified material, finish, and color, minimum 6 in. x 6 in., including the actual edge profile
- Shop drawings showing plan layout, dimensions, seam locations, cutout locations and sizes, edge profiles, backsplash configuration, and support framing
- Color-lot certification for continuous engineered quartz runs, identifying the production lot of each slab
- Sink and fixture coordination data confirming cutout reveal dimensions taken from the approved plumbing fixture submittals
☑ Product data (material, thickness, finish, color)
☑ Material/finish/color samples (min 6 in. x 6 in. with edge profile)
☑ Shop drawings (layout, seams, cutouts, edges, supports)
☐ Color-lot certification (continuous quartz runs)
☑ Sink/fixture cutout coordination data
NOTE Shop drawings shall locate every seam and shall be approved before any material is cut. (3.1.2)
NOTE Samples shall represent the full range of color and pattern variation expected in the delivered material. (3.1.3)
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
- Test reports demonstrating compliance with the physical property requirements of this standard
- NSF/ANSI 51 certification for any countertop in a food-contact or food-splash zone
- ASTM E84 surface burning characteristics report for the specified material
- GREENGUARD Gold (UL 2818) or equivalent low-emission certification where required by the project
- Manufacturer's published fabrication and installation instructions
- Silica-dust control plan for field cutting of engineered quartz, per 29 CFR 1926.1153
☑ Physical property test reports
☐ NSF/ANSI 51 certification (food zones)
☑ ASTM E84 surface burning report
☐ GREENGUARD Gold / low-emission certification
☑ Manufacturer fabrication and installation instructions
☐ Silica-dust control plan (field quartz cutting)
3.3 Closeout Submittals
3.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
- Care and maintenance instructions for the installed material and finish
- Written warranty documentation as required by this standard
- Attic stock of each material, finish, and color as specified for spare parts
☑ Care and maintenance instructions
☑ Written warranty documentation
☐ Attic stock (material/finish/color)
4 Quality Assurance
4.1 Fabricator Qualifications
NOTE The fabricator shall be certified or licensed by the material manufacturer to fabricate and install the specified product line. (4.1.1)
NOTE The fabricator shall have completed at least three commercial projects of comparable scope and material within the preceding five years. (4.1.2)
NOTE The fabricator shall maintain the manufacturer's required dust-control and fabrication equipment for the specified material family. (4.1.3)
4.2 Source and Single-Source Responsibility
NOTE Each countertop material family shall be furnished by a single manufacturer for the entire project to ensure color, pattern, and physical-property consistency. (4.2.1)
NOTE For continuous runs of engineered quartz, all slabs in a single visually continuous run shall be drawn from the same production lot. (4.2.2)
NOTE Engineered quartz color and pattern can vary measurably between manufacturing batches; lot mismatch in a continuous run is visible under normal lighting and is a common rejection cause. (4.2.3)
4.3 Mockups
NOTE Where required by the project, the Contractor shall provide a full-size mockup of a representative countertop section including one seam, one edge profile, one backsplash condition, and one sink cutout. (4.3.1)
NOTE The approved mockup shall establish the standard of quality for seam flatness, edge finish, and color match for the remaining work. (4.3.2)
5 Physical Properties
NOTE Property requirements depend on the selected material family; the values below are minimum acceptance criteria. (5.1)
5.2 Solid Surface Properties
NOTE Solid surface sheet shall be homogeneous and non-porous throughout its full thickness, with color and pattern continuous through the sheet. (5.2.1)
NOTE Solid surface tensile strength shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D638. (5.2.2)
NOTE Solid surface flexural strength and modulus shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D790. (5.2.3)
NOTE Solid surface water absorption shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D570 and shall not exceed the manufacturer's published maximum for the product. (5.2.4)
NOTE Solid surface at plumbing fixture locations shall meet the physical and performance minimums of ANSI Z124.3 for lavatories and ANSI Z124.6 for sinks. (5.2.5)
● 1/2 in. (12 mm)
○ 3/4 in. (20 mm)
500010000
Default: 6000 psi
5.3 Engineered Quartz Properties
NOTE Engineered quartz shall be a vibrocompacted, vacuum-processed composite of natural quartz aggregate and polymer resin, non-porous on its finished surface. (5.3.1)
NOTE Engineered quartz flexural strength shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D790 and shall exceed 4,500 psi. (5.3.2)
NOTE Engineered quartz water absorption shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D570 and shall not exceed 0.05 percent. (5.3.3)
NOTE The low water absorption of engineered quartz is what gives it its stain resistance; a value above 0.05 percent indicates a porous or under-cured slab. (5.3.4)
○ 2 cm (3/4 in.)
● 3 cm (1-1/4 in.)
