Tiles classification
Ceramic tiles are divided into groups according to their method of manufacture and their water absorption The groups do not presuppose the usage of the products.
The groups do not presuppose the usage of the products.
International standard organisation (ISO) & Europen Standard (EN) Classified Ceramic tiles into groups according to their method of manufacture and their water absorption The groups do not presuppose the usage of the products.
| Shaping | Group I | Group IIa | Group IIb | Group III |
| E ≤ 3% | 3% ≤ E ≤ 6% | 6% ≤ E < 10% | E > 10% | |
| A – Extruded * | Group AI | Group AIIa-1 | Group AIIb-1 | Group AIII |
| Group AIIa-2 | Group AIIb-2 | |||
| B- Dry Pressed+ | Group BIa | Group BIIa | Group BIIb | Group BIII |
| E ≤ 0.5% | ||||
| Group BIb | ||||
| 0.5% ≤ E ≤ 3% | ||||
| C – Tiles made by | Group CI | Group CIIa | Group CIIb | Group CIII |
| other processes++ |
ACCORDING TO MARKET LANGUAGE FOR BUY/SELL PRODUCT TILES CLASSIFIED BY BELOW GROUP
Porcelain (fully vitrified) Either unglazed or glazed and characterised by a low water absorption of less than 0.5% (B Ia), porcelain tiles are normally dry pressed.
Vitrified and semi vitrified These can either be unglazed or glazed and made by dry pressing or extruding. Such tiles fall into two main categories based on the water absorption of the tile body measured as a percentage. Vitrified tiles Class BIb (dry pressed) and Class AI (extruded) have a water absorption of between 0.5% to 3%. Semi-vitrified tiles Class BIIa (dry pressed) and AIIa (extruded) have a water absorption of between 3% to 6%. IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE WE CALL IT CERAMIC FLOOR TILES.
Glazed porous body The majority of standard wall tiles have glazed porous bodies with a water absorption between 10% and 20% and are classified BIII. When the face of such tiles is covered with a vitreous glazing either gloss or satin they are suitable for a wide variety of wall applications.
Glazed vitrified The porcelain vitrified and semi-vitrified tiles possess similar technical properties when glazed and can be used for internal cladding applications. Only vitrified and porcelain tiles with a water absorption value lower than 3% should be used for external cladding applications in conditions that are subject to frost.