Getting it Right 1-

Wall & Floor Tiles

by:
Ms. Ang Pek Lay
FMM Malaysian Ceramic Industry Group (MCIG)
13 October 2016
REHDA Institute
 Presentation Outline
 Manufacturing Process Flow
 What are Ceramic Tiles
 Advantages of Ceramic Tiles
 Classification and Types of Tiles
 Technical Specification - MS ISO 13006 Standard
 Labelling
 Choosing the Right Tiles
 Installation Guideline
 Some common tiling failures
 Costing
 Care & Maintenance
 Warranty
 Q&A
 What Are Ceramic Tiles?
Ceramic tile is defined as product that is manufactured
from a mixture of natural inorganic materials,
comprising of mainly
Clay (main component)
Feldspar (main component for Porcelain tiles)
Limestone (main component for Wall tiles)
Silica Sand
Colour Pigments

this is processed and pressed into shape and then fired

to high temperatures (up to 1220°C) to produce a
strong and durable product.
Manufacturing
Process of
Ceramic Tiles
 Ceramic Tiles can be
Glazed and Unglazed
Glaze

Glazed Tile Unglazed Tile

Body

 Glaze acts as a impervious coating on the tiles which

protect the tiles from getting dirty and stained.

 The glaze coating makes the tile easy to clean and

maintain.
 Advantages of Ceramic Tiles
Aesthetics
Tiles available in limitless colours, textures and designs

Durable
Correctly specified tiles and with proper care, tiles will last a lifetime.

Colour-fast
Colours on tiles do not fade.

Easy to clean
Tiles come with an impervious glaze or vitrified surface, make it easy to clean.

Fire Proof
Tiles being fired at a high temperature makes it fire resistant.

Chemical Resistant
Tiles are resistant to most common household chemicals.

Low allergy & Safe

Tiles are inert and unlike many plastic finishes, will not give off any hazardous fumes
and are free from V.O.C. (volatile organic compounds)
Classification of Ceramic Tiles
All ceramic tiles must conform to the
technical requirements specified in
MS ISO 13006.

SIRIM MS logo certifies conformance

to ISO standard

Ceramic tiles are classified into

different groups according to its
WATER ABSORPTION.
 Types of Ceramic Tiles
Common Terminology
WATER MIN.
Group ABSORPTION TYPE OF TILES BREAKING SUITABLE FOR
(%) STRENGTH

BIa < 0.5 PORCELAIN or 1300N FLOOR & WALL

(Annex G)
HOMOGENEOUS TILES
BIb
(Annex H) 0.5 to 3 GRES TILES & MOSAICS 1100N FLOOR & WALL

BIIa
(Annex J) 3 to 6 CERAMIC FLOOR TILES 1000N FLOOR & WALL

BIIb
(Annex K) 6 to 10 CERAMIC FLOOR TILES 800N FLOOR & WALL

BIII
(Annex L) >10 CERAMIC WALL TILES 600N WALL ONLY
 Types of Ceramic Tiles –
ISO/ASTM Terminology
WATER
Grouping TYPE OF TILES Glazed or Unglazed?
ABSORPTION (%)

BIa ≤ 0.5 PORCELAIN GL / UGL

(Annex G)
(Impervious)

Bib 0.5 to ≤ 3 GRES TILES GL

(Annex H)
(Vitreous)

BIIa SEMI GRES TILES

(Annex J)
3 to ≤ 6 (Semi-Vitreous)
GL

BIIb SEMI POROUS TILES

(Annex K)
6 to ≤10 (Semi-Vitreous)
GL

BIII POROUS TILES

(Annex L)
>10 (Non-Vitreous)
GL

GL-Glazed
(ASTM Classification)
UGL-Unglazed
Microstructure of Ceramic Tiles
GLAZE
GLAZE GLAZE

ENGOBE ENGOBE
ENGOBE

BODY

BODY BODY BODY

Glazed wall tile with Glazed floor tile with Porcelain tile with

14% water absorption 6% water absorption 0.1% water absorption

Porous Compact

HFW : 1.9mm
 Ceramic tiles without
engobe layer – prone to
water mark
Porcelain or
Homogeneous
Tiles?
The terminology, HOMOGENEOUS/ FULL BODY TILES is commonly used to
describe porcelain tiles.

