Ceramic Tile Breaking Strength

Most reputable lines of porcelain tiles are rated for use by the porcelain enamel institute pei abrasion test.

Ceramic tile breaking strength. Not all ceramic and porcelain tiles are equally strong and durable. The break strength of a tile is the amount of weight that it can withstand unsupported before it breaks. Most tiles comply with astm c648 breaking strength standards. As the plywood under the tiles flexes especially along floor joists the flexing can cause the floor tiles to crack.

The ansi requires a break strength of at least 250 lbs. As long as the tile does not break under 250 pounds of pressure the tile is considered to be compliant with these standards. Results given in pounds at which the tile broke in testing. A measurement of pounds required to cause a tile to break.

For ceramic porcelain stoneware floor tiles bending strength is the perfect indicator of mechanical strength. Answer the breaking strength minimum industry requirement for ceramic tile is a laboratory test of what is mostly an unsupported tile and isn t directly meaningful in terms of determining what kind of dead and live loads it can endure. It is a load limit value applied to three points which the ceramic or porcelain stoneware tile can bear without breaking. If you re looking at a break strength lower than that you can t use that tile on the floor.

It states on the glazed wall tile chart that all glazed wall tiles should have an average breaking strength 125 lbf and with each tile tested having a minimum breaking strength of 100lbf. Some can withstand heavy foot traffic while others are only suitable for decorative wall installations. In this test floor tiles are run through a machine that exerts loads on an unsupported 1 inch square area. Breaking strength astm c648 force on an unsupported portion of tile until breakage occurs expressed in lbs.

A measurement of the resistance of a tile when scratched by ten reference materials gypsum fluorite quartz diamond etc. Based on astm testing standards. Most tiles meet the 250 pound minimum. Ceramic tile laid over plywood is more susceptible to cracking due to the flexible nature of the plywood.

It is associated to the force by which a tile responds when subjected to stress which can break it. Evaluate the break strength rating in comparison with industry requirements.