Ceramic Tile Tests: ceramic tiles comes in two basic varieties, glazed and non-glazed, but they all have one thing in common - they all have to be subjected to a series of tests before they leave the factory.
There are tests to evaluate every aspect of ceramic tiles including color, weight, heat resistance, the amount of lead it contains, the thickness, just to name a few.
These tests are compulsory by law, so no matter who is manufacturing the tiles they all have to put the tiles through some rigorous testing before they can leave the factory.
These tests and guidelines are supplied by the American National Standards Institute in conjunction with the American Society of Testing and materials.
To help clarify things a bit when you purchase ceramic tiles you will most likely see a number written somewhere on the back of the tile, well this number represent the type of test that this tile has been subjected to.
This testing and numbering is important as it will help determine which is the right type of ceramic tile for your particular project.
Then there is the visual inspection which tests to determine the grade of the tile, whether it is of a standard grade or if it is considered second grade.
This test also includes such things as warpage, wedging, and overall appearance of the tile. Another test is to determine how much water the tile is absorbing, which is very important especially for people who live in cold countries and experience snow.
For example a tile that is absorbing a high percentage of water will be considered in the test to be non-vitreous whereas a tile that does not absorb a lot of water is considered impervious.
In the tile testing industry you will see terms such as warpage, wedging, impervious and non-vitreous which are used to describe some of the various types of tests that these tiles must be subjected too.
There are many other types of ceramic tile tests too numerous to mention. If you are really interested in finding out all the different types of tests that ceramic tiles are subjected to, or if you are considering pursuing a career in ceramic tiles then you should check out the American National Standards Institute or the American Society of Testing and Materials website.
There you will find tons of useful information regarding the various types of ceramic tile tests that are carried out in order to provide you the consumer with beautiful safe ceramic tiles for your homes.
