Product Overview

Fujiwa VIP Electric Blue 3" × 3" Glossy Porcelain Pool Mosaic Tile brings vibrant aquatic color and reflective depth to swimming pools, spas, fountains, and interior feature walls. Its saturated electric-blue glaze combines brilliant azure, cobalt, and ocean-blue tones that become especially luminous beneath moving water and pool lighting.

Individual 3" square porcelain tiles are sheet-mounted for efficient installation while preserving the clean geometry of a traditional pool-tile grid. The high-gloss glaze reflects sunlight and underwater illumination, creating shifting highlights across waterlines, raised spas, spillways, and submerged surfaces.

Engineered for aquatic environments, Fujiwa glazed porcelain tile is weather resistant, frost proof, acid resistant, and stain resistant. The low-absorption porcelain body provides greater durability in chlorinated and properly maintained saltwater installations than ordinary interior ceramic wall tile.

Technical Specifications

Fujiwa confirms the VIP Series as a high-gloss 3" × 3" tile with 0.22" thickness and identifies Electric Blue as VIP-913. Series packaging provides 1.08 square feet per sheet and 20 sheets per carton. Official Fujiwa VIP Series, Fujiwa Tiles

Recommended Applications

• Swimming-Pool Waterlines: Creates a vivid, easily recognizable transition between the pool finish and coping.

• Raised Spas: Adds saturated blue color around spa walls, dam walls, and overflow edges.

• Pool Spillways: The glossy surface reflects moving water and accent lighting across infinity edges and decorative spillways.

• Submerged Pool Walls: Suitable for approved fully submerged installations using a complete aquatic setting system.

• Fountains and Water Features: Brings vibrant color to basins, vertical water walls, and decorative architectural features.

• Shower Walls: Appropriate for shower surrounds, niches, and decorative bands over an approved waterproofing system.

• Kitchen and Bar Backsplashes: Creates a bold, highly reflective blue focal point in residential and hospitality interiors.

• Commercial Feature Walls: Suitable for restaurants, aquatic facilities, hotels, spas, and coastal-themed interiors.

Unsuitable or Restricted Applications

• Pool Decks: The smooth high-gloss finish is not intended for pool decks or other wet exterior walking surfaces.

• Wet Walking Areas: No published DCOF value was identified for this product. Do not assume that pool-rated means slip-rated for walking surfaces.

• Conventional Floor Applications: Confirm suitability with Fujiwa and the project professional before specifying the glossy mosaic for any floor.

• Steam Rooms: Confirm temperature, moisture, backing, mortar, grout, and movement-joint compatibility with the complete installation-system manufacturer.

Installation & Handling Guidelines

⚠️ IMPORTANT: PERMANENTLY SUBMERGED INSTALLATION SYSTEM

Pool-rated tile must still be installed with mortar, grout, waterproofing, movement joints, and curing procedures approved for permanent immersion. Do not use premixed organic mastic in pools, fountains, spas, or shower wet zones.

• Inspect Before Installation: Review all sheets under natural and artificial light. Blend sheets from several cartons to distribute differences in blue intensity and glaze movement.

• Confirm the Product Code: Verify that cartons identify Electric Blue as VIP-913 or the corresponding VIPS-913 sheet reference.

• Pool-Shell Preparation: Concrete pool shells must be properly cured, dimensionally stable, clean, and prepared according to the selected pool-installation system.

• Waterproofing: Use a waterproofing membrane specifically approved for pools, spas, fountains, water chemistry, hydrostatic exposure, and the installation substrate when required by the system design.

• Mortar Selection: Use a premium white polymer-modified mortar meeting ANSI A118.15 and explicitly approved for porcelain mosaics and permanent submerged service.

• Avoid Premixed Adhesive: Premixed mastic is not appropriate for pools, fountains, spas, or other continuously wet installations.

• Mortar Application: Use a notch appropriate for the mosaic thickness, then flatten the ridges before setting the sheets. This helps prevent trowel lines and excessive mortar from showing through the joints.

• Mortar Coverage: Achieve at least 95% coverage with complete support beneath tile edges and corners. Submerged installations should contain no significant voids.

• Sheet Alignment: Dry-fit adjoining sheets and adjust individual tiles where necessary to prevent visible sheet outlines or inconsistent joints.

• Embedding: Use a grout float or padded beating block to press sheets evenly into the mortar without damaging the glossy glaze.

