• Frequency of Use: The more often a surface is used, the greater the wear.
• Degree of Soiling and Cleaning Conditions: The amount of dirt and the effectiveness of cleaning methods impact tile longevity.
• Type of Mechanical Stress: Different walking or driving patterns can contribute to varying levels of wear.
• Hardness of the Glaze: The durability of the glaze directly affects resistance to scratches and abrasions.
• Thickness of the Glaze Layer: A thicker glaze layer can enhance wear resistance.
• Glaze Finish: Different finishes (matte, semi-matte, gloss) can influence the appearance and durability of the tile.
• Colour and Brightness of the Glaze: These factors can affect how visible wear and scratches are over time.
Understanding these elements can help you choose the right tiles for your flooring needs, ensuring long-lasting performance and aesthetic appeal.
Different environments require tiles with varying levels of wear resistance, categorized into groups 0, I, II, III, IV, and V. Here’s a breakdown of each group:
0: Lightest Stress
Unsuitable for floor areas.
Tiles in this category are not recommended for any flooring applications due to insufficient durability.
I: Very Light Stress
Ideal for areas with very infrequent use (soft-soled shoes) and no abrasive contamination.
Examples: Bedrooms and bathrooms in private homes.
II: Light Stress
Suitable for areas with infrequent use (normal street shoes) and minimal abrasive contamination.
Examples: Private homes, excluding kitchens, stairs, terraces, and loggias.
III: Medium Stress
Designed for areas with frequent use (normal street shoes) and some abrasive contamination.
Examples: All residential rooms (excluding kitchens), hotel rooms, bathrooms, hallways, corridors, balconies, and loggias.
IV: Medium-Heavy Stress
Best for areas with frequent use (normal street shoes) and regular, heavy soiling.
Examples: Private entrances, kitchens, terraces, sales rooms, utility rooms, offices, hotels, schools, administration buildings, and hospitals.
V: Heavy Stress
Tiles in this category offer exceptional wear resistance for high-traffic public areas.
Examples: Bakeries, snack bars, hotel and bank entrance halls, and restaurants.
Choosing the right wear resistance group for your tiles ensures durability and performance, tailored to the specific demands of each area.
For areas with heavy foot traffic or extreme surface wear, such as cash register zones and entrance pathways, we recommend using unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles. These tiles offer exceptional wear resistance, making them ideal for high-stress applications.
In areas subjected to extreme wear, minor deviations in the overall surface appearance may occur. Therefore, in such cases, it’s advisable to select a tile from the next higher wear resistance group for optimal performance.
Tiles from higher wear resistance groups can also be effectively used in areas with lower requirements, providing flexibility in your flooring choices.
Unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles, classified under standard DIN EN 14411, Group Bla, with water absorption E<0.5%, are renowned for their superior wear resistance (deep abrasion) among all flooring materials. This homogeneous material shows virtually no signs of wear, even after decades of heavy use.
If you’re interested in samples or need further information, please contact us at sales@grestec.co.uk or call 0345 130 2241.
For further information or advice, please call us on 0345 130 2241 or email sales@grestec.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.