The Coverings Event held in Orlando, Fl. was a great success for the pool industry. They were blown away by the innovative and new products they saw. When choosing which pool tile material to use, it is important to understand the differences between US ANSI and EU ISO standards. ANSI standards, therefore, are stricter.
You should not be swayed by the sales pitch and do your research before selecting a product. If you use materials that aren’t suitable for your application, you could be exposed to liability in the event of a failure.
ANSI A137-2018 is the standard for tile performance (A137.1 Ceramic Tiles & A137.2 glass tiles). The following are the minimum requirements for ceramic tiles used in submerged aquatic applications.
Porcelain tiles contain 50% feldspar, and they are fired at higher temperatures. They are therefore much denser and harder than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tile is a subgroup of ceramic tiles, which are covered by these standards.
Ten Important Factors to Consider When Selecting Pool Tile Materials
1. COEFFICIENT of FRICTION (COF) (TCNA: DCOF Test Method).
There are two types of COF: static (SCOF), and dynamic (DCOF. The coefficient of friction (COF) is the ratio between forces required to initiate sliding. The ASTM 1028 static tests measured SCOF.
DCOF is the ratio between the forces required to maintain sliding between surfaces. The greater the DCOF value, the more slippery the surface. It may not matter much underwater, but it is a major concern for a pool deck floor or locker room. For commercial flooring applications, industry standards accept >=0.42 DCOF. For wet/dry areas, such as aquatic locker rooms or moveable pools floors, >=0.60DCOF may be required.
2. WATER ABSORPTION Test Method (ASTM C373-88)
The tiles are weighed both dry and after they have been soaked in water. Weight gain is used to determine the percentage of absorption. The tiles are rated according to the following:
Impervious: Tiles exhibiting 0.5% or less.
Vitreous tiles: Tiles with a maximum of 3.0%, but no more than 0.5%.
Semi Vitreous: Tiles with a vitreous content of more than 3.0% but less than 7.0%
Non-Vitreous Tiles: Tiles with a Vitreous content of more than 7.0%.
3. Test Method for Frost Resistance (ASTM C1026)
water absorbtion is directly related. In a freezing condition, any water that has been absorbed will cause the tiles to crack. Porcelain tiles are frost-proof because they have a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%. We want to use impervious materials for aquatic applications.
4. SCRATCH HARDNESS (MOH’S SCALE RATIOS)
The surface hardness will determine the wear of a tile. The MOH hardness rating is assigned after the surface has been scratched. MOH’s Scale: 1- Talc (softest), to 10- Diamond (hardest). Residential flooring can be installed with a hardness of 5. Hardnesses of 7 or higher are usually recommended for outdoor or commercial applications.
5. BREAKING STRENGTH TERRACE CERAMIC TILE
The ceramic floor tiles should be able support the load placed on them. This test involves applying a force, in pounds, until the tile breaks. You should base your selection on the maximum load that you expect. Correctly installed tiles with a setting bed free of any voids will support much greater loads. These values are only for comparison.
6. Chemical Resistance (ASTM C650-04 Test Method)
In This test, samples tiles are immersed in different chemical baths for 24 hours, then rinsed, and surface damage is examined. It is important that aquatic venues have the highest level of chemical resistance.
7. SHADE VARIATIONS
This is only a cosmetic assessment of the consistency of tile colors within a particular production lot.
Monochromatic Color (V0). – Very uniform monochromatic colors.
Low (V1) – Consistent colors within and between tiles.
Medium (V2) – Variation in color within each tile.
High (V3) Variation between tiles & within each one.
Random V4– Significant variation between tiles.
8. ABRASION RESISTENCY (ASTM C1027-99 Test Method)
After the abrasion test, the durability of the glazed surfaces is evaluated. Below are the performance classifications, and their recommended uses:
CLASS 0. Not recommended for floors.
Class 1 (Light Residential), Light Traffic– Residential flooring in areas that are subjected to soft-soled shoes or normal footwear traffic without scratching dirt. Bathrooms and bedrooms in domestic buildings without external access.
(Class 2) Medium to Light Traffic (Residential Floor Coverings) – Residential flooring in areas with soft-soled shoes or normal foot traffic, and small amounts of dirt. Rooms in living areas, except for kitchens, entryways and other areas which may be subjected high use.
Class 3 (Heavy Commercial or Residential) Medium to Heavy Traffic– Residential or commercial can withstand regular foot traffic and normal footwear, but may have some dirt or other abrasives in small quantities. This class of tile can be used for light commercial installations that have limited foot traffic, but no direct outside access. Some examples include residential kitchens or hallways that receive limited foot traffic.
Heavy Traffic (Class 4 Commercial) – Floor coverings for residential and commercial buildings that are subjected to heavy traffic, including abrasive dirt. Entrances, workrooms and inns as well as sales rooms and other rooms within public and private buildings. The entrances of buildings should have floor mats, or other footwear cleaning devices to protect the floors from dirt and scratches.
Heavy Commercial– Heavy floor coverings for heavy commercial traffic.
9. STAIN RESISTANCE TESTING (ASTM 1378 Test Method)
This test is designed to determine the stain resistance of tiles surfaces. Class A – provides maximum stain resistance
10. MOUNTING METHOD
The TCNA standard requires that in submerged applications 95% of tile back is in contact with thinset. This requirement does not appear in the ANSI A137.1 standards. When choosing porcelain tiles for aquatic environments, it is important to make sure that the combination mesh with glue does not cover more than 5%. The glue is harder to assess than the mesh. Even worse, if glues are softer in water.
Choosing the Best pool tile materials
When selecting the best pool tiles for aquatic applications, we will want to consider the following characteristics.
1. DCOF– Not critical for submerged applications but values >=0.42 are required for flooring and >=0.60 is required for wet/dry floor surfaces.
2. Water Absorption – Impervious, Tiles exhibiting 0.5% or less.
3. FROST RESISTANT — Yes.
4. SCRATCH HARDNESS MOH’s 6-7.
5. BREAKING STRONGH– Exceed PSI Loads.
6. Chemical Resistance– Chemical resistant.
7. SHADE CHANGES – purely cosmetic.
8. ABRASION-RESISTANCE — Class 3-5.
9. STAIN-RESISTANCE — Class A.
10. MOUNTING METHODOLOGY — free of mesh backing and glue.
The following are the US and ISO European equivalent standards:
- Slip Resistance: TCNA Acutest / ISO NONE
- Abrasion Resistant Glazed ASTM C1027/ISO 1054-5
- Frost Resistance ASTM C1026 / ISO 10543-12
- Water Absorption ASTM C373 / ISO 10545-3
- Chemical Resistance ASTM C650 / ISO 10545-13
- Break Strength ASTM C648 / ISO 10545-4
- Stain Resistance ASTM / ISO 10545-14
- Scratch hardness MOHS scale / ISO MOH scale
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