Homogeneous tile is a product of porcelain tile where the tile have the same colour
throughout the whole piece of tile.

To assess whether a tile is homogenous - check for a consistent colour/material

throughout the entire tile.

Therefore, HOMOGENEOUS tile is a product type of Porcelain tile since the water
absorption is less than 0.5%.

HOMOGENEOUS NON-HOMOGENEOUS
Glazed Porcelain
vs
Polished Porcelain
 GLAZED PORCELAIN POLISHED PORCELAIN

Surface coated with a glaze. Do not contain a glaze coat. (UGL)

Water Absorption ≤ 0.5% Water Absorption ≤ 0.1%

Huge range of glaze (matt, gloss or

structured) textures and designs to Only available in high gloss
choose from. surface available

Available in anti-slip textures Only with glossy surface and not

suited for wet areas

Available in 3 different body types : Available in 3 different body types

plain/coloured/full body : plain/coloured/full body

Glazed tiles are not prone to May be prone to staining after

staining nano coat is worn off.

Certain batches may have Generally flat due to polishing

inherent slight curvature
Rustic/Structure

Matt
Lappato
Polished Porcelain Tiles
Technical Specification-
MS ISO 13006
 Typical Technical Specification for
Porcelain Tile
Properties Technical Specification
Dimensional
Length & Width ± 0.5% or max 2mm
Thickness ± 5.0%
Straightness of Sides ± 0.5%
Rectangularity ± 0.6% or max 2mm
Surface Flatness
-Center curvature ± 0.5%
-Edge curvature ± 0.5%
-Warpage ± 0.5%

Physical
Water Absorption ≤ 0.5%
Breaking Strength Min 1300N
Abrasive Resistance Min PEI 3
Crazing Resistance Pass

Chemical
Resistance to Chemical Min. Class B
Resistance to Staining Min. Class 3
 Labeling & Specification on Carton
Tiles and their packaging shall have the following marking
& specification:

1. The Method of Shaping.

2. Water Absorption & Annex Group
3. Nominal Size and Work Size (with thickness)
4. Tile Surface (i.e. glazed-GL or unglazed-UGL)
5. Grade of Tiles (Mark to indicate quality)
6. Country of Origin
7. Descriptive type of tiles
8. Product Code/Shade Code /Size Code
9. Production Date / Production Batch Code
10. Quantity of Tile Per Carton
11. Installation Instructions
 Choosing the Right Ceramic Tile
How to Choose the Suitable Tile for the Right Application?
When choosing ceramic tiles, other than the aesthetic aspects, it is
important to consider the technical and physical characteristics of the tile.

Area of Application Recommended Tiles

Heavy traffic areas, e.g., commercial and - Porcelain tiles

public places, - Glazed Tiles with high abrasive resistance
2) Wet areas, e.g., swimming pool decks, - Tiles with rough/matt texture
bathrooms - Tiles with anti-slip properties.
3) Low traffic areas, e.g., bedrooms - Glazed Tiles with higher gloss or tiles with
lower abrasive resistance
4) External installations - Tiles with low water absorption (<3%)
 Wrong Choice of Tiles!

Badly worn out glaze

after 2 months
Installation Guideline-
MS 1294: Part 1-4
The Tiling System & Its Physical Components
concrete or
levelling render
 All the components are
equally important as they
are inter-related tile adhesive
(bedding material)
 Adequate compatibility
must exist between them finishing
for the system to function tile or stone
collectively

 The system can only be as

strong as the weakest tile grout
component (or, in some
cases, worse)
The Tile Adhesive: Identify the Selection Criteria
 Type of tile based on water absorption
 Size of tile, ranging from mosaics to large format tiles
 Rigidity of support structure eg. slab deflection, vibrations
 Slab or wall installation?
 Substrate type eg. cementitious or dry wall?
 Traffic loads eg high volume, heavy traffic?
 Interior or exterior application?
 Exposure to water eg periodic wetting / drying?
 Installation conditions eg. hot and windy conditions?
 Waiting period  rapid return to service?
 Chemical resistance eg chemical plants, industrial kitchens?
 Floor design eg intricate patterns? ..... etc.
Selection Criteria  Choosing the Right Adhesive

MS ISO 13007 Classifications

Type Classes Special Characteristic

C= 1 = Normal F = Fast-setting
Cementitious
(Thin-set 2 = Improved T = Slip-resistant
mortars)
E = Extended open time

S1 = Deformable

S2 = Highly deformable
MS ISO 13007, Adhesive Specification Examples
Class ‘’C1’’: Where normal adhesion strengths are acceptable
.
Where to use?
 Concrete & masonry surfaces
 Other rigid surfaces

What types of tiles?

