Product Specifications

Material

CASTICO products are made from a proprietary blend of natural minerals and resin, formed into a solid composite stone. The material is solid through its full thickness rather than a surface layer over a substrate, and it is non-porous.

Slip resistance

Wet DCOF: 0.55

Dynamic coefficient of friction is measured wet, which is the condition that matters in a shower. Full third-party test results are available on request for architects, inspectors, and specifiers.

Fire and flame spread

Flame spread index: 40 for solid color bases and walls.

Flame spread index and a UL-rated fire assembly are different measurements. We publish a flame spread index; we do not currently publish a UL assembly rating. Projects requiring a UL assembly rating — for example to determine whether subfloor fireproofing is needed — will need that confirmed with our engineering team.

Load and compression

Compression rating: 115 lbs per square inch, when the base is fully supported by a substrate.

For perspective, exceeding that rating would require a person weighing roughly 8,280 pounds standing on one foot.

The rating depends on full support underneath. A base installed over a hollow area, an uneven subfloor, or without a properly prepared substrate is not supported across its full footprint and will not perform to this rating. This is why a solid, level substrate and a full thin-set bed are required.

Drainage

Standard drain flow rate: 2.5 GPM

Bases are pre-sloped to drain at this rate. A shower head delivering more than 2.5 gallons per minute can outpace the drain on smaller bases, which may cause water to pool during use. If this occurs and the installation is level, a low-flow shower head will usually resolve it.

The outer 2 inches of the base perimeter are flat by design. Water resting within that band is normal and is not a drainage fault.

Sizing and rough-in

The size listed for a each product is the rough-in dimension — the space that needs to be framed and prepared for it. The base body itself measures slightly smaller, with the flanges making up the difference.

Each flange adds 3/16 inch, so two flanges add 3/8 inch in total. Every base body therefore measures 3/8 inch less than its listed size.

For example, a base listed as 32 inches measures 31 5/8 inches across the body, plus 3/8 inch for the two flanges, giving 32 inches overall.

This applies to all bases. Frame and prepare the opening to the listed size, not to the measured size of the base body — measuring the base itself and framing to that figure will leave the opening 3/8 inch short.

Wall panel dimensions

A standard kit includes four panels: lateral panels A and D, and back panels B and C.

Shower doors

Bases accommodate most shower doors with a threshold requirement of 3 inches or less. Dual sliding doors, also called double bypass doors, are approved.

A gap of approximately 1mm between the base and a door frame is normal and can be filled with waterproof silicone.

Temperature

Steam showers are approved up to 115°F.

Above that temperature the material can deform, which is also why storage above 115°F is a known cause of bowing.

Heated floors and radiant heat systems beneath the base are not recommended. Heat transfer through the thickness of the base is minimal, so the benefit is limited while the heat exposure is not.

Tolerances

Certification

CASTICO pan bases are certified by IAPMO and carry the UPC mark, confirming compliance with the Uniform Plumbing Code. This is the certification typically requested by plumbing inspectors and building officials.

Certification documentation is available on request.

Surface coating

Bases carry a ceramic coating. Tile will not reliably adhere to the base surface, and paint will not adhere unless the coating is removed first.