Ceramic Tile Wear Rating

Tiles are graded using a numerical numbering system based on their thickness and quality.

Ceramic tile wear rating.

Class 3 tile is suitable for all residential applications. These are generally used as wall tile. Grade 3 tiles are suitable only for walls. Class 2 tile must not be used in residential areas that are subject to constant or heavy traffic.

Home depot recommends the following set of ratings as a guideline for selecting floor tiles. How pei ratings are determined. Tile with this rating is not suitable for installation on floors. This rating is for glazed tiles designated for use on walls only.

The porcelain enamel institute pei rates ceramic tiles for wear on a scale from 1 to 5. Pei ratings are only used for glazed ceramic tiles. The ratings are issued based on how many revolutions of the machine s head are required before visible abrasions appear on the tile. Often this is referred to on technical specifications as abrasion resistance durability classification or pei rating.

Group 1 or pei 1. The pei rating is essentially a measurement of the surface enamel s resistance to abrasion. Use floor tiles with a pei wear rating of iii iv or iv. I e kitchen class 3.

Tiles in areas which are walked on with soft soled footwear or bare feet with minimal amounts of abrasive dirt for example residential bathrooms. Tiles suitable only for locations where softer footwear is worn or where shoes are not frequently used for e g residential bathroom or other areas with light traffic. The ratings are as follows. It s a scale of 0 5 that indicates how a floor tile will wear due to the amount of foot traffic and therefore suggest what floor applications if any that the tile is appropriate for.

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. A rating of 1 means the tile can be used on very light wear areas and should only be installed in rooms where people use soft footwear such as sneakers or slipper. The chart below explains the wear rating system. Use tiles that provide good traction cof greater than or equal to 0 60.

Use grade 1 or 2 tiles for floors. The porcelain enamel institute pei has developed a rating scale that can effectively guide. Also for interior commercial and residential walls. This rating does not measure the overall quality of the tile but the tile s resistance to abrasion and ability to handle foot traffic.

It is measured by the use of a machine known as a rotary abrasion resistance testing machine in which steel ball bearings are pressed down and rolled over the surface of the tile while an observer watches the effect. Free quotes from tile contractors.