45008000
Default: 4500 psi
NOTE The countertop material shall be tested for surface burning characteristics in accordance with ASTM E84. (5.4.1)
NOTE Where a Class A (Class I) interior finish is required by the occupancy, the material shall have a flame-spread index of 25 or less and a smoke-developed index of 450 or less. (5.4.2)
● Class A (FSI <= 25, SDI <= 450)
○ Class B (FSI <= 75, SDI <= 450)
○ Class C (FSI <= 200, SDI <= 450)
5.5 Low-Emission and Food-Zone Certification
NOTE Where required by the project, the material shall be certified to GREENGUARD Gold (UL 2818) or an equivalent low chemical-emission standard. (5.5.1)
NOTE Healthcare and education projects increasingly require low-emission certification for interior finishes affecting indoor air quality. (5.5.2)
NOTE Countertops located in food-contact or food-splash zones shall be certified to NSF/ANSI 51 for the applicable food-type and temperature range. (5.5.3)
NOTE Health-department inspections reject non-certified materials on breakroom, cafeteria, and food-prep countertops regardless of appearance; the certification is a code condition, not a preference. (5.5.4)
○ Yes - food-contact or food-splash zone
● No - non-food application
6 Finishes and Edge Profiles
6.1 Surface Finish
NOTE The exposed surface finish shall be uniform across each countertop and shall match the approved sample. (6.1.1)
NOTE Polished quartz shows micro-scratches and wear readily in high-traffic and laboratory settings; a honed or matte finish is more appropriate there and shall be specified explicitly when those conditions apply. (6.1.2)
NOTE Solid surface finish is renewable in the field by abrasion to the specified sheen; this is one of its principal lifecycle advantages over quartz. (6.1.3)
○ Polished / gloss
○ Honed / satin
● Matte
○ Textured
6.2 Edge Profiles
NOTE The edge profile shall be fabricated to the approved shop drawing and sample for every exposed edge. (6.2.1)
NOTE Eased and straight edges are recommended for healthcare and food-service environments because they are easiest to clean and have no crevice to trap soil. (6.2.2)
NOTE Laminated buildup edges, formed by bonding strips beneath the deck to increase apparent thickness, increase fabrication lead time and shall use the same material family as the deck. (6.2.3)
● Eased / straight
○ Beveled
○ Bullnose
○ Ogee
○ Laminated buildup
○ 1 in.
○ 1-1/4 in.
● 1-1/2 in.
7 Sinks and Plumbing Coordination
7.1 Sink Configuration
NOTE Integral sinks, formed seamlessly into a solid surface deck, are available only in the solid surface family and eliminate the joint at the sink perimeter. (7.1.1)
NOTE Undermount sinks in engineered quartz require a silicone-sealed joint at the sink rim that must be maintained over the life of the installation. (7.1.2)
NOTE The sink configuration shall be coordinated with the plumbing fixtures specified under
Plumbing Fixtures; this standard governs the countertop and integral sink, not the supply or drain.
(7.1.3) ○ Integral (solid surface only)
● Undermount
○ Self-rimming / drop-in
NOTE Integral sinks shall be specified only where the deck material family is solid surface. (7.1.4)
7.2 Cutout Coordination
NOTE The cutout size for an undermount or drop-in sink shall be taken from the approved plumbing fixture submittal before any slab is cut. (7.2.1)
NOTE Cutout corners shall be radiused, not square, to relieve stress concentration that initiates cracking. (7.2.2)
NOTE Sink and faucet cutout locations shall be coordinated with the plumbing rough-in shown on the drawings.
fixture rough-in plan (7.2.3) 0.1250.5
Default: 0.25 in.
8 Substrate and Support
8.1 Substrate Under Laminated Buildups
NOTE Where a continuous substrate is used beneath the countertop or within a laminated buildup, it shall be moisture-resistant MDF or exterior-grade plywood. (8.1.1)
NOTE Particleboard shall not be used as substrate at sink cutouts or other wet locations. (8.1.2)
NOTE ANSI/AWI 1236-2022 disqualifies particleboard at wet locations because its 24-hour swell exceeds 5.5 percent, which fails the joint and the bond at the sink. (8.1.3)
● Moisture-resistant MDF
○ Exterior-grade plywood
8.2 Overhangs and Reinforcement
NOTE Unsupported overhangs shall be sized to the material family and slab thickness and shall not rely on the deck alone where live load is expected. (8.2.1)
NOTE A 2 cm engineered quartz slab shall not be used for an unsupported overhang greater than 8 in. without a buildup apron or steel-rod reinforcement; 2 cm slabs crack under live load at long overhangs. (8.2.2)
NOTE Thicker slabs reduce the need for buildup strips and increase overhang capacity. (8.2.3)
NOTE Countertop support framing, cleats, and corbels shall be provided by the casework specified under
Wood And Laminate Casework and shall be in place before countertop installation.