 Ceramic & Glazed Tiles

C1:
Tensile adhesion strength of
0.5 N/mm2 (72.5 psi)
at 28-d
MS ISO 13007, Adhesive Specification Examples
Class ‘’C2’’: Where higher performance is required
Where to use?
 Concrete & masonry surfaces
 Other rigid surfaces
 High-use areas

What types of tiles?

 Porcelain tiles & low-absorbent tiles
 Glass mosaics & larger formats
 Natural stones

C2:
Tensile adhesion strength of
1.0 N/mm2 (145 psi)
at 28-d
(compared to 0.5 N/mm2 for C1 adhesives)
Airports, Malls
MS ISO 13007, Adhesive Specification Examples
‘’E’’: Extended open time
When would you use this?
With porous tiles or when the substrate is porous

Intricate laying patterns

Applications at higher temperatures

Applications in exposed windy conditions

(the mortar dries out more quickly)
Intricate patterns

Class E:
Extended open-time.
Tensile adhesion strength of
0.5 N /mm2 (72.5 psi)
with an open time of not less than 30 mins

Applications in exposed conditions

ISO 13007, Adhesive Specification Examples
The importance of using S1 & S2 deformable adhesives for suspended
slabs

Slab deflection (curvature)

 When the entire installation is
subject to deformation due to
loading, movement or deflection

 S1 & S2 classications identify the

correct adhesives to suit the
deformation that will occur (within
acceptable limits)
 ISO 13007, Adhesive Specification Examples
S1 - Deformable

 Required when installing large profile

ceramic or porcelain tiles or stones over
areas subject to movement

 Areas subject to thermal stresses and

expansion/contraction over time; deflection
within acceptable limits where curvature is
expected
MS ISO 13007, Adhesive Specification Examples
S2 - Highly Deformable
 Exterior installations subject to high
movements due to sharp temperature
fluctuations and dynamic loading

exterior facades

 Suspended slabs; engineered wood-framed construction; multi-floor

building facades
MS ISO 13007, Examples of Classified Adhesives

These classifications must be displayed on the packaging,

to provide the user with important information on the adhesive’s
TESTED characteristics and performance properties
Other Necessary Requirements For A Quality
Tiled Finish
 Substrate preparation  flat, sound, clean

 Workmanship to follow MS1294-Code of Practice for the design and

installation for ceramic tiles and mosaics
 Tiling Gap for wall tiles – Minimum 1.5mm
 Tiling Gap for floor tiles-Minimum 3.00 mm

 Protection of work
Problems With Tiling, Some Examples...

Insufficient application of
adhesive resulting in poor
contact
Problems With Tiling, Some Examples...

X Spreading the adhesive over too

big an area (see next slide...)
Problems With Tiling, Some Examples...

“Fresh” adhesive

Adhesive is past open time. Result is weak/no

X adhesion
Problems With Tiling, Some Examples...

Hollowness;
Air pockets beneath tiles causing one part to sound differently from
another
Problems With Tiling, Some Examples...

Tenting of tiles. Possible causes are:

Absence of movement joints
Recommended movement joint
 Internal – 5 to 7 meter
 External -3 meter
Substrate movement / wrong adhesive selection
DE-BONDING OF PORCELAIN TILES
(RESIDENTIAL)
DE-BONDING OF PORCELAIN TILES
(SHOPPING MALL)
DE-BONDING OF PORCELAIN TILES (PUBLIC AREA)
DE-BONDING OF PORCELAIN TILES (EXTERNAL WALL)
No trace of any bonding materials
on tile back – the tell tale sign of
poor adhesion
 INSTALLATION OF PORCELAIN TILES
IMPORTANT
1. AVOID USING OPC – POOR BONDING AGENT FOR PORCELAIN TILES
2. USE THE CORRECT TYPE OF ADHESIVE
2. DO NOT ADULTERATE ADHESIVE WITH OPC
3. AVOID MIXING LATEX OF DIFFERENT BRAND WITH ADHESIVE
LIPPAGE is a condition where one or more edge of
the tile is not at the same level with the adjacent tile
LIPPAGE MAY BE CAUSED BY WORKMANSHIP
OR BY WARPED TILES

Lippage
LIPPAGE appears more prominently on LARGE FORMAT and
RECTANGULAR TILES especially with rectified edges.

