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Monocottura is a popular Italian term given to single-fired tiles, one of
the most common types of tiles.
ex. glazed single fired tiles (this technique consists of single firing both
glaze and body at the same time.
Bicottura is another Italian term given to tiles with special glazes and
designs that require two firings. The latter is generally limited to wall tiles.
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Ceramic Tile is a generic name for ceramic surfacing units that are
relatively thin in relation to facial area; made from clay or a mixture of
clay, and other ceramic material. Like all ceramic materials, tiles are
hard, strong, hygienic, easy to clean, not combustible and fire resistant.
Porcelain is a type of ceramic tile having specific properties. ANSI A137.1
American National Standard Specifications for Ceramic Tile defines porcelain
tiles as being dense, smooth and impervious- with water absorption of .5
percent or less.back to top
Yes, but wall tile is never recommended for floor use. back to top
No. This is a guide for loading the molds into the kilns (ceramic firing oven).back to top
For a manufacturer to sell their products in a competitive world they should
have test results to confirm their products quality. All product details
must be set out in the order (manufacturer, catalog listing, format)
together with the tile class and other features that have been specified.
Class: Top quality is defined by the standards. Concerning visual blemishes,
no more than 5 tiles per hundred may display such blemishes. Other classes
(second class, third class, top commercial quality, kiln output, etc.) are
of lower quality and may contain a greater number of defects. These lower
quality tiles obviously cost less than the Top Quality tiles. Choice Class
Definitions may, however, vary from one manufacturer to another.
IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER:
If you are buying tiles of a quality that is inferior to Top Quality, you
should therefore ask the manufacturer, via the dealer, to explain what he
means by a given class. back to top
Our advise is that you should contact your supplier or if you are in the
United States, the Tile Council of America is available to do comprehensive
product testing through its Product Testings Services program.
Click here
to go to their website.
Tile Council is a corporate member of
ANSI (The American National Standards
Insitute), and is an associate member
of CERLABS (The European Network of
Ceramic Laboratories). back to top
Porcelain Enamel Institute is responsible for research, testing, and
analysis of ceramic materials distributed in the United States. back to top
The co-efficient of friction (slip-resistance) is an important consideration
when selecting ceramic tiles for use on floors and high traffic areas. With
the legislation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, certain walking
surfaces are now required to have higher than normal slip-resistant
characteristics. Unglazed tiles have a coefficient of friction meeting or
exceeding these requirements. Many glazed tiles also meet or exceed these
requirements. Ceramic tile manufacturers make available current test results
detailing the coefficient of friction of their products so architects,
designers and owners can make knowledgeable selections of ceramic tile for
use on walking surfaces. back to top
If you have any questions that are not answered here, please refer
to
our technical
publications by
clicking
here
or contact us for more information.
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