(8.2.4) ○ Laminated buildup apron
● Concealed steel-rod reinforcement
○ Continuous support bracket / corbel
9 Seams and Joints
9.1 Seam Layout
NOTE Seam locations shall be shown on the approved shop drawings and shall be approved before fabrication. (9.1.1)
NOTE A seam shall not be located at a cutout corner or within a cantilevered overhang; locating a seam in these high-stress zones is a leading cause of field cracking claims. (9.1.2)
NOTE Seams shall align with support framing so the joint is fully backed. (9.1.3)
NOTE Solid surface seams shall be chemically bonded with the manufacturer's joint adhesive, sanded flush, and finished to be inconspicuous. (9.1.4)
NOTE Engineered quartz seams shall be set with color-matched epoxy and finished flush. (9.1.5)
00.0625
Default: 0.0156 in.
9.2 Backsplash Configuration
NOTE The backsplash height and return shall be selected for the application and shown on the shop drawings. (9.2.1)
NOTE A coved backsplash base, integral to the deck, eliminates the grout or caulk line at the wall and is required in many healthcare and food-service health codes because a square-caulked joint at the wall collects bacteria and fails inspection. (9.2.2)
NOTE A square-set backsplash shall be sealed to the wall with a movement-capable sealant per the sealant requirements of this standard. (9.2.3)
● 4 in. square-set splash
○ Full-height to upper cabinet
○ Coved integral base
9.3 Sealants
NOTE Sealant at the wall, backsplash, and expansion joints shall be an elastomeric joint sealant complying with ASTM C920, Type S, Grade NS. (9.3.1)
NOTE A siliconized acrylic latex sealant complying with ASTM C834 may be used only at non-movement, decorative joints. (9.3.2)
NOTE Sealant color shall match the adjacent countertop or wall finish as directed. (9.3.3)
● ASTM C920 Type S, Grade NS (silicone)
○ ASTM C834 siliconized acrylic latex (non-movement only)
10 Fabrication and Installation Tolerances
NOTE Fabrication shall conform to the tolerances of ANSI/AWI 1236-2022 except where this standard is more stringent. (10.1)
NOTE The finished top surface shall be flat within the specified tolerance measured across any seam and across the full run. (10.1.1)
NOTE Exposed edges shall be straight and square within the specified tolerance. (10.1.2)
NOTE The installed countertop shall be level within the specified tolerance and shall not rock on its supports. (10.1.3)
00.03125
Default: 0.0078 in.
11 Installation
11.1 Field Conditions
NOTE Installation shall not begin until the space is enclosed, weathertight, and at a stable temperature, and until base cabinets and support framing are installed and level. (11.1.1)
NOTE Dry-cutting of engineered quartz on site is prohibited; field cutting shall be performed wet with local exhaust ventilation in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.1153. (11.1.2)
NOTE Engineered quartz contains crystalline silica, and cutting or grinding it generates respirable silica dust regulated by OSHA; wet methods with local exhaust are the required engineering control. (11.1.3)
11.2 Expansion Clearance
NOTE A minimum expansion clearance shall be provided between the countertop and any fixed wall or rigid restraint. (11.2.1)
NOTE Both material families expand and contract with temperature; without a clearance at fixed restraints, the slab cracks or buckles. (11.2.2)
NOTE The expansion clearance shall be sized using the material's coefficient of linear thermal expansion determined per ASTM D696 and the expected service temperature range. (11.2.3)
0.06250.25
Default: 0.0625 in.
11.3 Anchorage
NOTE The countertop shall be mechanically fastened or adhered to the base cabinets or support framing in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. (11.3.1)
NOTE Fasteners shall not be over-driven into the underside of the deck in a manner that telegraphs through the surface. (11.3.2)
NOTE Anchorage clips and adhesives shall allow the deck to move with thermal expansion without restraint at fixed points. (11.3.3)
11.4 Protection
NOTE The installed countertop shall be protected from impact, abrasion, staining, and heat damage until Substantial Completion. (11.4.1)
NOTE Hot items shall not be placed directly on engineered quartz, because thermal shock can craze the resin binder. (11.4.2)
12 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Material shall be delivered in the manufacturer's protective packaging with material family, color, and lot identification intact. (12.1)
NOTE Slabs and fabricated sections shall be stored and transported on edge in A-frames or vertical racks, never stacked flat. (12.2)
NOTE Stacking slabs flat induces a bending stress that can crack them under their own weight; vertical storage is mandatory for both families. (12.3)
NOTE Material shall be acclimated to the interior service temperature before fabrication and installation. (12.4)
13 Warranty
NOTE The manufacturer shall provide a written warranty against defects in material and against failure of the finished surface under normal use. (13.1)
NOTE The warranty period shall begin at Substantial Completion. (13.1.1)
NOTE Field repairability of solid surface shall not void the warranty when the repair is performed by a certified fabricator using the manufacturer's methods. (13.1.2)
● 10 years
○ 15 years
○ Lifetime (residential-equivalent, limited)
14 Spare Parts
NOTE The Contractor shall furnish attic stock of each installed material, finish, and color for future repair and replacement. (14.1)
NOTE Attic stock shall be from the same production lot as the installed work where lot consistency matters, and shall be labeled with material family, color, lot, and the location it serves. (14.1.1)