Use and Care Guide

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE (ASTM C650)
Resistance to chemicals may be an important consideration in the selection of tile
for a specific application such as commercial applications. The standard testing
procedure involves placing the tile sample in continuous contact with a variety of
chemicals for 24 hours, raising the surface and then examining the surface for
damage or variation. These are the properties of resistance to the chemically aggres-
sive action of substances that may come into contact with the tile surface.
Chemical properties measured include stain resistance, resistance to household
chemicals, acid and alkali resistance. The compactness of the surface layer is
extremely important in this aspect: In fact, a greater surface porosity promotes the
absorption of these substances. Glazed products usually posses a fairly good level of
chemical resistance, in particular to alkaline substances. As for unglazed products, on
the other hand, resistance to chemical attack is generally excellent for all products.
COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION (COF – ASTM C1028)
The coecient of friction is a measure of slip resistance and is typically a rating of 0-1.
Most U.S. safety standards state that floors with a rating of .5 or greater are safe. How-
ever, in commercial applications due to ADA recommendations the industry has
adopted .6 for flat surfaces and .8 on ramps. Floors with higher ratings mean they are
slip resistant but not slip proof. Neolite is the standard material used to conduct the
slip testing to make sure results are measured accurately each time. It is important
to get both a dry and wet reading as wet conditions will typically cause tiles to
become slippery.
FROST RESISTANCE (ASTM C1026)
Frost resistance is defined as the ability of ceramic tile to withstand freeze/thaw
conditions. The frost resistance of ceramic tile is dependent on the tile’s porosity and
water absorption levels.
Frost damage can occur when the ceramic tile absorbs moisture and the trapped
water freezes when temperatures drop. As the trapped water expands when it freez-
es, it exerts tension inside the body of the tile, which may cause crack in the ceramic
tile. A tile that is not frost resistant may not perform optimally in freezing weather
conditions. A ceramic tile intended and warranted for outside applications is always
tested for frost resistance. The water absorption percentage of each tile is clearly
listed on the tile data sheet.
SCRATCH RESISTANCE (MOHS)
The scratch resistance of a tile is measured by the MOHS scale of hardness. The
MOHS scale of minerals determines what type of object is hard enough to scratch
the surface. The higher the number, the greater the scratching resistance:
1 Talc- talcum powder, sodium
2 Gypsum- used in various plasters
3 Calcite- limestone, shells, copper
4 Fluorite- iron, nickel
5 Apatite- tooth enamel
6 Orthoclase- titanium
7 Quartz- fused glass
8 Topaz- hardened steel
9 Corundum- titanium carbide
10 Diamond- diamonds
INDUSTRY STANDARDS
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