A Guide to Understanding Technical Specifications
When seeking the perfect tile to fit your design dreams, considering the technical side is important. To ensure that you get the most out of your tile, as well as selecting the best suited option, understanding how to read the technical details is vital. Here’s a guide to better understanding.
Water Absorption Rate: This displays how much water a tile absorbs, with lower being better for outdoors or wet areas. Tiles with a low absorption rate are also considered frost proof. This is crucial to indicate the durability of the tile and the suitability for its desired environment.
PEI Rating: Also known as the Porcelain Enamel Institute, this rating measures the abrasion resistance for foot traffic. A rating of 0 is for wall tiles, 1 for very light traffic, 2 for light traffic (light floors, interior walls), 3 is medium traffic (kitchen, halls, balconies) and 4-5 is heavy/extra heavy commercial use. PEI is an important factor to consider when buying glazed tiles as it represents the ware it may have over time in busy foot traffic areas.
DCOF: The Dynamic Coefficient of Friction measures the slip resistance of a surface, a higher rating means it is safer for wet areas (over 0.42 is considered high). It is important to know this when dealing with flooring to limit safety hazards and reduce the risk of potential injuries or falls on wet surfaces.
MOHS Hardness: This ranks the tile hardness on a scale from 1-10, 1 being talc and 10 being a diamond. Tiles generally range between 3-6. This is important because it measures the scratch resistance of a material, which can help determine the tiles’ suitability to projects.
Shade Variation: The shade variation of tiles sets the expectation of an exactly what it says, the shade variations, usually ranging from V1-V4. A tile with a high rating has many different appearances, offering a more natural selection, while a uniform tile with a low variation rating would offer consistency. The lower the rating the less variation.
Rectified: If a tile is rectified, it means that in the post-firing manufacturing process, the edges of the tiles were cut to achieve the straight edges and symmetrical sizes. Rectified tiles offer a sleek look and offer continuity, while unrectified tiles bring a sense of imperfect perfection.