• Grout Selection: Use a high-performance cementitious or epoxy grout approved for porcelain mosaics, swimming pools, submerged service, and the project’s water-treatment system.

• Grout Color: Medium blue creates a continuous aquatic appearance, while white produces crisp grid definition. Test the combination before installation.

• Movement Joints: Provide properly located movement joints following TCNA EJ171, pool-engineering requirements, and the selected installation system. Do not fill movement joints with rigid grout.

• Curing Before Filling: Allow mortar, grout, membranes, and sealants to cure for their full manufacturer-specified periods before filling the pool or beginning chemical treatment.

• Cutting: Use a wet saw with a clean continuous-rim porcelain blade. Support the mosaic sheet fully during cutting.

• Order Allowance: Add approximately 10–15% for cuts, sheet adjustment, breakage, shade blending, and future repairs. Detailed waterlines and curved features may require additional material.

Pool Waterline Installation Notes

• Establish a level reference line around the complete pool before setting the first sheets.

• Plan the layout so narrow cuts do not occur directly beneath the coping or at highly visible corners.

• Use coordinating trim or properly finished cuts where the tile terminates at steps, benches, columns, and raised spa walls.

• Carefully clean mortar and grout residue before it cures on the glossy surface.

• Protect freshly installed tile from water, direct chemical exposure, and premature pool filling throughout the required curing period.

Shade Variation Notice

Electric Blue may display differences in blue intensity, glaze movement, reflectivity, and underwater appearance. These variations contribute to the animated character of the finished pool.

Water depth, sunlight, surrounding materials, pool-finish color, and artificial lighting will all affect how the tile appears after installation. Review a physical sample in the intended environment before ordering the complete project.

Care & Maintenance

• Maintain pool water chemistry within professionally recommended ranges.

• Prevent prolonged low-pH or highly acidic conditions that could damage grout, setting materials, and surrounding pool components.

• Clean the tile with a soft nylon brush or non-abrasive pad.

• Avoid metal scrapers, wire brushes, and abrasive powders that could scratch the glossy glaze.

• Remove waterline deposits using a cleaner approved for glazed porcelain and the selected grout.

• Test mineral-deposit and calcium-removal products in an inconspicuous location before general use.

• Inspect grout, sealant, movement joints, and coping transitions during routine pool maintenance.

Design Profile

• Aesthetic Inspiration: Contemporary resort pools, Mediterranean water features, coastal modern, and high-energy aquatic design.

• Color Character: Saturated electric blue with azure, cobalt, and luminous ocean-blue movement.

• Visual Advantage: The high-gloss surface reflects sunlight, underwater illumination, and moving water for a vivid dimensional effect.

• Complementary Coping: White limestone, light travertine, pale concrete, silver travertine, and cool-gray porcelain coping.

• Complementary Pool Finishes: White, light blue, medium blue, and gray interior pool finishes.

• Complementary Materials: Stainless steel, clear glass, white plaster, natural stone, and light wood-look porcelain.

• Suggested Grout Colors: Medium blue for tonal continuity, pale blue for gentle definition, or white for strong geometric contrast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the correct code VIP-913 or VIPS-913?

Fujiwa’s current website lists VIP-913 Electric Blue. Some catalogs and distributor systems use VIPS-913 for the sheet-mounted version.

Is this porcelain or glass tile?

It is glazed porcelain, not glass.

Is it suitable for swimming pools?

Yes. Fujiwa specializes in pool tile, and the VIP Series is suitable for pool waterlines and approved aquatic installations.

Can it be installed completely underwater?

Yes, when installed with a complete waterproofing, mortar, grout, and sealant system approved for permanently submerged porcelain tile.

Can it be used in saltwater pools?

Porcelain tile can be used in properly maintained saltwater pools, but all setting materials, grout, waterproofing, and metal components must also be approved for that environment.

Can it be installed on a pool deck?

No. Its smooth high-gloss surface should not be specified for pool decks or other wet walking surfaces without published project-specific slip testing.

How much does one sheet cover?

One sheet covers approximately 1.08 square feet.

How much does one carton cover?

Twenty sheets cover approximately 21.60 square feet.

Does the porcelain require sealing?

The glazed porcelain surface does not require sealing. Cement-based grout may require sealing if permitted by the grout manufacturer and aquatic installation system.

Will the blue look the same underwater?

No. Water depth, pool lighting, sunlight, water chemistry, and the surrounding pool finish can make the tile appear lighter, deeper, or more reflective.