Ceramic Tile Wear Ratings

[Dave]

Ceramic Tile Wear Ratings

The current rating system for ceramic tile in place today is really the only reliable gauge for consumers to use in determining wear expectations for a particular tile choice. The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has developed a rating scale that can effectively guide a consumer through the arduous process of choosing the right tile for lets say a family room or busy kitchen area. This rating system is recommended by the American Society Testing Materials (ASTM).
The PEI Ratings and wear descriptions are listed below:

• PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic) - Recommended for wall use in residential and commercial applications only.
• PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic) - Recommended for both wall use and bathroom floor applications only.
• PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic) - Recommended for walls and floors where normal foot traffic is expected.
• PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional.
• PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential as well as heavy commercial and institutional applications.

Most porcelain tiles on the market today will have a PEI rating of 5, which certainly makes them the hardest wearing of any tile you could possibly choose.

[GazTech]

Porcelain tiles fired at over 1000 degrees have a normal domestic wear of 1mm per 100 years !!! unless of course you have diamonds on the soles of your shoes..lol...Gaz