What is BS EN 14411 – AVCP and marking of ceramic tiles about?
BS EN 14411 is a European standard on ceramic tiles that discusses the features and classifications of tiles ensuring strength and durability as well as providing a good appearance to the building.
BS EN 14411 defines terms and specifies characteristics for ceramic tiles, including mosaics (i.e., any piece that can fit into a square area of 49 cm2) produced by extrusion or dry pressing techniques, used for internal and/or external floorings (including stairs) and/or walls. Furthermore, BS EN 14411 provides the level of requirements for these characteristics and references to the test methods applied as well as provisions for the assessment and verification of the constancy of performance.
Note: BS EN 14411 is not applicable to:
- Meshed backed products
- Ceramic decorative accessories or trims (such as edges, corners, skirting, capping, coves, beads, curved tiles and other accessory pieces)
- Ceramic tiles made by processes other than extrusion or dry pressing
- Dry-pressed unglazed ceramic tiles with water absorption greater than 10 %
- Ceramic tiles used for floorings on external road finishes
- Ceramic tiles used in ceiling finishes or suspended ceilings.
Who is BS EN 14411 - AVCP and marking of ceramic tiles for?
BS EN 14411 on ceramic tiles is useful for:
- Builders
- Interior designers
- Designers and manufacturers of ceramic tiles
- Personnel of quality control systems
Why should you use BS EN 14411 - AVCP and marking of ceramic tiles?
Ceramic tiles are thin, flat tiles that are usually shaped with beveled edges and are used for lining or covering a surface and may provide corrosion resistance, thermal protection, wear resistance, and/or surface decoration available in various shapes, sizes and colours.
BS EN 14411 specifies the classification of ceramic tiles into groups according to two parameters: by extrusion (expressed as group “A” tiles) or dry-pressing (expressed as group “B” tiles) and by their water absorption level.
BS EN 14411 provides the general requirements on those complying with tiles to check the quality of tiles along with the chemical and physical characteristics of ceramic tiles required for different applications.
BS EN 14411 provides assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) with the compliance of ceramic tiles with the requirements and performances determination of product type through type testing and factory production control.
Designation and marking of each ceramic tile are set out in BS EN 14411.
Requirements for extruded ceramic tiles and dry-pressed ceramic tiles of various groups are specified in BS EN 14411.
Overall, BS EN 14411 leads you through the designing and manufacturing of ceramic tiles that are durable to use in commercial as well as residential buildings providing strength while also giving your structure a pleasant aesthetic.
In this way, you can utilise ceramic tiles for various applications in house or in industries that are easy to fit, easy to clean, easy to maintain and are available at reasonable prices.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 14411:2016 supersedes BS EN 14411:2012. BS EN 14411:2016 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 14411:2012. These include:
- Exclusion of ceramic decorative pieces, trims and accessories (not included in mandate)
- Exclusion of meshed backed products
- New Clause 6 on assessment and verification of the constancy of performance
- Addition of text for special consideration of marking on small size tiles
- Elimination of ‘mortar’ in the bond strength characteristic