What Is A Pei Rating For Ceramic Tile

It is not an indicator of the tile s overall quality or value.

What is a pei rating for ceramic tile. The pei rating class begins with a 0 rating which is best suited for light duty applications in homes. In many cases some of the most beautiful and costly tiles have a pei 1 or 2 rating. This hardness is determined by the manufacturer using a standardized test. Please note that through body porcelain tiles do not have a pei rating as they are very hard wearing.

Glazed and unglazed tiles are rated for scratch resistance and hardness via the mohs scratch test. It does not measure the fracture strength of the entire tile nor does it offer any rating of the slip resistance of the tile. Pei rating 5 tiles represents the highest pei score which means that tiles with such a rating are resistant to visible wear with very high amounts of traffic. A pei rating is given to a tile product based the hardness of its glaze.

It should be noted that the pei rating involves testing of only the surface wear layer of a tile s enamel glazing. Glazed tiles in this class are wall tiles only and unsuitable for use on floors. For this reason the pei value is shown in tile catalogues as the requirement for the individual article rather than for the series as a whole which may have lighter and darker tiles. Tile with this rating should only be used on walls and is not practical for counters or walls.

The pei scale was established by the porcelain enamel institute to help create standards consumers could rely on to help determine which tiles to buy for which purpose. The pei rating applies only to glazed tiles. The pei rating only refers to a tile s strength and suitability for a particular application. 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.

Pei is the abbreviation for porcelain enamel institute. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are rated though most people seem to be more concerned about the. The pei rating is and indication of tile hardness and pei floor ratings are valuable to guide tile choices for different projects. This rating is for glazed tiles designated for use on walls only.

Pei ratings porcelain enamel institute all glazed floor tiles are classified under a porcelain enamel institute pei rating for the suitability of fixing in a particular location. These can be used in heavy commercial areas like shopping malls and airports. If you step up to a 1 rating product the tile is suitable for use on walls in both residential and commercial buildings. The results of this test will determine the proper usage of a product.

The pei categorization primarily defines the hardness and durability of the various ceramic products that are tested.