The Marble Institute of America’s(MIA) outreach to support the international stone industrycontinues to touch current and future stone professionals in all corners of the world. The MIA’sDimension Stone Design Manual has been posted to South Western Sydney Institute’s online intranet library. TheDesign Manual will serve students in the Stonemasonry course at Miller College. This course offers a diverse range of stonemasonry experiences that seek to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding and developing industry. At the same time, it provides traditional core craft skills that are the basis of the stonemasonry industry. Currently, 120 students at South Western Sydney Institute’s Stonemasonry course at Miller College are pursuing a three-year certificate program.

“We’re happy to make the Design Manualavailable to the future stonemasons of South Western Sydney Institute at Miller College,” said Mike Loflin, MIA’s Industry Research & Information Manager. “This is beneficial for the trade and the industry as a whole.”

This posting is the most recent in the MIA’s long history of outreach towards architectural, design and masonry students. In 2011, the MIA donated a copy of the Dimension Stone Design Manual v 7.2 to every architectural college library in the U.S., an effort it plans to replicate in 2014, with the launch of version 8.0.

The Dimension Stone Design Manual v 7.2is the stone industry’s single-source reference for dimensional stone design and construction facts and details. Contents include a newly revised and greatly expanded Illustrated Glossary of Stone Industry Terms, a new section on stone tile installation and revised countertop installation guidelines. Also included are descriptions and technical data of individual natural stone varieties; general installation guidelines; guidelines and typical detailing for horizontal surfaces, vertical surfaces, countertops, wet areas and furniture; and maintenance of exterior and interior stone installations.