What Is Ceramic?
Ceramic tile tests are carried out using the methods defined in the EN ISO 10545 series: size and surface quality, water absorption, breaking load and bending strength, deep abrasion and surface abrasion resistance, thermal shock, frost resistance, stain and chemical resistance and slip resistance are measured.
Purpose of Ceramic
The aim is to show that the tile provides appropriate performance for the area in which it will be used (floor, wall, exterior, wet area) and to verify the classification according to EN 14411.
Which Products Is Ceramic Applied To?
- Floor and wall tiles
- Porcelain tiles
- exterior ceramics
- Pool and wet area tiles
- Large size ceramic plates
In Which Sectors Is Ceramic Used?
Standards Related to Ceramic
- TS EN 14411 (ceramic tiles — definitions, classification and marking)
- TS EN ISO 10545-3 (water absorption, porosity and density)
- TS EN ISO 10545-4 (breaking load and bending strength)
- TS EN ISO 10545-6/-7 (deep and surface wear resistance)
- TS EN ISO 10545-12 (donma direnci)
- TS EN ISO 10545-13/-14 (chemical resistance and stain resistance)
- DIN 51130 / EN 16165 (kayma direnci)
Ceramic Conditions
- Water absorption class
- EN 14411 classification is made according to water absorption value
- Wear class
- PEI wear class is determined for glazed tiles
- Number of samples
- Each experiment requires a number of tiles defined in the standard
- Slip resistance
- Method and classification vary depending on target market
Equipment for Ceramic
- Flexural test press
- Water absorption experiment tank and vacuum apparatus
- Deep wear and PEI wear devices
- Freeze-thaw cabinet
- Slip resistance inclined plane and pendulum assemblies
- Dimension measurement and flatness measurement systems
Sample Requirements for Ceramic
- Standard-defined number of full tiles for each experiment
- Tile type, size and surface treatment must be declared
- Area of use must be specified — determines the test list
- Samples must be undamaged and from the same batch
Duration of Ceramic
Size, water absorption and bending tests are completed within a few days. Frost resistance and deep abrasion tests take longer depending on the number of cycles.
Ceramic Procedure
- 1The test list is determined according to the tile type and usage area.
- 2Size, flatness and surface quality are examined.
- 3Water absorption test is performed and classification is determined.
- 4Breaking load and bending strength are measured.
- 5Abrasion, freezing and chemical resistance tests are applied.
- 6Slip resistance is measured and classified.
Ceramic Acceptance Criteria
TS EN 14411 defines the minimum requirements for each tile class according to the water absorption group and production method. Slip resistance class and abrasion class are determined by the project specifications and national regulations according to the area of use. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.
Evaluation of Results
The water absorption value determines the entire behavior of the tile: porcelain tiles with low water absorption are suitable for outdoors and areas at risk of freezing, while tiles with high water absorption are limited to indoor walls. The slip resistance measurement method varies by market; Classification in one market cannot be directly translated into another.
Ceramic Report
- Tile type, size and surface treatment
- Water absorption result and EN 14411 group
- Breaking load and bending strength
- Wear class
- Freeze, chemical and stain resistance results
- Slip resistance value and class
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011
Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Ceramic test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.
What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.
The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.
Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.
Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.
Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.
Method groups in this field
Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.
Commonly confused in this field
- REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
- A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
- A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
- A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
- ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.
Which decisions these results support
- Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
- Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
- On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
- Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
- Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Ceramic
Can we use indoor tiles outside?
It should not be used if the water absorption value is high: when the absorbed water freezes, it expands and cracks the tile. For outdoor use, tiles with low water absorption and verified frost resistance are required.
Which grade is required for slip resistance?
The area of use determines: national regulations stipulate different minimum classes for wet areas, kitchens and public areas. In addition, since the measurement method varies according to the market, the method desired by the target market should be applied.