Ceramic Flexural Strength

In the ceramic tile flexural test, the tile is placed on two supports and loaded centrally until it breaks. Two values are reported together: breaking strength (the force the tile carries) and flexural strength (stress normalised for thickness).

The purpose is to determine whether the tile will carry the loads expected in floor or wall installation. Breaking strength is more decisive for floor tiles than for wall tiles.

• Floor and wall ceramic tiles
• Porcelain tiles
• Large-format thin tiles
• Exterior facade ceramic cladding

• EN ISO 10545-4 (ceramic tiles — determination of breaking strength and flexural strength)
• EN ISO 10545-2 (determination of dimensions and surface quality)
• EN 14411 (ceramic tiles — definitions and classification)
• EN ISO 10545-3 (water absorption — supplementary)

Setup

Two supports and single loading in the middle; support opening according to tile size

Number of samples

Quantity defined in the standard according to tile size

Conditioning

Samples are dried before testing

Loading speed

Standard defined speed

• Ceramic flexural test machine
• Adjustable supports and loading rollers
• Oven
• Thickness and dimension measurement equipment

• The sample must be taken so as to represent the batch and in accordance with the sampling rules of the relevant standard.
• The sampling date, location and the person who took the sample must be recorded.
• Samples requiring curing or conditioning must be stored under the defined conditions.
• The number of samples must meet the minimum required by the standard.
• The sample must not be damaged during transport.

The test is generally completed within one to two working days including drying.

1. 1Samples are selected from the batch and dried.
2. 2Thickness and width are measured.
3. 3Support span is set according to tile size.
4. 4The tile is placed with the visible face up.
5. 5Load is applied at the defined rate.
6. 6The failure load is recorded.
7. 7Flexural strength is calculated and the set average is taken.

The acceptance class does not come from the test method but from the product standard and the project: concrete class, reinforcement class, aggregate category, or fire performance class is defined in the specification. The report gives the measured value; the conformity decision is made against the relevant product standard.

The result is compared against the minimum values given by EN 14411 per tile group. The tile group is determined by water absorption rate, so the flexural result is generally assessed together with the water absorption result.

• Sample description, sampling location and date
• Sampling method and witness sample information, if any
• Standard and test conditions applied
• Sample dimensions, curing conditions and age information
• Measured values and calculated results
• Failure mode or damage description (where applicable)
• A statement that the result applies only to the specimen submitted for testing

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.

• EU 305/2011 Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
• Construction Products Regulation (Turkey)
• TS 500 / Requirements for Design and Construction of Reinforced Concrete Structures
• Turkish Building Earthquake Code

The section below describes the field that the Ceramic Flexural Strength 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.

• Concrete Compressive Strength
• Concrete Tensile Strength
• Aggregate Sieve Analysis
• Aggregate Los Angeles Abrasion
• Reinforcing Steel Tensile Test
• Brick Compressive Strength
• Glass Impact Test
• Wind Load
• Façade Watertightness
• Fire Resistance
• Reaction to Fire
• Cement