Specification

514
DESIGN WITH CONFIDENCE
daltile.com
EVALUATING THE STATIC COEFFICIENT OF
FRICTION (COF) OF CERAMIC TILE, ASTM C1028-06
COF* denes the relative slip resistance of oor surfaces. The tile
industry uses ASTM C1028-06 to measure the COF published in
Dal-Tile’s product literature. The procedure involves the use of a
calibrated dynamometer, a specied neolite heel assembly, a standard
reference tile surface, and a 50 pound weight. This procedure measures
the maximum force required to initiate motion in the testing assembly
in four perpendicular directions. The values are recorded and an
averaging calculation is performed that determines the static COF.
WATER ABSORPTION, ASTM C373-88
Water absorption is measured using ASTM C373-88. Individual tiles
are weighed, saturated with water, then weighed again. The percent
difference between the two conditions is referred to as the water
absorption value. Tiles are classied according to water absorption
percentages as follows:
Impervious Tiles exhibiting 0.5% or less.
Vitreous Tiles exhibiting more than 0.5%
but not more than 3.0%.
Semi-Vitreous Tiles exhibiting more than 3.0%
but not more than 7.0%.
Non-Vitreous Tiles exhibiting more than 7.0%.
SCRATCH HARDNESS (MOH’S SCALE RATINGS)
The relative hardness of glazed tile is an important issue that should be
addressed when selecting a tile. The test is performed by scratching
the surface of the tile with different minerals and subjectively assigning a
“MOH’s Scale Hardness” number to the glaze, the softest mineral used
is talc (“1” rating), the hardest is a diamond (“10” rating). Other minerals
of varying hardness provide Moh’s Scale Hardness values of 5 to 7 are
suitable for most residential oor applications. A value of 7 or greater
is normally recommended for commercial applications.
BREAKING STRENGTH CERAMIC TILE, ASTM C648-04
Ceramic tiles used on oors and walls must be able to withstand the
expected load bearing capacity of various installations. The tile industry
uses ASTM C648-04 to determine the strength and durability of the
tile. A force is applied to an unsupported portion of the tile specimen
until breakage occurs. The ultimate breaking strength is then recorded
in pounds. Final selection of the tile should be based upon the breaking
strength and the appropriate installation method. Tile integrity is critically
dependent upon proper installation. Dal-Tile recommends strict
adherence to industry installation guidelines set forth in ANSI A108,
A118 and A136.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE, ASTM C650-04
Chemical resistance is measured using ASTM C650-04. A tile sample is
placed in continuous contact with a variety of chemicals for 24 hours,
rinsing the surface and then examining the surface for visible variation.
PORCELAIN/CERAMIC TEST RESuLTS
INDUSTRY STANDARDS
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are nationally recognized
organizations, which identify and develop industry test methods and
technical standards.
*Neither ASTM nor ANSI establish an industry standard identifying a
minimum COF value whereby ceramic tile may be labeled "slip resistant".
All Standard Grade ceramic tile products manufactured by or for Daltile
meet or exceed the requirements of ANSI A137.1. See product pages
for series-specic technical data.
Class Zero
Not recommended for use on oors.
Class One
(Light Residential)
1
Light Traffic - Residential oor coverings in areas
subject to soft-soled footwear or normal footwear
trafc, without scratching dirt (i.e. domestic
bathrooms and bedrooms without exterior access).
Class Two
(Residential)
2
Medium to Light Traffic - Residential oor coverings
in areas subject to soft-soled footwear or normal
footwear trafc with small amounts of scratching
dirt (i.e. rooms in the living areas of homes except
kitchens, entrances and other areas that may be
subjected to high usage).
Class Three
(Heavy Residential
or Light Commercial)
3
Medium to Heavy Traffic - Residential or light
commercial may withstand normal footwear and
regular trafc, with some dirt and/or other abrasives
present in limited quantities. Tile in this class may be
used in light commercial installations with limited
foot trafc and with no direct access to the outside.
Examples may include residential kitchens and
hallways with limited trafc from the outside.
Class Four
(Commercial)
4
Heavy Traffic - Residential and commercial oor
coverings subjected to considerable trafc and
scratching dirt (i.e. entrances, workrooms, inns,
exhibition halls, and sales rooms, as well as other
rooms in public and private buildings). Floors should
be adequately protected against scratching dirt at
the entrances to buildings by either oor mats or
some other footwear cleaning device.
Class Five
(Heavy Commercial)
5
Heavy Traffic - Heavy commercial oor coverings
subject to heavy trafc with very abrasive soil.
ABRASION RESISTANCE, ASTM C1027-99
The durability of glazed tile is measured, subjectively, by observing
the visible surface abrasion of the tile when subjected to the ASTM C
1027-99 testing procedure. Dal-Tile evaluates glazed tile recommended
for oor applications using this test method which includes the following
classication system:
SHADE VARIATIONS
Tiles range from complete inconsistency to a more random appearance.
Here’s an overview of color and shading of individual tile selections.
Monochromatic (V0) - Very uniform, monochromatic color
Low (V1) - Consistent color within each tile and from tile to tile
Medium (V2) - Color variation within each tile
High (V3) - Some variation from tile to tile, and within each tile
Random (V4) - Considerable variation from tile to tile