SINGLE - FIRED TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

UNI EN 14411 (ISO 13006) - BIIa (Appendix J) GL

White-body single-fired tiles are obtained by submitting raw materials such as clays, quartz and feldspar to wet grinding in continuous mills; after grinding, a clay-based suspension of these materials called “slip” is fed out of the mill then dried by spray-drying. The next phase is pressing: hydraulic presses are used with a specific pressing power exceeding 300 kg/cm2 in order to obtain a compact ceramic body. After the necessary drying, the tiles are glazed and decorated with glazes of high aesthetic worth and top-class specifications. The glaze and support are fired simultaneously in single-layer roller kilns at temperatures of approximately 1200 °C. The resulting product is a medium-to-low porosity tile ranging from3% to 6%, in compliance with the UNI EN 14411 standard and rated as belonging to the BIIa (GL) Group. These products can boast of remarkable technological specifications such as a bending strength with an average value of 30N/mm2 ( UNI EN ISO 10545-4). As for wear resistance, this depends on the type and colour of glaze and may vary from product to product. The wear resistance factor (UNI EN ISO 10545-7) and recommended uses are stated in the catalogue beside each type of floor tile. As a general rule, glossy finishes are not recommended for floors subjected to heavy traffic or rooms opening onto outdoor areas, where sand or other abrasive materials are more likely to be brought in.

ADVICE ON LAYING

White-body single- fired tiles can be laid using either traditional mortar or specially packed tile adhesives conforming to the EN 12004 and EN 13888 standards. It is advisable to soak the tiles in water before laying to remove any dust from the surface which could affect the performance of the adhesive when laying; what is more, when laying large size tiles, it is best to adopt the two-layer spreading method to ensure the adhesive is spread over 90 % of the tile surface.

It is advisable to always incorporate suitable expansion joints which must not be spaced more than 4 - 5 linear meters apart from one another

When laying glossy floor tiles, it is good practice to protect the tiles once laid and carefully clean them. We advise against using mechanical vibrating cleaners, thus avoiding the drawing of hard, abrasive grains of sand over the glossy surface scratching it. Special care must be taken when laying tiles in order to keep them in good condition, and in addition there are also several important steps to take :

• make sure there are adequate expansion joints; these must be distanced at no more than 4-5 linear meters in all directions. These joints must not only be present at the level of the tiles themselves, but also reach the substrate below, and, depending on whether the tiles are laid in the traditional manner or with adhesives the expansion joints must be sealed with appropriate materials such as silicone or polyurethane-based sealants, according to the traffic the flooring will be subjected to;
• layers separating the various elements making up the tile bedding must also be provided, such as the underlay, damp course, vapour barrier and any other layer necessary to avoid problems like the tiles coming unstuck or breaking due to unwanted water penetration.