Wear-resistance properties of glazed vitreous and porcelain stoneware tiles in accordance with EN ISO 10545-7.
All floor coverings are exposed to wear. The extent of wear is primarily dependent on the following factors:
• Frequency of use
• Degree of soiling and cleaning conditions
• Type of mechanical stress through manner in which the floor is walked, driven upon
• The hardness of the glaze
• The thickness of the glaze layer
• The glaze finish (matt, semi-matt, gloss)
• The colour and brightness of the glaze
Different situations require tiles of a different wear resistance. Wear resistance groups are identified as 0, I, II, III, IV & V and classified as below:
0 Lightest stress: Unsuitable for the floor area
I Very light stress: For floors in areas subject to very infrequent use, (soft-soled shoes) and no abrasive contamination. Examples: bedrooms and bathrooms in private homes.
II Light stress: For floors in areas subject to infrequent use, (normal street shoes) and small amounts of abrasive contamination. Examples: Private homes, with the exception of kitchens, stairs, terraces, loggias.
III Medium stress: For floors in areas subject to frequent use, (normal street shoes) and abrasive contamination. Examples: all rooms in the home, including bathrooms, hallways, corridors, balconies, loggias, apart from kitchens; hotel rooms and bathrooms; sanitary and therapy rooms in hospitals.
IV Medium-heavy stress: For floors in areas subject to frequent use (normal street shoes) and frequent, intense soiling. Examples: private entrances and kitchens, terraces, sales rooms and utility rooms, offices, hotels etc; floors in schools, administration buildings, hospitals etc.
V Heavy stress: The tiles of the wear-resistance group V, which provide a very high wear resistance, are available for areas subject to intense public use. Examples: bakeries, snack bars, entrance halls of hotels and banks, restaurants.
Maximum stress
For heavily frequented application areas or those subjected to extreme surface wear, for example, in the areas surrounding cash tills or entrance areas to passage ways, we recommend the use of unglazed porcelain stoneware, which has an unusually high degree of wear resistance.
At points that are subjected to extreme wear- and this applies to all areas of application- deviations from the overall appearance of the surface are possible. In borderline cases, it is therefore recommendable to choose the next-higher wear resistance group.
Tiles belonging to higher wear-resistance groups can, of course, be used in areas subject to lower requirements.
Wear-resistance properties of unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles
Unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles, as described in standard DIN EN 14411, Group Bla water absorption E<0.5%, are considered to have some of the highest wear-resistance properties (deep abrasion) of all floor covering materials. This homogeneous material reveals virtually no signs of wear, even after decades of intensive use.
At points that are subject to extreme wear- and this applies to all areas of application- deviation from the overall appearance of the surface are possible.
To request any samples or for further information please email sales@grestec.co.uk or call us on 0345 130 2241.