Effect of tile lippage can be minimised by:

Ensure good preparation of substrate – flat and even
Use tiles with good planarity, e.g., polished tiles.
Minimise brick pattern installation for rectangular tiles
Install tiles following ‘arrow’ orientation
Allocate wider joint widths

ANSI A137.1 recommends a minimum 4.5mm joint widths for large

format tiles
RECTANGULAR TILES INSTALLED WITH
BRICK PATTERN (50% OFFSET)
 RECTANGULAR TILES INSTALLED WITH
NOT MORE THAN 30% OFFSET TO REDUCE THE
EFFECT OF LIPPAGE
DIRECTIONAL ARROW ON TILE BACK
CHEMICAL ATTACK ON GLAZED TILES
CHEMICAL ATTACK ON GLAZED TILES
CHEMICAL ATTACK ON GLAZED TILES
CHEMICAL ATTACK ON GLAZED TILES
CHEMICAL ATTACK ON GLAZED TILES
 SEVERE CHEMICAL ATTACK ON POLISHED TILES

• Tiles attacked by chemicals cannot be restored to original state

• It is very important to read the product label carefully before using any cleaning agent.
Costing
 Estimating the Amount of Tiles Required

A good rule of thumb to determined the percentage of

wastage required is:

5%-10% --for normal installation

15% - 20% --for diagonal installation, or

in a room that has many curves or
corners
Formula to calculate the amount of tiles required:

Length x width

Tile size
+ Wastage = Pieces of tiles required

Example:
Scenario : room size of 3m (length) x 3m (width),
Tile size=0.3mx0.3m, wastage = 10%

3m x 3m
+ 10% = 110 pieces of tiles
0.3 m x 0.3m
Order/Delivery
Lead Time
8 to 12 weeks upon
confirmation order
 Care &
Maintenance
 Care & Maintenance
A tiled floor need to be regularly maintained to ensure the tiles stay in good
and clean condition. After cleaning, the floor must be kept dry as wet surface
tend to make the floor extremely slippery.
Cleaning agents- Avoid using acid based cleaners that are corrosive and can
attack tile surface and cement based grout.
Cleaning method- Avoid using highly abrasive materials such as metal scouring
pads as these will cause scratches on the glaze surface. SPILLAGES on the floor
should be cleaned immediately.
Abrasive dirt- Ensure floor is kept as clean as possible. Avoid abrasive dirt, like
sand particles which can cause damage to the tile surface.

Tiles with rough glazes would requires more regular cleaning as

compared to glossy, smooth glazes
 For more stubborn stains, refer to the chart below:

Type of Stain Type of Cleaning Agent

Grease Thinner, Turpentine

Marker Pens Thinner, Turpentine, Mild Sulphuric Acid

Wine/Colas Potassium Carbonate, Caustic Soda

Paint Thinner, Turpentine

Cooking Oil Potassium Carbonate

Coffee/Tea Potassium Carbonate, Caustic Soda

IMPORTANT NOTE : Always test clean using small or diluted amounts of the cleaning agent
in a small area before starting actual cleaning on the affected areas.
Key factors to ensure a lasting
performance of your tiles

 Quality of tiles
 Correct choice of tiles
 Good substrate & preparation
 Design & treatment of movement joints
 Correct adhesive
 Good workmanship  installation tools/method
 Protection of works (before use)
 Proper care & maintenance (while in use)
All manufacturers’ warranties are only valid for
uninstalled tiles, it is important to stop tiling any
further if any doubts or concerns about the tile
quality. Immediately contact your tile supplier with
your concerns.
Q&A
THANK YOU